PCN after entering the incorrect registration number in the ticket machine

Louling06

Hi,
Sorry if this is in the wrong place.
Last November (28th) I parked in a car park operated by Excel. I paid for my ticket and entered my registration number into the machine, displayed it in my car and went about dragging my 4 children (including my 2 month old baby) to the opticians. I'm sure you can imagine how stressful this was at the time. So, 40 minutes later we left and went home.
Now 2 weeks later on 15/12 I received a PCN from Vehicle Control Services Ltd, dated 10/12. After reading through and quite frankly panicking I remembered the trip and that the ticket was still in the car, so of I went to go and get it. So I was looking at this ticket and thinking why have they sent me a PCN if I have paid for the ticket, and then I noticed that I had entered in the incorrect registration number. I had entered in the number for the car that I used to drive (that being a 4 seater car and having 4 children, my partner and I had swapped cars temporarily).
Upon realising my mistake I immediately set out to try to sort this out, so I phoned the number on the letter only to be met with an automated system with no option to speak to anyone. So I emailed them and explained the situation and sent them an picture of the ticket I had purchased.
The next letter comes through a month later dated 9/01, acknowledging my correspondence and stating that I still failed to purchase a valid ticket as I entered the wrong details, but that they had located a ticket that could match the info I had given them, but they needed documented evidence proving ownership of the car for the registration number I had entered. Now I received this letter on 14/01, having sold my car 2 days previous! Again, I immediately emailed them to explain this.
Next letter arrived a month later again, stating that I had to provide proof of sale, documentary evidence from DVLA confirming the dates showing that we were no longer the registered keeper or details of the new registered keeper.
My proof of sale contained details of the finance I had taken out the purchase a bigger car using my car as part-ex, so I didn't want to send that. I had no details of the new registered keeper as it was a dealership, but i had the confirmation from the DVLA stating that we were no longer the registered keeper. But when I went to scan it to the computer so I could email it off, I couldn't find it. And then after a while I completely forgot about it.
2 months later I received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus Ltd Demanding payment for £160 for this ticket. Now this reminded me about the letter i needed to find. So i pulled everything out wherever I could think that it might be and eventually found it.I then emailed VCSL and explained why I had taken so long and sent them the copy of the letter. They responded a month after i emailed them stating that the appeal period had passed, and that they would not reconsider their decision, and the matter had been passed on to the debt recovery company as they had not received payment despite previous requests (requests that I have never received after I began contacting them).
So, I haven't heard anything from either company for 2 months and then I get a "Letter before referral for legal action", stating that i have 14 days to pay or " I am instructed to report back to Vehicle Control Services Ltd with a recommendation to refer your case to our clients solicitor, to consider commencing court proceedings against you".
Is there anything else I can do to appeal this in anyway or am I fighting a losing battle?
Hope someone can help please.

Redx

paragraphs please , then people can read it and maybe help you

meanwhile , read post #4 of the NEWBIES sticky thread about debt collector letters

read this too https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5035663

and use the forum search box and BW LEGAL to read about the next possible stage

the PPC has 6 years in england and wales to try a court case, known as MCOL

of the current demand is an LBC from BW LEGAL , then respond with a GAN response , as mentioned in this similar thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5503028

ps:- its in the correct place

Coupon-mad

Sounds like you are getting the usual drivel from DRPlus or Zenith, which is easy to Google and search the forum for, to find you must ignore the trashy threats.

You should search 'BW Legal £54' as well, to be forewarned about the letters you DO need to respond to, if you get them. All covered umpteen times every week on loads of similar threads.

In the meantime, if you are local, get some urgent photos of the fact the signs are by Excel, whereas the PCN was from VCS (a different firm). You will need this evidence should you have to engage in responses to BW Legal to see this off.

But you DO NOT reply to debt collectors, as long as you are at the same address, let 'em keep on coming, keep the letters and ignore them.