CPP and PS&P threat of court action

Sinfulcola

Hi all,
I really need some help here, I have a history of anxiety and depression and the latest load of letters from PS&P are beginning to give me panic attacks.
Basically, I ignored a load of CPP letters for parking at Keele University without a permit. It's now got to the stage where I received SEVEN letters from PS&P today saying I need to pay them £812 for 7 different client references (each letter is the same). They haven't threatened with a visit from a collector, but I'm really starting to freak out. I don't owe the CPP £812 and I sure as hell can't afford to pay it.
Thanks.

Sinfulcola

Incidentally, I have read the sticky. I just don't know where to start. I ignored all letters from the CPP and threw them away without making an appeal. Have I screwed myself?
I just need a boot in the right direction so I know which parts of the sticky to follow.

ColliesCarer

Hi Sinfulcola,

Don't worry - PS&P are toothless debt collectors.
Read the NEWBIES sticky thread post #4 for advice dealing with them.

Also Google PS&P collectors and you will find numerous posts both from this forum and from pepipoo posters dealing with Care PP and PS&P.

The only things to watch out for are a Letter Before Action (aka Letter Before County Court Claim ) sent by either CPP or a solicitor acting for them or actual Court papers.

Both of the above are highly unlikely with CPP and to help reassure you we know of no case so far were Care PP have issued a county court claim to recover parking charges.

Sinfulcola

Thank you for your reply. My only concern is the whopping £812 they want - I get the horrible feeling it's enough money for CPP to justify small claims court action. I haven't seen anything on any forums involving this much money.

ColliesCarer

Without knowing what amount each parking charge was for it's difficult to comment on the total sum.

But that is PS&P's total and will include their cut. PS&P cannot take you to court and will eventually give up and hand it back to CPP who will either give up too or possibly try a claim.

If CPP do decide on a claim they can only claim the parking charge amount from the keeper for each PCN plus one lot of court costs.
And you would have to lose before you would have to pay it.

But you are a long way from being in that position and cases against PPC's are very winnable using the right legal arguments.

Although you would have to put a fair amount of effort in to understand what those legal arguments are to be able to draft your defence, you would also get forum help to perfect it - possibly also someone would be willing to help you by acting as a lay representative.

Also small claims court is not as daunting as you might imagine - just a group of people sitting round a table - no court room, no wigs, no docks, no witness stands.

I haven't been in one for a parking charge but I have been in one when I was the executor for my nephew's estate and a greedy ex was trying to claim money from his estate. It's no where near as scary as you think.

So yes - it's possible that CPP may issue a claim but all you can do is wait and see unfortunately. No sense worrying about something that hasn't yet happened.

You could start genning up on how to deal with any future PCN's by reading the NEWBIES thread and also how to deal with any claim should it occur by reading post #5 of that thread.

The best way to deal with the fear is to arm yourself with the information that will help you feel less daunted should the worst happen.

Coupon-mad

Sinfulcola wrote: »

Thank you for your reply. My only concern is the whopping £812 they want - I get the horrible feeling it's enough money for CPP to justify small claims court action. I haven't seen anything on any forums involving this much money.

CPP have never tried court. We'd help you to defend it if needed but it's unlikely IMHO. This isn't what CPP do. They send ICC pink letters - don't get freaked out. Search this forum for 'ICC pink' as keywords and read about how many people have ignored the same letters for around a decade. Please do the search and read other people's posts!

Yes you missed a trick by not 'killing' these fake PCNs at POPLA. Never mind!