Vehicle Control Services / Newlyn (Stickies didn't help!)

LauraAVFC

Hi All

I've just joined the board as a member but have been a long time reader. I've checked the latest stickies but they don't seem to apply to my situation so just after some advice.

I received a PCN from Vehicle Control Services almost 2 years ago, in June 2012. I never received a windscreen ticket, just received the notice through the post saying I'd ignored the alleged windscreen ticket etc and to pay a ridiculous fine.

Following the advice on the forums at the time, I ignored all communication, and received the usual letters from Roxburghe etc. The last communication I had from any of the solicitors etc was around January 2013, so I had thought it had finally been forgotten about.

I have just received a new letter from Newlyn (Notice of Appointment as Debt Collectors) for the same offence (June 2012!). I've never had a letter from them yet and having read the new advice on the stickies, not sure how to proceed.

I have recently moved house and updated my address details around 1-2 months ago with the DVLA, and am just wondering if this has somehow 'flagged' on their system to start sending me post again, in the hope that maybe I hadn't received anything previously, and will get scared and pay up?

The new advice seems a bit of a maze with POPLA codes etc so I'm not sure if I need to do that, or appeal, or just carry on ignoring as the offence was so long ago. The stupid thing is I am categorically certain I did pay for a ticket at the time of the offence, but have no way of proving this now as I didn't receive the windscreen ticket, so I didn't keep that ticket as proof to appeal.

Any advice would be much appreciated :-)

Thanks,

Laura

da_rule

As this relates to a ticket that was issued before the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 took effect the advice is to ignore (which it does say in the Newbie sticky).

As long as you haven't replied to them and identified the driver then just file the paperwork and ignore.

Guys_Dad

Your case is pre-POPLA and way out of time anyway. Only if it got to court and both parties agreed to refer it to POPLA would they be involved.

You sit tight and do nothing unless you get Northampton Court papers and I can't believe that this isn't covered in the sticky.

If it isn't, then c-m might add it.

Stroma

The advice is quite plain, anything prior to October 2012 only the driver is liable, the registered keeper is not. Popla does not apply to these invoices, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 does not apply to these.

The advice is still to ignore, it tells you that after 2 years they still haven't made a claim, so it is highly unlikely to do so now, this is just a fishing expedition by them looking for mugs. But you need to keep an eye out for claims as vcs do on very rare occasions issue them. You changing address on the V5 does not alert them at all

LauraAVFC

Yeah it concerns me more that it seems to have come out of the blue after at least 12 months of nothing. We've only been at this address for 3-4 months so it just seems like the timing is far too coincidental, so I wondered if they could monitor address changes on PCN charges or something...

I've never replied to them at all so it just worries me a bit that they might be trying a new tactic!

I'll post again if anything else comes through, will it be some kind of vague threat of court action next but not actual court papers?!

Thanks again

Laura

da_rule

They could apply to the DVLA for your details (not sure on how long after the incident they're allowed to apply or how often in relation to the same incident). You'll probably find that you get contacted every now and again as they have 6 years to bring a claim, and they probably manage to scare some people into paying up so is probably worth them sending the letters. Just ignore.

da_rule

Don't worry about court. Unless you've named the driver, as prior to POFA only the driver could be liable, not the registered keeper.

LauraAVFC

Great, thanks for your help!

zadie

I too have today received a notice of appointment from Newlyns relating to January 2012!! I am not sure if this helps to reassure you about their ways of getting in touch with you, I am guessing this is fishing for old claims which have been ignored, I ignored all of my letters because I wasn't the driver.

Coupon-mad

Search the forum for '2012' as your keyword - I recall posting on threads before where PPCs are 'scraping the barrel' with old 2012 cases. You should find quite a few people in your shoes. Use the 'search this forum' heading next to 'forum tools' above the first threads on this parking forum and change the default to 'show POSTS'.