The age old question, fight or pay?

Renoized

Okay, so here's the deal, on February of this year, I got a ticket from Vehicle Control Services, stupidly I followed the old advice of ignore. They went to the DVLA and got my address, I ignored (but kept) a couple of letters.

Now Debt Recovery Plus have sent me a letter saying they're planning court, but have halved the charge to £80 if I pay up and make this all go away without going to court.

As an added caveat, I'm not in the country any more, I now live in Germany, so fighting this could be difficult. What's your opinion on this? Fight or take their 'offer' and pay up?

Fruitcake

You already know that you should not have ignored the PCN, but you should know that it is safe to ignore debt collectors. The Sticky thread for NEWBIES tells you why it is safe to do so.

Why on earth would you think about paying a scammer? *confused*

If Germany is now your permanent address (and likely to be for the next six years,) you can give the parking company this address "as driver" then ignore anything and everything they send you.

Renoized

So should I send them an email or a letter, and would it be good to also add that I don't accept responsibility for the ticket?

pappa_golf

Renoized wrote: »

So should I send them an email or a letter, and would it be good to also add that I don't accept responsibility for the ticket?

as per


"If Germany is now your permanent address (and likely to be for the next six years,) you can give the parking company this address "as driver" then ignore anything and everything they send you. "


email them , then send them a nice post card from Germany.


are you getting mail redirect , or is someone relaying messages?




PS:"would it be good to also add that I don't accept responsibility for the ticket"


how can they start a court claim for a non UK resident? , just wish them a happy xmas

Fruitcake

Renoized wrote: »

So should I send them an email or a letter, and would it be good to also add that I don't accept responsibility for the ticket?

Do all of the above, especially a letter from Germany.

By "them" I assume you mean the parking scammers, not DRP.

Renoized

I have all the other letters, but someone was relayed the one mentioned in the first post, but now they've moved out of that address too, they live somewhere else in the UK.

Will they really not chase me if I state I live abroad? (I can't see myself moving back to the UK any time soon...)

Fruitcake

Renoized wrote: »

I have all the other letters, but someone was relayed the one mentioned in the first post, but now they've moved out of that address too, they live somewhere else in the UK.

Will they really not chase me if I state I live abroad? (I can't see myself moving back to the UK any time soon...)

They cannot. It is as simple as that. Just write to them, making sure you keep a copy as proof of sending (screenshot for email, or better still German equivalent of UK proof of posting. Not recorded or special delivery.)

pappa_golf

as the only method of extracting monies from you is the county court , google county court and see if you as a non UK resident can be brought there.


if you do not inform them of a move they may (as they see it) instigate court action and try for a default , as you would not know or show up.


if they instigate action knowing you are in Germany , they are in the %hit when you come back to the UK and find out.


email , followed by postcard to the parking Co , then chill out

beamerguy

Renoized wrote: »

Okay, so here's the deal, on February of this year, I got a ticket from Vehicle Control Services, stupidly I followed the old advice of ignore. They went to the DVLA and got my address, I ignored (but kept) a couple of letters.

Now Debt Recovery Plus have sent me a letter saying they're planning court, but have halved the charge to £80 if I pay up and make this all go away without going to court.

As an added caveat, I'm not in the country any more, I now live in Germany, so fighting this could be difficult. What's your opinion on this? Fight or take their 'offer' and pay up?

Just ignore DRP they are simple debt collectors with less teeth than a goldfish

Advise Vehicle Control Services by email that you now live abroad and give your address.
The reason is that VCS might take you to court and if you do not attend you will get a default which will lead to a CCJ , so pinch that in the bud now
Send a copy of the email to yourself and request confirmation from VCS

You may well start getting more debt collector letters in germany ignore them all, they will stop, it will however prove they have your german address

If VCS do not understand, plain english appears to be a major problem with these scammers, and they send court papers, return them with the info you provided to VCS

DRP appear to be desperate by offering a 50% discount, it's probably because everyone ignores them (those who visit MSE)

Umkomaas

Was this an airport 'parking' infringement?

DRP can't 'plan court' for you, but I doubt their letter actually says that.

Renoized

Not an airport ticket no, and not planning court, DRP just used their standard floaty language "We will recommend to the creditor that court action should be taken" or whatever