Private car park PCN paid, but getting hassle from solicitors!

doglikesparky

I searched the forum but couldn't find a similar case to mine, where I have paid the fine but am now getting demands from solicitors to pay their extra charges, which I was not warned about in advance and some of which are unnaccounted for.

I got a Parking Charge Notice slapped on my windscreen in October, because my permit for that private car park (managed by a 'legit' IPC registered company) was a week or so out of date - I had got a new permit but forgot to swap it over.

I ignored it, and about a month later got a reminder notice from from them, saying I need to pay the £100 PCN or appeal within 28 days. Unfortunately, my head wasn't in a good place then (I suffer from depression) and I didn't appeal or do anything else (too skint to pay it too). This notice did not mention anything about any additional fees for late payment, or give a breakdown of any fees.

About two months later in January I got my head and finances together and went ahead and paid the £100 to have done with it, using their online payment system.

About 10 days AFTER I paid the PCN online, I got a hassling letter from the solicitors, dated 5 days after I had paid it, saying I owed £180, which included their £30 administration charge. No indication of what the other £50 was added on to the £100 (that I had already paid!). I had received nothing from anyone in the intervening time.

I emailed them telling I had already paid the PCN and had an email receipt for that, and questioned the unnaccounted-for £50 additional fee. They wrote back saying nothing about the £50 and that I still owed £80 as the 'debt' had already entered the recovery process. They were nice though and said I could pay it in £40 chunks over the next 2 months. :rotfl:

This sounds like so much doodoo to me. What do you reckon? Should I just ignore them from now on?

I haven't responded as I wanted to ascertain whether they are actually breaking the law (or whatever code of conduct solicitors are supposed to follow) for making demands for administration charges that I was NOT notified of previously, and are continuing to do so even though I have already paid the PCN fee!

Thanks in advance for any advice or comments.

pappa_golf

solicitors or debt collectors ?


please read


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5035663




the debt collector cannot instigate any court action , and the parking Co would look foolish with you having a bank statement/receipt with a date on it


however I think the foolish one here is YOU for paying this without querying it.


dependent on your lease (etc) I would check if it clearly states you have to have a permit and more importantly are you obliged to display it.


we are talking about your lease , NOT the mickey mouse signs put up by VCS

doglikesparky

Thanks pappa golf.

Yeah, I know I was foolish - to ignore it, to not appeal and then to pay it, but what's done is done. I just really resent getting further hassle from the solicitors like this.

FYI, it's a private car park attached to the flats where I live. The flats are mostly owned and managed by a housing association, but mine is owned by a private landlord. As residents we are given generic parking permits for that specific car park - there's no personally identifying information or vehicle registration, we don't pay a parking lease or sign a contract. Well, I don't anyway. Not sure if it comes under the service charges my landlord pays.

pappa_golf

ok , time to look forward , does your landlord OWN the rights to the parking space , if so has he signed over the rights to the PPC

Marktheshark

Has someone signed the letter claiming to be a solicitor ?
Look at the bottom, how do they describe themselves.

Coupon-mad

You've paid £100 so enough is enough. Who is writing to you?

doglikesparky

pappa_golf wrote: »

ok , time to look forward , does your landlord OWN the rights to the parking space , if so has he signed over the rights to the PPC

We don't even have an assigned parking space - it's just a free for all car park managed by VCS where a valid permit is required.

doglikesparky

Marktheshark wrote: »

Has someone signed the letter claiming to be a solicitor ?
Look at the bottom, how do they describe themselves.

It's Wright Hassall, and it's signed in printed script font, Wright Hassall.

I didn't want to name names to avoid any identifying stuff, but I guess that's pretty pertinent.

pappa_golf

if this "is" a solicitor , they could be in deep "doo daa " by demanding money AFTER a payment was made , you receiving a threatening letter 10 days after payment could be seen as bad action by VCS and/or the solicitor/debt collecting co.


as they are clearly acting for the PPC (paid) it might bike them on the bum




now lets guess who


Gladstones
wright hastle
ZZPS
DR+
etc etc ,,,,,,,,,,,, all scum but can be delt with accordingly




do NOTHING now , retain the receipt , and the begging letter and there email reply , IF any more mail comes THEN its time for action

pappa_golf

doglikesparky wrote: »

We don't even have an assigned parking space - it's just a free for all car park managed by VCS where a valid permit is required.

WHO says a permit is required , who are VCS working for?

Coupon-mad

doglikesparky wrote: »

It's Wright Hassall, and it's signed in printed script font, Wright Hassall.

I didn't want to name names to avoid any identifying stuff, but I guess that's pretty pertinent.

Oh, Wright Hassall. So presumably you've searched the forum for 'Hassall' and also Googled and found the Parking Prankster's blogs about them? Loads of stuff already here.