MET parking charge/gladstone solicitors

Dianb

Hi everyone!

This is my first post on this forum...but I have actually used this thread in the past and wondered if anyone could help me with a bit of a quandry...sorry to bump the thread a bit.

The Situation
I'm basically in the same situation as the OP. At the end of last year, I received a parking ticket from MET Parking Services whilst parked in a McDonalds car park. I had stepped off site to get cash before buying my food and received the ticket because I was "not on the premises at the time of issue", apparently a contravention of the car park rules. So despite being a genuine customer (I went into McDonald's and kept the receipt), they want me to pay some extortionate parking charge.

I didn't bother appealing as I knew they'd reject it - technically they were right, I wasn't on the premises, but I kept the receipt which was time stamped within minutes of the ticket being issued. I contacted McDonalds, but they weren't interested at all. So I just left things.

I received the letter from Roxburge, and ignored it. Then I received the Gladstones letter - exactly the same as the one posted here. Getting a bit tired of things, I decided to act found this thread and used the template that Daisy posted, amending it for my own situation and changed it around a bit. Basically I informed Gladstones that the charge was disputed, I had evidence to defend myself, and that if they wanted to pursue it further, either send me a letter before action or leave me alone.

I sent the letter back to them, recorded delivery. This was back in February, and I didn't hear anything else from them. Brilliant - figured they'd just realised I would fight it and have given up.

Anyway....since that time, I have moved house and am no longer at the same address (my parents house). However, I was around my parents today and found a letter addressed to me from a Debt Recovery company who are still chasing me for £150 on behalf of this ticket.

I'm pretty annoyed at this, but not entirely sure what to do, so wouldn't mind some opinions. Here's my thoughts:

- They have sent this further correspondence to the wrong address. I no longer live there, so I'm inclined to just ignore the correspondence, or ask my parents to send it back as "not known at this address". At the moment this seems to be the best course of action; the only way for them to come after me would be to reapply to the DVLA (with whom I have updated my address), but I don't know if they would bother - does it cost them anything?

- I'm not sure I still have the McDonalds receipt, but I'm wondering if I would still be able to mount a decent defence in court if it did go that far. I could still claim that the charge is punitive and therefore not valid, and I don't know, but I would of thought there would be a time limit for them to respond - seeing as last contact was in February, it seems cheeky for them to try coming after me again after a 7 month gap.

- In my last correspondence with them I basically told them that if they wanted to pursue me in court, they should send me a proper Letter Before Action (as per the template). But they haven't, and have instead just got someone else to send me a threatening letter.

So what would you guys do? I'm inclined to just ignore the correspondence as it's going to the wrong address anyway, but I'd be interested to hear opinions on how to proceed.

bazster

One case one thread is the rule here, please copy your post and start a new thread with it.

Coupon-mad

Dianb wrote: »

Hi everyone!

This is my first post on this forum...but I have actually used this thread in the past and wondered if anyone could help me with a bit of a quandry...sorry to bump the thread a bit.

The Situation
I'm basically in the same situation as the OP. At the end of last year, I received a parking ticket from MET Parking Services whilst parked in a McDonalds car park. I had stepped off site to get cash before buying my food and received the ticket because I was "not on the premises at the time of issue", apparently a contravention of the car park rules. So despite being a genuine customer (I went into McDonald's and kept the receipt), they want me to pay some extortionate parking charge.

I didn't bother appealing as I knew they'd reject it - technically they were right, I wasn't on the premises, but I kept the receipt which was time stamped within minutes of the ticket being issued. I contacted McDonalds, but they weren't interested at all. So I just left things.

I received the letter from Roxburge, and ignored it. Then I received the Gladstones letter - exactly the same as the one posted here. Getting a bit tired of things, I decided to act found this thread and used the template that Daisy posted, amending it for my own situation and changed it around a bit. Basically I informed Gladstones that the charge was disputed, I had evidence to defend myself, and that if they wanted to pursue it further, either send me a letter before action or leave me alone.

