Trouble getting confirmation of parking charge payment

Colgoo

I've received a PCN, challenged it as I didn't know the land was now private (poor signage), failed, received a County Court claim and paid it in good time. I did this despite the process of a notice on the windscreen not being followed along with the company ignoring (not rejecting) my appeal and loading the charge. They passed it to Gladstones who took it to the County Court. I am not impressed at all with Gladstone's handling of the case as they just accepted shambolic handling by the parking enforcement company but I felt intimidated and bullied by the County Court claim so paid Gladstones the £200+ direct as instructed. I'm now struggling to get confirmation of full and final settlement from them so I can be sure I've averted a CCJ. How can one put pressure on a solicitors without incurring costs please?!

peter_the_piper

What a pity you did not come here first, before the appeal went in to whoever the ppc was. Did you ever get papers genuinely from the court or was it just Gladstones normal threat 'o' gram?

beamerguy

Colgoo wrote: »

I've received a PCN, challenged it as I didn't know the land was now private (poor signage), failed, received a County Court claim and paid it in good time. I did this despite the process of a notice on the windscreen not being followed along with the company ignoring (not rejecting) my appeal and loading the charge. They passed it to Gladstones who took it to the County Court. I am not impressed at all with Gladstone's handling of the case as they just accepted shambolic handling by the parking enforcement company but I felt intimidated and bullied by the County Court claim so paid Gladstones the £200+ direct as instructed. I'm now struggling to get confirmation of full and final settlement from them so I can be sure I've averted a CCJ. How can one put pressure on a solicitors without incurring costs please?!

OH DEAR, why on earth pay ??

Gladstones have your money now so write it off, they are indeed a disgusting company. You paid so there should be no court case and no CCJ, Gladstones cannot do that.
Best check your credit report to be sure.

Next time DON'T PAY SCAMMERS, You have been ripped off

Colgoo

Yes, I wish I'd come to you first and yes it was an official CC claim form. I returned the Acknowledgement of Service part to get an extra 14 days to defend part of the claim but got cold feet after talking to my local CAB and paid.

beamerguy

Colgoo wrote: »

Yes, I wish I'd come to you first and yes it was an official CC claim form. I returned the Acknowledgement of Service part to get an extra 14 days to defend part of the claim but got cold feet after talking to my local CAB and paid.

A warning to everyone, when it comes to these scammers, the CAB are completely useless. Very bad advice from the CAB

Colgoo

I received a formal PCN from Parking & Property Management Ltd showing the vehicle and time, followed by a Letter Before Claim from Gladstones. I did park on this newly-signed land for 3 minutes!

Umkomaas

A very sad, yet salutary tale to exemplify the purpose of issuing mass court papers. Extortion via duress, and use of the small claims court as a tool of debt collection!

And it all could have been handled and beaten.

Herzlos

Colgoo wrote: »

paid Gladstones the £200+ direct as instructed. I'm now struggling to get confirmation of full and final settlement from them so I can be sure I've averted a CCJ.

Presumably you have your own proof that payment was made (such a bank statement entry?), in which case you've got nothing to worry about, as you've got solid evidence if they try and take you to court anyway (and they are incompetent, so they might).

You've not got much chance of getting your money back, but you could always write them a Letter Before Action demanding your money back.

Definitely complain to the SRA and your MP about the matter though. The least you should be able to expect from a solicitor is a reciept for payment and confirmation that any outstanding claim has been settled.

Coupon-mad

Colgoo wrote: »

I received a formal PCN from Parking & Property Management Ltd showing the vehicle and time, followed by a Letter Before Claim from Gladstones. I did park on this newly-signed land for 3 minutes!

It is TERRIBLE that you paid (you are certainly not alone in feeling intimidated & getting cold feet) and awful to hear how utterly useless the CAB were with their so-called advice. Gladstones are bulk claims with no detail nor rhyme nor reason and I've not seen one that we defended on here, go to a hearing at all. None.

You are right it was shambolic, what a shame you have been mugged by them and the CAB.

Re your question, are you still in time to submit your defence, having acknowledged service? You could email these two addresses for the court, putting the claim number in the subject line & attaching proof of payment (HO87 says he advises people to copy to both, just in case):

ccbcaq@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

and

ccbcdefendants@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

...as long as you are sure you paid every penny demanded. If you did then it's not something Gladstones can pursue.

When you have done that, can you please (this week/weekend) do this too:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5524754

You above all need to tell the Government what this has done to you and your family, how unfair the charge was and how you paid a huge sum under pressure far worse than car clamping ever was. Rant and pour your heart out, attaching copies of all letters the PCN, the lot, so it all falls out on the desk when your large letter is opened. Example complaint letters there and on the BMPA website linked there.

Coupon-mad

Colgoo you posted this on another thread but didn't come here for help:

Colgoo wrote: »

Gladstones have just initiated a CCJ against my son claiming they haven't received a payment he made.

His bank statement clearly shows the payment to them and he wrote a letter at the time (to be signed for) confirming he'd made it. All this was done well within the time allowed. We chased and chased for confirmation of full and final settlement but they ignored us.

Now we've pointed out the serious situation with the CCJ and asked what they intend to do about it. They've acknowledged receipt of our message but the CCJ was made four days ago and getting meaningful responses from Gladstones is a nightmare. From this experience they appear unprofessional and disorganised so beware!

Your son can follow this up by getting the CCJ set aside for £255 and claiming for that sum back from the Claimant as well as the sum he paid if Gladstones have just banked it. I suspect any Judge would be horrified at what has occurred here.

Gladstones need to move fast or your son could overturn and unpick the whole thing and he can show they have acted vexatiously and unreasonably.

How are you getting on? Remember a CCJ goes on your son's credit file if not marked as paid within 30 days, so do not rely on Gladstones saying they are dealing with it, he needs proof well before that 30 days. Or he can move to get the CCJ set aside and let a Judge see what has happened.

The_Deep

If you ever manage to shake off your respect for solicitors you might consider complaining to the SRA


http://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/report-solicitor.page


Some, perhaps all of this money was obtained by misrepresentation, and this firm are currently being investigated over several such cases, which may be found to be fraudulent. What they are unarguably guilty of is conduct liable to bring their profession into disrepute. Who knows, this could be the extra straw which brings them to its knees.