BW Legal & Excel - letter

Bortron

Hi all, newcomer here. I know there have been a lot of threads about letters from BW Legal regarding Excel parking charges, but I haven't found one in the searches that answers my specific query - apologies if I've missed it!

The basics are as follows: I drove around a private car park in February 2010 looking for a space. I didn't find one, so left again. The car park had ANPR, and it calculated from my entrance and exit times that I'd parked illegally (technically I hadn't parked at all, and my car never stopped moving!). The advice I got at the time was to ignore the notice they sent, and I did, along with follow-up letters, which eventually dried up about a year later.

Then this week, I received a letter from BW Legal, demanding the £154 from me, with threat of a CCJ if I don't pay up. From what I've read online, the deadline for court claims is 6 years, so they shouldn't be able to do that, as the alleged offence was 6.5 years ago..

My question is this: if 6 years is the deadline, should I respond to the letter in any way (perhaps stating this, and that if any further letters are received that I'd complain to the relevant trade bodies), or ignore it?

Coupon-mad

Yep they are timed out for claiming against this alleged contract. I would point that out to BW Legal and report them to the CSA, rather like LoveNorfolk's shining example CSA complaint:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5490266

The more complaints, the better. Also complain about this misleading demand to the Solicitors' Regulatory Authority.

Bortron

Thanks, I'll do that! The threats in the letter did worry me, until I looked into it further. It's appalling that these people can send letters like this.

The_Deep

Report them to the SRA for unprofessional conduct/conduct likely to bring the profession into disrepute


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

beamerguy

The Limitation Act says that the limitation period for simple contract debts is six years (statute-barred)

They have not even proven there was ever a contract or debt

As said above, a severe complaint to the SRA and the CSA and screw the cork in harder by passing this to the OFT and Trading Standards

Quentin

Bortron wrote: »

My question is this: if 6 years is the deadline, should I respond to the letter in any way (perhaps stating this, and that if any further letters are received that I'd complain to the relevant trade bodies), or ignore it?

A "debt" never dies.


But the creditor only has a 6 year "deadline" to commence legal proceedings to get paid.


They still can continue to pursue the debt after 6 years (eg send the boys round etc) has passed, but cannot take court action.

pappa_golf

Quentin wrote: »

A "debt" never dies.


But the creditor only has a 6 year "deadline" to commence legal proceedings to get paid.


They still can continue to pursue the debt after 6 years (eg send the boys round etc) has passed, but cannot take court action.

but this letter states court action and the threat of a CCJ




report big time !

beamerguy

pappa_golf wrote: »

but this letter states court action and the threat of a CCJ

report big time !

Of course .... and to the OP, no boys will be calling around, BWLegal will know their limits, they are not a back street loan company:)

copperjar

I have had the same letter - also about original incident taking place in Feb 2010.

pappa_golf

copperjar wrote: »

I have had the same letter - also about original incident taking place in Feb 2010.

and on two threads you have been told what to do

copperjar

One thread thanks pappa. Wasn't asking for advice here, just showing that they are obviously sending out en mass in case other people searching too