Vehicle Control Services (VCS) &Rossendales Collect

Hankdog_25

Hi All

On 04/09/2015 I received a parking charge (£60) from VCS for stopping (for around 2 mins to take a phone call) on an entry road on a S!!!!horpe retail park. The event took place 28/08/2015.
I ignored the parking charge notice and received a second one 13/10/2015 about the same "offence".
I ignored the second parking charge notice and have now received a letter from Rossendales Collect (debt collectors) wanting £130.
I have drafted out a letter to Rossendales denying the the debt and asked them to refer it back to their client.
Should I sent this letter or continue to ignore?

Thanks

Guys_Dad

Reply to Rossendales as a disputed debt just as you suggest and wait further developments and more junk from them or their mates. But watch out for any genuine court papers.

Hankdog_25

Thanks 'Guys Dad'.

I have posted the letter to Rossendales. I will update if I get a response.

Hankdog_25

Just received another letter from Rossendale. It's almost as if they're pretending that they haven't received my letter and this is just a follow up letter from the last 1.
I was going to call them but then noticed they charge per minute, so sod that!

ManxRed

NEVER call a debt collector.

Yes, they've just ignored your last letter and progressed to the next one. It'll be a trained YTS yoof who won't understand what your letter meant, even though it's opened Rossendales and VCS up to a potential harassment claim as a result.

He/She will just be putting letters into envelopes and posting them on the prescribed days. Ignore it.

Fruitcake

Hankdog_25 wrote: »

Just received another letter from Rossendale. It's almost as if they're pretending that they haven't received my letter and this is just a follow up letter from the last 1.
I was going to call them but then noticed they charge per minute, so sod that!

Never 'phone a parking scumpany or debt collector. You have sent the letter now you are in ignore mode unless they send you real court papers.


There is nothing stopping you from appealing to VCS. They will tell you that you are out of time but recent changes in EU regulations says that alternative dispute resolution should be available for up to a year after the event.

Umkomaas

Even if they were offering a freephone number, forum advice is to NEVER phone a debt collector (or PPC). No matter what you feel you've got up your sleeve to hit them with, chances are they've heard it a thousand times before - and bounced it off.

They deal with this stuff every day - it's their job. You will likely be coming from such a low starting point that there's the strong possibility you will end the call in a worse position than when you commenced.

What were you hoping for from a phone call to them?

zoonyx

Was it here by any chance?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ht0Y9EYcKM

It's actually the Leisure Park (I don't think the retail park opposite, or the actual S!!!!horpe Retail Park (the next roundabout on, Matalan etc) use these scumbags.

I believe the signage is non-compliant. They're all pointing towards the entrance, but if you've been to the pub and leave, there isn't a single sign facing you. I very much doubt they have landowner authority either (PM me for details), and if they do grow some balls and take me to court, I'll be highlighting the fact that the supposed contract can't be read without stopping - for a no-stopping contract.

I also got Rossendales bog roll, but will ignore for now (unless I feel harassed, in which I will make this clear)..

I'll be pursuing VCS for costs if they pull out just before the court date (they usually do).

Hankdog_25

In essences I just wanted to tell them to p!!s off and leave me alone.

No it is just up the road from there. It's the one with he new Debenhams and M&S on it.

HO87

Debt collectors do not give a monkey's jump whether you genuinely owe the money or not or what you think of them. They are interested in one thing and one thing only - and getting it out your pocket into theirs because unless you pay them they don't make anything.

The rights and wrongs are therefore utterly irrelevant to them they just want you to pay - regardless. By putting each member of their call centre staff on a collection target the companies have ensured that their staff's interests are completely aligned with theirs so they could not care less about anything except when you are going to get your money out.
Don't waste your time - and move on.

If we marvel at how it is that the mightiest legal minds in the country have managed to allow PPC's to thrive we need only look at how debt collectors have been permitted to expand by bullying, cajoling and deceiving their way to the top.

unicorpixie

Hi all!

Newbie here.. I've just got my first parking ticket, it was on the windscreen of my car from Vehicle Control Services. The 'land' itself is the car park of a 9-5 surveyors. I was parked there between 9pm - 9.30pm on a Saturday. I have yet to reply in any kind of way but I got the ticket a couple of weeks ago and am now thinking ignorance might not be the best thing.

My reason for ignoring it was because I had always thought that you should only pay a parking fine if the business itself would be losing revenue by you parking there.

I'm assuming I'm wrong now! Any tips or pointers would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you in advance!