UKPC, DRP & Gladstones

Dazzler1987

Hi all. Back in March 2014 I collected my parents from Newcastle airport. I arrived late and to save me the £1 drop off/pick up fee they walked out to a close hotel entrance. They informed me where they were and I obviously went to their location. This was close to the airport and from what I believe, was on airport land. They do have signs prohibiting loading in that area, I admit I was wrong however it was late, dark and the signs were unlit - despite being regulatory signs in a lit area - the TSRGD issued by the Secretary of State clearly states that these signs should be lit if in a built up area with street lighting. I only noticed these signs upon my return to the airport to check after receiving a charge from UKPC. I followed advice and ignored. I then moved from this address and I kind of forgot about it, more and more as time went on in fact. It was only this week that I returned to the house, which for the past 3 years has been rented out by my parents, to a stack of letters from UKPC, Debt Recovery Plus and most recently Gladstones solicitors stating that to prevent legal action I need to pay £160 within 14 days. I have never contacted either UKPC or debt recovery plus so I'm not sure where my argument now stands.

Thank you...:mad:

Umkomaas

Are you sure it is UKPC? I can't recall them being involved at Newcastle Airport, nor do I associate them with Gladstones. Are you sure you're not dealing with two separate parking issues? Please check the PCN reference number is the same on each document you've received - just to get you and us clear as to who we're dealing with.

There is a newbies sticky near the top of the forum thread list, one page back from here, which explains all the stages of how PCNs should be handled. However, as your PCN was back in 2014 you are well beyond any appeal stage.

You appear to be at debt collector stage, although the involvement of Gladstones may be moving this towards a small claim being made.

Please do a search on this forum for Gladstones - there's loads of cases, including copies of their letters, so weigh your Gladstone position up against those threads you find.

Debt collectors can be ignored (see post #4 of the sticky), and it sounds as though Gladstones are operating in a DC capacity in your case. My concern would be your move from the address where all this post is now going - so it's imperative you set up some arrangement to have any further post collected/diverted as if court papers are issued and you are unaware of their delivery, you are looking at a default against you, a CCJ, your credit rating trashed with serious consequences for loans, mortgages and possibly employment opportunities.

Come back when you've checked to confirm which parking company is involved and whether you might be dealing with more than one PCN.

Redx

I believe its UKPPO, not UKPC

IGNORE a parking charge hasnt been the advice since march 2013 due to POFA2012, so advice in 2014 was to appeal to the PPC

but as its been IGNORED then continue to IGNORE unless you get a poper LBC or an MCOL

see post #4 of the NEWBIES sticky thread , plus this thread too

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

you are at stalemate at the moment, neither side will budge

they have 6 years to try a court claim which might be around £200 if you lost, so another 3 or 4 years (or so) of hassle, including more debt collector drivel

see this thread too

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5383105

and this one

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5325524

loads of them if you put UKPPO into the forum search box

Fruitcake

As above, carefully go through all the paperwork, get it in chronological order, and then work out what you have actually got.


I'm not sure where you got the advice to ignore because that hasn't been given on this site since the law changed in 2012. Bad advice.


Also as above, read the Sticky thread for NEWBIES once you have worked out where you are in the proceedings.


If you have genuine court papers then you need to act fast. If no then you should wait to see if any actually arrive but read up on what to do if it happens. Your biggest defence point will be that airport land is covered by byelaws and therefore the vehicle keeper is not liable. There is loads of information about this on this site to help you.

Dazzler1987

Apologies, it is UKPPO, not UKPC as previously thought. It is definitely the same case however. It appears that I have followed bad advice but it's too late now, I'll have to ride this one out and see what happens. The strange thing is, the charge is a Parking Charge Notice as they all are however, I didn't actually park nor did I enter the car park. I think there's a small dispute in information there too? Surely it should be a 'Prohobited Movement Charge' or something more relevant to what actually happened...?

Castle

Dazzler1987 wrote: »

Apologies, it is UKPPO, not UKPC as previously thought.

Is it UKPPO or UKPPO Ltd?
(These are two separate trading entities and UKPPO Ltd was not trading in March 2014.)

Dazzler1987

It is UKPPO Ltd, and the ticket was issued in March 2013, I've just re-read my original post and that was a typo. I'm guessing they were trading on that date?

Fruitcake

Dazzler1987 wrote: »

It is UKPPO Ltd, and the ticket was issued in March 2013, I've just re-read my original post and that was a typo. I'm guessing they were trading on that date?

If you use the edit, then advanced edit, you can amend the title of this thread to the correct PPC name.

Castle

Dazzler1987 wrote: »

It is UKPPO Ltd, and the ticket was issued in March 2013, I've just re-read my original post and that was a typo. I'm guessing they were trading on that date?

UKPPO Ltd was dormant, (non trading), until 31st March 2015. Back in March 2013 it would have been UKPPO issuing the tickets and all of the signs, (if any), would have said UKPPO.

The_Deep

If the letter from Gladstones is in any way threatening, intimidatory, or misleading, complain to the SRA. Any mention of a County Court Judgment could be considered misleading as so many things have to happen first.


https://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page


This will not only cost them money to defend, but will warn them that you are not a pushover. Furthermore, they are unlikely to take you to court as this is not a parking matter and airports have byelaws which require action in magistrates' courts, not County Courts. .

Dazzler1987

Thanks guys! Really helpful information. I've checked the letter from Gladstones again and the parking 'officials' fining me are, according to them, UKPPO Ltd, something that couldn't have been possible in March 2013 as they were dormant, is that correct? Therefore, surely no claim whatsoever stands as the original company at that time now ceases to trade? The later also mentions a judgement, county court action and is signed by 'Gladstones Solicitors' not an actual rep or solicitor of that company.

Guess I'll await court papers....or not (hopefully).

Thanks again.