Debt collection as first notice?!

natscat84

I have just received a debt collection notice from Newlyn for being parked at a hospital back in October whilst I was awaiting my staff permit.

I am confused as to where I stand with this, as I never got a windscreen ticket or any other kind of notification through the post to say that I had to pay a fine - this is literally the first time I have heard about this parking fine!

I've read the newbie guide, but I am confused as to where to start, since I appear to be in the middle of the chain of things.

If anyone could advise, that would be great. FWIW, my brother has had many parking fines at the same hospital, but it has ALWAYS been ticketed, so it's not a CCTV controlled car park

Redx

its certainly not a fine , only a court or judge can fine you , its not even a criminal charge either so you wont find the word FINE anywhere on the paperwork

its an invoice , so appeal it as per the newbies sticky thread to the PPC treating this as the first NTK

also appeal to the landowner (the trust) and to PALS as well

natscat84

Fab - thank you. The newbies thread seemed a bit confusing as this instance doesn't seem to start from the beginning!

Do I also want to mention that the driver didn't get a windscreen ticket in the appeal letter (as it seems a bit psychic to know that you owe something when someone doesn't tell you!)?

Redx

you can try mitigation although these parking companies prefer you to dig deep and pay for their next summer holiday so they do not actually care

the debt collector definitely wont care either

natscat84

Ugh - I can see why people just cough up the dough sometimes.

I will try and send just the standard letter from the newbies board and see what happens.

Redx

the thing is you havent named the PPC

the template goes to the ppc, not NEWLYNS

newlyns are the debt collector

you should also be getting this cancelled by the trust asap too

natscat84

Where would I find the PPC?

The letter gives a PCN number (which I have never gotten) and only references the client, which is the hospital trust but doesn't tell me who actually issued the PCN.

Also, the letter states that any contact I make with the trust will be referred back to Newlyns

Coupon-mad

natscat84 wrote: »

Fab - thank you. The newbies thread seemed a bit confusing as this instance doesn't seem to start from the beginning!

Do I also want to mention that the driver didn't get a windscreen ticket in the appeal letter (as it seems a bit psychic to know that you owe something when someone doesn't tell you!)?

You could add that as point #4, added to the usual first appeal letter.

So it sounds like the NHS Trust security guards issue their own PCNs. Even more reason after all this time to use the template appeal as it's written from the perspective of the registered keeper. Without following POFA 2012 they (the NHS Trust) can only pursue the driver so although you may think it's obvious, it's not if you remain in 'keeper mode' in all responses.

I do hope your brother hasn't actually paid his fake tickets - they are not fines.

Which Hospital please, most never sue anyone, and only get a few letters sent out like you've got there, to put the frighteners on people.

natscat84

Hi everyone - just an update on this situation.

I emailed the PALs team about the situation - not telling them who the driver was and giving them all the details as laid out on this site.

The lady at PALs said that they would forward it on to the relevant department, but have heard nothing back. Not even giving me a POPLA code to take it any further.

Today I got another letter from Newlyn threatening court for not paying up after their first letter! Have emailed the PALs lady again to see if they can chase it up since they won't give me direct contact details for who I need to speak to.

The hospital is Leeds General Infirmary, if that helps any more. And Coupon, no, my brother is jammy and has never paid a parking ticket from either of the Leeds hospitals.... and he used to work there for 2 years as a Dr so got loads of them. He has said they tend to just give up when the snotty letters don't work, but I can't help but still be worried!

Redx

only the PPC can issue a popla code , not PALS and not NEWLYNS either

at the moment its with debt collectors, you can read a whole section of advice regarding debt collectors in the NEWBIES thread at the top of this forum

natscat84

The thing is, since I never got a ticket or NtK, I don't know who the PpC is. I suspect it's Leeds hospitals trust, but I can't find any information and was hoping the PALS woman would actually be able to send it to the right person. Wishful thinking, I suppose?

I'll have a look at the newbies section and see what I can do next. I just feel that the lack of windscreen ticket + no NtK but straight to debt collection is against all sorts of codes or at least common decency!