ACE security systems and Gladstone solicitors letter before claim

mamaster

I have a problem with ACE security services re the parking ticket I got. Even though I have done my research online and have read many posts about them I have reached the point where I do not know what to do next.

On 20/03/16 my car was parked without a permit in the area where I live and I got the ticket. Upon reading online to ignore this as apparently ACE were not able to obtain my details from DVLA I did nothing. Then on 9 May 2016 I received a Notice to Keeper / Formal Demand from ACE to which I replied on 4 June 16 using a template from one of the Newbie posts about ACE being IPC member with questions about their charge.
The reason why I delayed this reply was that during that time I was in the middle of arranging a parking permit from my neighbor who had moved out to park my car in his place. As ACE are the issuers I did not want them to see that the number plate in the application was the same as the one in the parking ticket (2 different addresses). Now I have a permit but two tickets from before.

Nevertheless, ACE replied that I was too late for an appeal (even though my letter was not an appeal) and they wouldn't answer my questions as the letter was taken from the internet template (???).

Today (29 June 16) I have got a letter before claim from their solicitors, Gladstones requesting now £150 (ticket was £100) and I am really confused what to do next.
I do not want to ignore the letter from the solicitors as they can take me to court but do not really know on what grounds to appeal the charge (eg. trespass and no damage caused?) or who to write to, ACE or Gladstone?

If anyone could suggest what to do next I would be very grateful. I have 14 days to reply to the solicitors.

beamerguy

mamaster wrote: »

I have a problem with ACE security services re the parking ticket I got. Even though I have done my research online and have read many posts about them I have reached the point where I do not know what to do next.

On 20/03/16 my car was parked without a permit in the area where I live and I got the ticket. Upon reading online to ignore this as apparently ACE were not able to obtain my details from DVLA I did nothing. Then on 9 May 2016 I received a Notice to Keeper / Formal Demand from ACE to which I replied on 4 June 16 using a template from one of the Newbie posts about ACE being IPC member with questions about their charge.
The reason why I delayed this reply was that during that time I was in the middle of arranging a parking permit from my neighbor who had moved out to park my car in his place. As ACE are the issuers I did not want them to see that the number plate in the application was the same as the one in the parking ticket (2 different addresses). Now I have a permit but two tickets from before.

Nevertheless, ACE replied that I was too late for an appeal (even though my letter was not an appeal) and they wouldn't answer my questions as the letter was taken from the internet template (???).

Today (29 June 16) I have got a letter before claim from their solicitors, Gladstones requesting now £150 (ticket was £100) and I am really confused what to do next.
I do not want to ignore the letter from the solicitors as they can take me to court but do not really know on what grounds to appeal the charge (eg. trespass and no damage caused?) or who to write to, ACE or Gladstone?

If anyone could suggest what to do next I would be very grateful. I have 14 days to reply to the solicitors.

ACE as an IPC member can get details from the DVLA

HERE IS THE SCAM

ACE are an IPC member and even if you had appealed to IAS the fake appeals service operated by the IPC, the WHOLE service is owned by Gladstones Solicitors

It is a complete Scam to extort money.

The letter is probably an LBA, Letter before action which means Gladstones may issue court papers. Others will be along to advise you on this.

In the meantime, read all about Gladstones
http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=gladstones

Coupon-mad

I have got a letter before claim from their solicitors, Gladstones

Search the forum for 'Gladstones LBCCC' which is the easiest way to find threads recently where people have responded.

mamaster

Thanks guys for your suggestions. I've spent 2 days researching my options and here's my plan. I'd appreciate if you could share your thoughts.

After receiving NTK from ACE I wrote to them requesting information suggested in the Newbie thread (1. Who is the party that contracted with your company? I require their contact details.2. What is the full legal identity of the landowner? etc)

They responded: ''Unfortunately we cannot accept your letter as an appeal, as it is not particular to these circumstances.We are not required to respond to any of the questions, as it has clearly been acquired from an online template. You are now out of time to appeal within our standard procedure,and this case is now being passed to our solicitor''. A couple of weeks later I received a LBC from Gladstones.

They say I'm out of time, but I found out on gov uk that I actually have got 28 days (is this true?) to formally appeal the NTK (I wrote on the 26th day). So I'm going to complain about their conduct, the fact that they ignored my formal appeal, request the cancellation and inform that I'll use Financial Ombudsman services if they don't.
As for Gladstones, I'm going to reply that I'm still in dispute with their client (ACE) as the grounds for the charge are not yet identified.

What do you think?

pappa_golf

you complain , the financial ombudsman raises hell (can he?) , ACE accept your appeal




appeal declined , please pay up

Coupon-mad

The time to appeal to an NTK is shown on the NTK, of course, and you have that there. Sometimes 28 days, sometimes 21 days if an IPC member. Doesn't really matter - irrelevant in fact. The important thing is to read LBCCC threads to find a response example for Gladstones.

