Chases by debt recovery two years after purported offence

MA61

Hi all
I am posting reluctantly as I am trying to be sure I have read all the stickies etc but I didn't see these specific circumstances covered but please do forgive me if I have missed them, I do apologise.

I have just come back from sorting out my father's estate after he passed away abroad to find a letter from a debt recovery agency. The letter is dated earlier in August and has given me 14 days to pay a fine (which has already passed as I was not at home!).

It relates to a supposed PCN in summer of 2014. Apparently they wrote to me at my DVLA registered address and received no reply so have used a 'tracing service' to track me down, two years later and ask me for a sum well over £100.

I do not remember exactly the course of events at the time (as it was 2 years ago) but when I received the original NtK I think I used a standard letter to contest it. At the time I was moving house and as I had heard nothing further I assumed the matter closed.

I was a bit taken aback for them to come after me 2 years later, and as this does not seem to match anything else I have read in any of the guides etc, I am a bit unsure of what to do. I would really really appreciate some guidance on this.

Thanks for reading and thanks for your time.

P.S. I have been deliberately vague on some details because apparently these people read the forums???

peter_the_piper

Presumably a private parking company?

MA61

peter_the_piper wrote: »

Presumably a private parking company?

Yes it is, sorry I should have made that clear.
The letter is from a 'debt recovery' company, and it quotes the name of the PPC.

System

find a letter from a debt recovery agency

A DRA is powerless so ignore unless you get something from a solicitor.

If this is a private parking company the keeper (or his estate) may be liable if the parking company met certain requirements - usually they don't. So unless they know who the driver was, there is nothing you can or should do in response to a DRA/DCA.

beamerguy

You say .... It relates to a supposed PCN in summer of 2014. Apparently they wrote to me at my DVLA registered address and received no reply so have used a 'tracing service' to track me down, two years later and ask me for a sum well over £100.

May I ask, why do you think they used a tracing service to track you down ?
Have you always kept the DVLA informed and updated details ?

MA61

beamerguy wrote: »

You say .... It relates to a supposed PCN in summer of 2014. Apparently they wrote to me at my DVLA registered address and received no reply so have used a 'tracing service' to track me down, two years later and ask me for a sum well over £100.

May I ask, why do you think they used a tracing service to track you down ?
Have you always kept the DVLA informed and updated details ?

Because that's what it says in their letter, hence the quotes.
Yes I updated DVLA details after I moved house.
I appreciate all advice but I am not sure how this affects my position? Are they going to come after me for not updating the DVLA on the exact day I moved house?

Umkomaas

As said above, the DRA is powerless, but the PPC could still pursue you through the courts. If you give us the name of the PPC involved there is data available which will give you some idea as to whether the issue of court papers is likely or not.

Don't worry about revealing the name of the PPC, they're dealing with things on an industrial scale and won't be scouring forums with a magnifying glass for single ticket items. They're more interested in those threads relating to multiple tickets issued to an individual keeper.

MA61

IamEmanresu wrote: »

A DRA is powerless so ignore unless you get something from a solicitor.

If this is a private parking company the keeper (or his estate) may be liable if the parking company met certain requirements - usually they don't. So unless they know who the driver was, there is nothing you can or should do in response to a DRA/DCA.

Thank you. So I do not run the risk of escalating costs by ignoring. I appreciate the advice, regards

MA61

Umkomaas wrote: »

As said above, the DRA is powerless, but the PPC could still pursue you through the courts. If you give us the name of the PPC involved there is data available which will give you some idea as to whether the issue of court papers is likely or not.

Don't worry about revealing the name of the PPC, they're dealing with things on an industrial scale and won't be scouring forums with a magnifying glass for single ticket items. They're more interested in those threads relating to multiple tickets issued to an individual keeper.

Many thanks for the response. The company is Am Parking Services Ltd.

Umkomaas

Here's a bit of information about them.

https://bmpa.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/203572962-AM-Parking-Services-Ltd

http://www.bmpa.eu/companydata/AM_Parking_Services.html

Bit-part operator, never been near a parking-related courtroom in their lives. Just ignore the DRA letters - that's all the DRA can do is send letters. Only the PPC can issue court proceedings. Come back if you get real court papers, but highly unlikely I would say.

beamerguy

MA61 wrote: »

Because that's what it says in their letter, hence the quotes.
Yes I updated DVLA details after I moved house.
I appreciate all advice but I am not sure how this affects my position? Are they going to come after me for not updating the DVLA on the exact day I moved house?

Hi, no, they will not come after you for that.
It is odd that they have put the effort in to trace you for a parking ticket and my thought is have they accessed the DVLA twice ?

Do as everyone says, ignore them. If they do take you to court you will get a LBA or court papers, that is the time to take this seriously but not before.