What should I do now?

littlejulie

I received a parking charge back in February after overstaying in a Homebase car park by 17 minutes. I only knew about the charge when I received paperwork in the post along with a photo of my car entering and exiting the car park.
I wrote and challenged the charge under the disproportionate charge as suggested by this forum. I was not successful and received a long letter from G24 quoting all sorts of law. I have to say I ignored this but have now received two letters from a debt recovery firm, from which I note that the charge has now increased from £100 to £160. If I do not contact them and pay by 11th August, the debt will referred back to G24 with a suggestion of court action. The letter goes onto say that if this happens it could seriously effect my ability to get credit. Looking at this forum I think this is incorrect as it's not based on a default of a credit agreement?
I can also see that someone has challenged a charge on this basis and lost, but it has now been referred to the Supreme Court.
Can I ask for a stay on further action until this case is heard?
Any help will be greatly appreciated as I am very angry at receiving this. :mad::mad:

Herzlos

Just ignore the debt recovery firm, and anything other than official pre-court* or court procedures.

If it gets that far you can ask it to be stayed pending Beavis, or you can ask for ADR in the form of POPLA, or you can just defend it. But they haven't done that yet, they'll spend a bit longer threatening you.


At this stage, all you should do is complain to Homebase - to the manager in store, to their head office and CEO, and on their facebook and twitter pages. They still have the power to cancel it once you convince them you won't be fobbed off.

*If it comes from G24 and doesn't use vague terms like "may" or "suggest", but instead says something like "Pay us before ____ or we will commence action", then come back and we'll handle it.

Fruitcake

G24 are IPC members. The opinion on this site is split as to whether appealing to IPC after a rejection from the PPC is worth it or not.


Some say ignore, others say appeal then ignore. If you are already in ignore mode and past the IPC appeal deadline then just keep ignoring.


Debt collectors can always be ignored.


Always complain to the landowner or store that employed the scammers.


All of this information is in the Sticky thread for NEWBIES.

Fruitcake

Herzlos wrote: »

Just ignore the debt recovery firm, and anything other than official pre-court* or court procedures.

If it gets that far you can ask it to be stayed pending Beavis, or you can ask for ADR in the form of POPLA, or you can just defend it. But they haven't done that yet, they'll spend a bit longer threatening you.


At this stage, all you should do is complain to Homebase - to the manager in store, to their head office and CEO, and on their facebook and twitter pages. They still have the power to cancel it once you convince them you won't be fobbed off.

*If it comes from G24 and doesn't use vague terms like "may" or "suggest", but instead says something like "Pay us before ____ or we will commence action", then come back and we'll handle it.

G24 are IPC affiliated so PoPLA is not an option.

littlejulie

Thank you for your advice. I will contact the Manager at the store as suggested.

littlejulie

I contacted Homebase via email, it was the contact details on the national website. I marked my email FAO the manager at the store where I had the charge. I have received a reply from the manager of the e-commerce team, basically saying that Homebase don't own the car park so can't overturn the ticket. She suggests that I contact the manager of the store if I've got proof of my purchase and they may be able to use their discretion to get the ticket cancelled. I don't have any proof of purchase.
In the meantime the debt collection company has contacted me again asking for further payment and saying it will reduce the charge if I pay in full by 25th August. Otherwise it will be going back to its client with a recommendation of court action.
Again, any further advice will be gratefully received as I'm not sure what to do next.

The_Deep

Ignore, they are IPC and do not offer a creditable ADR regime, This alone would scupper them if they made a court claim.

Ralph-y

as above this is the IPC PPC so you can never win against them and their kangaroo appeals service .......

You must put more effort into forcing HomeBase to sort it ....

If HomeBase don't own the car park ask then who does? ...

did you use a credit card / debit card to pay ? .....

do you use the store much? .....

have you been back to the store manager? ....

have you posted on their facebook / twitter page ? ....

Ralph:cool:

Redx

complain to the actual landowner

ignore the debt collectors

only respond if G24 themselves actually issue an LBC or an MCOL, until then its not important , but getting the landownber on your side is important