MET/Roxburge/Gladtones chasing outstanding charge at the wrong address.

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.

The Situation
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 a letter from Roxburge Debt collectors, and ignored it. Then I received the Gladstones Solicitors letter which suspiciously asked me to make payment directly to Roxburge, and didn't look at all official. Getting a bit tired of things, I decided to act and found advice on this forum reading through a thread where someone had the same problem and had received the same letters as me.

Reading through that thread, I found a template by a helpful user (called Daisy I think). I amended 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.

Any help or opinions much appreciated!

bazster

To be honest I'd just ignore from now on, it's only MET, pretty toothless.

"Not known at this address" isn't bad either, perhaps followed by ignoring.

Coupon-mad

I answered your query here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66591035#Comment_66591035

Roxburghe have just gone into administration by the way.

Dianb

Coupon-mad wrote: »

I answered your query here:

<link>

Roxburghe have just gone into administration by the way.

Thanks for the response coupon mad. I know you said probably no need to start another thread, but I'll answer your response here rather than derail someone elses any further:

- Yes, the firm now contacting me is Debt Recovery Plus
- I complained to the McDonald's manager on the same day via phone, but they weren't interested and said just to appeal. I also contacted customer service to no avail.
- I'm about to check out the thread you linked to (RE: Debt Recovery Plus)

Many thanks for your reply. I think I will probably do as you say for now and just ignore them.