You will also find loads on pepipoo forum if you Google 'LBCCC Gladstones pepipoo' for example, like this:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=100860

and loads here like this:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5449108

But you've searched for 2 days so I expect you've alredy found that.

mamaster

I though I would give you an update on the case.... which was eventually DISMISSED IN COURT!

It's worth mentioning that I used some suggestions from here but also got help off forum. I spent quite a lot of time researching legal documents and acts online too.

So, long story short. I got the ticket (didn't appeal) and then NTK to which I replied requesting more particulars (the questions from the newbie thread) since they wanted me to name the driver. I was not the driver but didn't name the driver until I filed my witness statements in court. ACE sent a very dismissive letter claiming that they don't have to answer my questions as the letter was from the Internet (what?????). This way they failed to comply with POFA 2012 Sch.4. They passed the case to their Solicitors (btw the directors of Gladstones are the directors of their appeal service IPC). IPC is another joke with their shaddy practice.

Then I received a LBC from Gladstones to which I replied with the same questions as I still did not have the information I had the right to. Gladstones did not respond to my letter and instead filed a money claim in court. This way they failed to comply with Pre-action protocol.
I received direction questionnaire from court and it was noted that Gladstones requested that the case was dealt with on paper to which I opposed. I requested the hearing in my home court and it was accepted. I filed all my evidence and witness statements with the court and Gladstones. They also sent me a very lengthy defence giving me all the information I requested in the first letter (too late). ACE was meant to be represented by their owner and his defence was clearly written by one of the solicitors.
Surprisingly, on the hearing day ACE was represented by one of the Gladstones who had no clue what the case was about and was frantically checking his laptop and mumbling something. Apparently this guy and Gladstones' practice was known to the judge who dismissed the claim within 3 minutes of the hearing. Gladstones DID NOT FILE any documents with the court!

beamerguy

mamaster wrote: »

I though I would give you an update on the case.... which was eventually DISMISSED IN COURT!

It's worth mentioning that I used some suggestions from here but was also got help off forum. I spent quite a lot of time researching legal documents and acts online too.

So, long story short. I got the ticket (didn't appeal) and then NTK to which I replied requesting more particulars (the questions from the newbie thread) since they wanted me to name the driver. I was not the driver but didn't name the driver until I filed my witness statements in court. ACE sent a very dismissive letter claiming that they don't have to answer my questions as the letter was from the Internet (what?????). This way they failed to comply with POFA 2012 Sch.4. They passed the case to their Solicitors (btw the directors of Gladstones are the directors of their appeal service IPC). IPC is another joke with their shaddy practice.

Then I received a LBC from Gladstones to which I replied with the same questions as I still did not have the information I had the right to. Gladstones did not respond to my letter and instead filed a money claim in court. This way they failed to comply with Pre-action protocol.
I received direction questionnaire from court and it was noted that Gladstones requested that the case was dealt with on paper to which I opposed. I requested the hearing in my home court and it was accepted. I filed all my evidence and witness statements with the court and Gladstones. They also sent me a very lengthy defence giving me all the information I requested in the first letter (too late). ACE was meant to be represented by their owner and his defence was clearly written by one of the solicitors.
Surprisingly, on the hearing day ACE was represented by one of the Gladstones who had no clue what the case was about and was frantically checking his laptop and mumbling something. Apparently this guy and Gladstones' practice was known to the judge who dismissed the claim within 3 minutes of the hearing. Gladstones DID NOT FILE any documents with the court!

Well done:T, another failure by the Gladstone Boys ???

A story the Parking Prankster needs to know about
prankster@parking-prankster.com

"ACE HAVE BEEN GLADSTONED" .... WHO IS NEXT ??

Castle

mamaster wrote: »

Apparently this guy and Gladstones' practice was known to the judge who dismissed the claim within 3 minutes of the hearing. Gladstones DID NOT FILE any documents with the court!

Well done; I hope you asked for costs in respect of their unreasonable behaviour.

mamaster

The hearing was yesterday and I haven't received any formal documents from the court yet. However, I've been considering claiming back my costs, namely wasted enormous amount of time (on holiday as well), some admin costs (letters sent from abroad and time off work to attend the hearing.
What are the legal basis for such claim? Would I have to file my own claim against them (pay £25)? How do I prove how much time I spent?

Coupon-mad

No, you could have asked for costs on the spot & handed over a schedule! Send it to the Judge now, immediately, with the claim number & details and ask nicely.

Definitely email the claim number & court/Judge details to the Parking Prankster as we'd love to see this blogged and known which court/Judge this was.