PCN at train station by APCOA

safarmuk

Ok, umm, thanks for that (I think).

Hahahaha, C-M is probably the #1 advisor on here, what she says goes really. But as a result she is really busy ...

Basically this is how it works:
1) You get the PCN
2) The PPC hassle you for cash
3) The PPC get bored so ask a scary sounding Debt Collection Company (DRPlus) to hassle you for even more cash
4) In reality all DRPlus can do is beg you to give them cash although they try to do it in an official sounding way ... don't do this but if you were to phone them you would probably end up speaking to a ill informed, rude, ignorant idiot who has no idea what he is talking about or even what is on the letters and would simply say "you gotta pay now" to you repeatedly

Normally stage 5) is when DRPlus get bored and it then goes to Gladrags or WH or BWL or one of the other "solicitors" who bombard you with more threats and legal jargon etc. before it might end up in the small claims court with probably a terrible Particulars of Claim

However your PCN is at a train station and as a result (and this is where I am no expert) bye-laws apply so the next stage may not be as per #5 above. PG and C-M could clarify this point, indeed PG eludes to this in his post.

However - you are at #4 .. so unless you really want to be spoken rudely to by an oik begging you for cash in a really threatening and gruff manner over the phone just ignore it for now.

dtwooduk

Thanks so much. Really appreciate your reply.

Ignore it I will.

Before going to the DRPlus I asked APCOA for (another) POPLA and they refused. So I'm even more stubborn with not paying now!

safarmuk

No worries, if we are lucky PG (who knows his stuff) might pop back and explain in more detail the bye-laws part and the six month time-out he is referring to ... at a very high level I think he is saying that if you are still getting DRPlus letters at 180 days after the PCN was issued you are in a very good place ...

In the meantime try searching the forum for other threads on PCNs at train stations or bye-laws and you may well find this answer on another thread which you can post back here ... I might try that a bit later if I have time.

It was a shame you didn't get a POPLA code as it would have been good to see it off there and avoid the unnecessary back strain on your local postman ...

dtwooduk

Thanks for that, appreciate it.

Yes, PG, I've already private messaged to ask him to explain, so hoping he gets back to me as well

pappa_golf

OK , thec land is classified as "railway asset" , a parking co cannot proceed with court action on land like this , only the train company can bring charges , those have to be brought within 6 mths and are of a "criminal" nature , ie: magistrates court.

the parking Cos are conning a lot of money out of people , and in just about every case that gets to POPLa , they back down , before being TOLD to back down

basicly the debt collectors can do nothing , only give up and send it back to the parking Co , who may foolishly send you a letter offering 14-28 days to pay , then another letter from a solisitor giving you 14-28 days to pay , then they might just hand it to the TOC who will write to you offering 14-28 days to pay ,, at that point we are on month 8-9 and nothing can be done

chill and laugh , when you see thru the decept it makes you laugh


** I have simplyfied a lot of things , to explain quickly and easily to the OP , others might want to add , and correct timespans etc as the above is only a rough idea of what will follow

Coupon-mad

dtwooduk wrote: »

Thanks for that, appreciate it.

Yes, PG, I've already private messaged to ask him to explain, so hoping he gets back to me as well

I didn't mean to be harsh, just sometimes people need shaking out of 'eeeek, I'm scared, it's got worse' mode.

Sorry! Needs must...

And I post in a slightly frustrated way about this boring subject because tedious old DRPlus (or 'Zenith') letters really don't need any more threads then the ten thousand here already... honestly, search the forum and you will be as bored as me by them.

Redx

also read this thread , especially my replies and the LOC replies, especially post #88

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5656961

hopefully it helps to clarify the difference that applies on railway land

dtwooduk

Ok, so now we I've got a new letter from Zenith Collections (never received one from them before) basically stating I owe £150, same as Debt Recovery Plus' letters I received.

pappa_golf

dtwooduk wrote: »

Ok, so now we I've got a new letter from Zenith Collections (never received one from them before) basically stating I owe £150, same as Debt Recovery Plus' letters I received.

now look at the address details at the bottom and compare to a DRP letter

is it in scary red ink

dtwooduk

No. DRP's one was. Zenith isn't