I sent the letter back to them, recorded delivery. This was back in February, and I didn't hear anything else from them. Brilliant - figured they'd just realised I would fight it and have given up.

Anyway....since that time, I have moved house and am no longer at the same address (my parents house). However, I was around my parents today and found a letter addressed to me from a Debt Recovery company who are still chasing me for £150 on behalf of this ticket.

I'm pretty annoyed at this, but not entirely sure what to do, so wouldn't mind some opinions. Here's my thoughts:

- They have sent this further correspondence to the wrong address. I no longer live there, so I'm inclined to just ignore the correspondence, or ask my parents to send it back as "not known at this address". At the moment this seems to be the best course of action; the only way for them to come after me would be to reapply to the DVLA (with whom I have updated my address), but I don't know if they would bother - does it cost them anything?

- I'm not sure I still have the McDonalds receipt, but I'm wondering if I would still be able to mount a decent defence in court if it did go that far. I could still claim that the charge is punitive and therefore not valid, and I don't know, but I would of thought there would be a time limit for them to respond - seeing as last contact was in February, it seems cheeky for them to try coming after me again after a 7 month gap.

- In my last correspondence with them I basically told them that if they wanted to pursue me in court, they should send me a proper Letter Before Action (as per the template). But they haven't, and have instead just got someone else to send me a threatening letter.

So what would you guys do? I'm inclined to just ignore the correspondence as it's going to the wrong address anyway, but I'd be interested to hear opinions on how to proceed.

Basically DO NOT return letters "not known at this address" because that would actually spur a litigious PPC on to try to get a default claim behind a motorist's back. Luckily MET are not litigious. I would ignore the new debt collector - presumably Debt Recovery Plus or Rossendales or someone? Just search the forum for their name.

Did you try complaining in person at that McDonalds, to the Manager? They cancel these very week in some McDonalds (depends on the Manager but lots of them are 'onside' and it's never too late to complain. Of course you should not be harassed like this for daring to get money out before getting your meal!).

Oh and if it was a Rossendales, Debt Recovery Plus or Zenith letter please, don't start a new thread at all!!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5035663

Tonyfozza

I ask about your situation because I have an identical situation about leaving the premises.

Did Gladstone give up to your address or did you go to court?

Tony

enfield_freddy

Tonyfozza wrote: »

I ask about your situation because I have an identical situation about leaving the premises.

Did Gladstone give up to your address or did you go to court?

Tony

see post 33 on this thread , you answer is there

Confusedmumof4

HELLO, I have a claim form from Northampton County Court Business Centre after receiving reams of letters from Gladstones. I take it this is a real one and I should pay?

peterae2

Daisy, I just wondered if your letter is still valid, I assume the law has not changed that much in the last couple of years.

Coupon-mad

peterae2 wrote: »

Daisy, I just wondered if your letter is still valid, I assume the law has not changed that much in the last couple of years.

You really need to stop reading old threads, never assume things have not changed - they have changed a lot since 2015. See my signature for where to click to read page one instead. You are ONE click away.

Rheebs25_2

Hello,

I have recently ignored a PCN (Parking Charge Notice) in Bournemouth. I parked in a carpark for a hotel. I received a letter through the post a month or so after the incident telling me i owe them money, after that I then had a copius amounts of threatening letters from them, after that i then had a debt collecting company called DRP chase me. Advice from a friend and also when researching it i was told to ignore these letters chasing this PCN as it is basically an invoice chasing you for parking on private land without permission.

My question to you is, do you know what to do if i have recently received a solicitors letter from Gladstones Solicitors on behalf of UK Car park management chasing an outstanding balance that DRP had been chasing me for prior? Do i pay this? Or do i carrying on ignoring these letters? This letter has come a couple of months after DRP had stopped chasing me.

I have a picture of the letter i could show you some how. However it doesnt say anywhere on it that it is a LBCC etc. Should i be worried?

Thanks

Coupon-mad

You really need to stop reading old threads, never assume things have not changed - they have changed a lot since 2015. See my signature for where to click to read page one instead. You are ONE click away.