letter before referral for legal action - is this really serious

circleimc

This came from DPR. My vehicle was not parked correctly within the markings of an authorised bay in a B&Q carpark. I have missed POPLA ( sent to wrong address so too late to claim).


I have responded to DPR a few times - hoping they would see sense , asking for a drop hands offer, showing my evidence pictures etc but they keep sending me lots of threatening letters, now 3 in 5 days.


I do not believe I was parked incorrectly within the markings. I was parked very badly as I was in a rush and a large van one side of me and so I wheel is 1 cm or so over the white lines but I was not blocking 2 bays.


After 8 threatening letters in a row which I feel is harassment and I really stressful I have just received a Letter before referral for legal action is this the same as a Letter before claim?


Should I just cave in a pay I feel really angry about it. I was not staying over time, it was a free and empty car park and I just parked badly but effected no one? Certainly they have no genuine pre estimate of loss as I was with in the 2 hours free parking and someone could have parked on the bay next to mine?
Should I be worried with the Letter before referral for legal action


Thank you for all the help

Quentin

As long as these letters keep coming from DPR you should ignore them

bazster

It's a load of bolleaux, a stupid letter from a toothless debt collector can't hurt you. Ignore it.

You made a big mistake by contacting them at all, all you've done is to show them you are rattled so they've ramped up the hassle. File and forget is the way forward, do NOT contact DRP again (or Zenith or whoever they pretend to be next)

Who was the original parking company?

Herzlos

Yeah, this is just them saying "pay us or we'll go back to our employee empty handed, who might possibly consider action".

Wait for a letter before action "Deal with this by ___ or legal action will commence", and then come back here for help getting rid of it.

The_Deep

There are two schools of thought, ignore them, and engage them and cost them money. I prefer the latter, but I am a cantankerous old [EMAIL="f@art"]f@art[/EMAIL] with too much time on my hands.

bazster

The_Deep wrote: »

There are two schools of thought, ignore them, and engage them and cost them money. I prefer the latter, but I am a cantankerous old [EMAIL="f@art"]f@art[/EMAIL] with too much time on my hands.

Fair enough, but engaging them is only worth it if you are going to be bolshie and awkward. Someone who is going to do daft things like making them an offer is better off not contacting them at all!

MrsAK

I am in a similar situation myself although we were presented with a parking ticket for being parked in our rented properties allocated parking bay the day we moved in whilst we were inside looking for the permit. We were sent follow up advising us how we could appeal through POPLA even the the letter arrived over 28days after it was dated so couldn't actually appeal. Nevertheless I thought under the circumstances an appeal would go in our favour. It didn't. We have since received a number of letters from DRP/Zenith threatening action, all of which we have ignored. After ignoring the letter received 2 days ago from Zenith offering to half the charge we have today received a 'Letter Before Referral for Legal Action' which has automatically halved what they were charging even though the previous letter claimed it would revert back to the higher amount if not paid.

My opinion is that we should just continue to wait and see if we are issued with court action (which I doubt) because I cannot see how this charge could possibly be enforced by a court. Would love to know if anyone has any experience of this specifically and what the outcome has been.

stator

If it's a B&Q car park you should contact them, by letter. Ask them to cancel the parking charge. Usually their contract with the parking company allows them to cancel any charge they want, in order to protect their own reputation. So if you show them the photos your chances are good.

bazster

MrsAK wrote: »

After ignoring the letter received 2 days ago from Zenith offering to half the charge we have today received a 'Letter Before Referral for Legal Action' which has automatically halved what they were charging even though the previous letter claimed it would revert back to the higher amount if not paid.

Well done, I think you've got them figured out!

circleimc

I was not offered half it is now still £160 from the original £80 charge.


I feel it is compete harassment 8 letters with 2 in 2 days! ( I have put that in my letter.)


I called B&Q's head office and they said I had to go through UKPC's appeals process it was nothing to do with them!


I guess I’ll wait and see. Hopefully it can’t go further they don't have a leg to stand on in court? I was not over the free time and just because I parked very badly I did not stop someone parking next to me I had not straddled over 2 bays. I am very angry with all these threats over a baseless charge.

The_Deep

MRS AK. If is UKPC you can ignore them The chances of them going to court on an "own space" ticket are almost nil, they were taught a very hard lesson by Roger Davey, who took them to court.

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?377246-UKPC-liable-for-trespass-**SUCCESS**

If you need help please start your own thread