Further steps notice

michaeld17

Hi all,

I have been having problems with APCOA parking for sometime over a parking fine which had a complete lack of evidence at Luton airport. They have handled the situation absolutely terribly which I can outline in detail at a later date.

The issue was then passed to Debt Recovery Plus who sent out letters demanding payment. I phoned them and expressed my displeasure as I was still dealing with APCOA and I was unaware this was happening. They paused the fine and sent out another letter around a month later asking for money which I ignored.

I have just received a letter headed 'Further Steps Notice' which is from the "Norfolk Enforcement Unit". It states I've failed to make payment and lists out the ways in which they'll get their money back, from taking part of my salary to clamp, remove and sell my car. It says I can appeal but it's not a general appeal against my conviction or sentence, but only against the "Fine's officers" decision to enforce the order in the ways set out. I've got 10 days to do this and it was sent on the 15th December.

I was wondering the legality of the document, because I have not gone to court or heard anything about the possibility of doing that. I just want to be sure that nothing can come of this because I don't particularly want to lose my car.

A note to add, they have misspelt my surname and they are writing from Norfolk magistrates, where as I am technically in Suffolk.

Any support or ways to take this further would be much appreciated as I am really hacked off, primarily as I didn't do what they are accusing me off and they have a complete lack of evidence to support it.

Many thanks.

Guys_Dad

What you have is a PPC and Debt Recovery firms whose only income is from levying spurious charges on motorists. They can't get a penny unless a court dictates that they can, so what you now have are scare tactic letters.

Keep them. If clamping is mentioned and attachment of earnings, then this is outside the limits that they are allowed to lose and official complaints should be made to their regulatory authority whose logo will be on their letter.

Ignore unless you get court papers from Northampton and take some comfort in knowing that all this communication is costing them time and money.

michaeld17

Thank you so much for your help. I did think it was scare tactics, particularly because they spelt my name wrong, but I just wanted to make sure. I've got every letter from them documented just in case it does go further.

Many thanks again, I really appreciate it.

Coupon-mad

Hang on - sounds like they have passed it to a debt collector which does not know the difference between debt collection and bailiffs which is serious misrepresentation. An Airport is not relevant land so maybe the byelaws allow clamping/towing (but maybe not - check them, find the byelaws online!). And clamping/towing to force someone to pay a debt isn't possible, especially as, unless the byelaws set owner liability, ONLY THE DRIVER is possibly liable (who may not be the car owner).

What was the date of the parking event?

Luton Airport are really taking the mickey.

Please can you show us the letter? This is a terribly misleading one I suspect, but I am very concerned you think it is from Magistrates Court??

michaeld17 wrote: »

I have just received a letter headed 'Further Steps Notice' which is from the "Norfolk Enforcement Unit". It states I've failed to make payment and lists out the ways in which they'll get their money back, from taking part of my salary to clamp, remove and sell my car. It says I can appeal but it's not a general appeal against my conviction or sentence, but only against the "Fine's officers" decision to enforce the order in the ways set out. I've got 10 days to do this and it was sent on the 15th December.

A note to add, they have misspelt my surname and they are writing from Norfolk magistrates, where as I am technically in Suffolk.

Ryan_Bryan

I'd be very wary of this. Just found this after googling.

http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index/magistrate-court-fines/further-steps-notice

This may just be another scam by debt collectors to scare you but I think you may want to scan and upload a redacted copy of the letter soonest.

The_Slithy_Tove

Ryan_Bryan wrote: »

I'd be very wary of this. Just found this after googling.

http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index/magistrate-court-fines/further-steps-notice

This may just be another scam by debt collectors to scare you but I think you may want to scan and upload a redacted copy of the letter soonest.

All that proves is that they are treading on very dodgy ground indeed. The "next steps" letter is specifically based around court imposed fines. This is purely a private invoice based on thin air, and an alleged debt arising from it.


This ought to be reported to Trading Standards.

Nodding_Donkey

OP are you 100% sure this isn't about another matter unconnected to the APCOA fake fine?

bod1467

If this IS about an APCOA invoice, then this sounds very like what Barnes & Noble (sorry, Gordons & Noble ) have been doing in Scotland. (There have been a few threads about them this year).

hoohoo

Please post up a redacted copy of the letter (host on tinypics or somewhere). We can then give proper advice, including (most likely) who to complain to to get this scam stamped out.

Coupon-mad

Found this on BAO:

http://bailiffadviceonline.co.uk/index/magistrate-court-fines/further-steps-notice

So normally, it's a real Notice issued after a Court has imposed a real fine. But this makes no sense following a Private PCN (not a penalty) where you had appealed but never were sent a POPLA code, and the matter was just with DRP who are powerless.

Please tell us the date of the parking event, it is important, was it over six months ago?

Did you never get any letter about a court hearing?

Show us the whole letter please (covering your name/address/any refs).

michaeld17

I have added the letter above. APCOA first sent me a letter at the beginning of August about the fine. I sent a letter to them requesting information as well as their T&Cs. They replied but never set their T&Cs. There was a POPLA code on the back but I was after their T&Cs so I could use this in my appeal.

I then received a letter from debt recovery plus stating they were handling the fine. I called APCOA and asked why my second letter was never replied to and she said they didn't get it. I then resent it and they replied very late saying we do not send second letters... still no T&Cs.

I then received a letter from DRP saying they wanted money which I ignored as I had spoken to them previously clearly stating I was not paying.

I then came home from work and found this letter on my doormat. I have not had any court letters regarding the incident, as I would have replied immediately and would gladly argue my case and the appalling way in which it's been handled. I am sure this letter is regarding this issue as it's the same cost and DRP were threatening me with court action.

The thing I find strange is that they misspelt my name, haven't explained the reasons for sending it and I've never been to court so how they would arrange this without the courts contacting me first I have no idea. Technically my postcode is Norfolk, but I'm just over the border and classed as Suffolk, for example, calling 101 I'm put through to Suffolk police.

I appreciate all of the advice. If anyone can recommend any companies to complain to or make aware of this I will happily do this. DRP aren't regulated by any authority which I've just found out. I don't want whoevers doing this, doing it to other people because it's not fair trying to scare someone into paying it