Ignored a PCN from PCM UK & now have letter from Gladstones

gee_em_bee

Hi

I wonder if someone could advise me on the best course of action to deal with the PCN I have been ignoring since October last year - I know I shouldn't have ignored it, but I ran out of time (i.e. went over the 28 days they stated) putting my appeal together and figured it was pointless.

I have read through the newbie sticky thread and had a mooch round other posts and forums, but I'm afraid I could still do with some help on what to do next.

Last October I parked on a petrol station forecourt to obtain a quote for bodywork repairs from the garage operating behind it on the same land. There were no clear markings to indicate where the petrol station ended and the garage began and no parking bays of any kind marked at all, so I parked under the garage's sign (attached to a wall at the side and further back than the frontage of the petrol station shop). I spoke to the mechanic with my car in the same spot for 10 minutes, before an employee of the petrol station came out and photographed my car, saying she'd given me plenty of time to move it. At no point prior to this did the mechanic tell me I wasn't on the garage's land. There was plenty of space in front of me for other customers not buying fuel.

The PCN turned up a week or two later asking for £100. I received some letters from debt collectors, at which point the amount had gone up to £160, and this amount is now what is demanded by Gladstones, but still referred to as a "parking charge". I have copies of all correspondence but haven't replied to anything yet. I have just received a second letter from Gladstones stating that they "may now be instructed to issue legal proceedings against you in the County Court" and stating I should pay within 7 days of the letter's date of 11 April (an impossibility as it didn't arrive until the 19th of April and I was away until the 20th).

Presumably I'm too late to send some kind of appeal? I guess I need to respond now but I'm not sure with what. Any advice gratefully received, I have got myself into a bit of a mess!

Coupon-mad

Search the forum for 'LBCCC Gladstones' and copy one. Or Google the same but only read 2016 or 2017 forum results from here or pepipoo.

gee_em_bee

Thank you for your reply. I have read through some other threads and looked at the suggested LBCCC responses, I am just a bit unsure if the letter I've got actually IS an LBCCC? It talks about "we MAY now be instructed" and only says I have 7 days to pay in order to avoid further action, rather than telling me I have to provide an acknowledgment and written response. Or is it all the same difference and I should just response anyway? Sorry if that's a daft question. I am busy doctoring a copy of the response you mention as I guess I will need it in any case, whether now or later.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5638862

Covered a lot on here. Always search, don't rely on a reply on your thread, it's too busy here.