Parking Fine - Advice

Umkomaas

ParkingFun wrote: »

Hey Coupon,

I did use the search and did read that thread, but I also found another which went on to say you should send them a response.

Choice is yours then, but if it was me, I'd be listening to CM. things change rapidly in this game, strategies and tactics evolve as we see the various players' hands revealed.

What is the date of the advice you are quoting? Who was the poster?

Wright Hassall don't get involved in the dirty end of litigation in private parking cases, instead they use their 'solicitors' headed paper to cover over the fact they are acting as debt collectors. And it is standard forum advice to ignore debt collectors, as the more you communicate with them, the more they realise they are bothering you, so they just ratchet up the pressure - in their next letter to you.

ParkingFun

I have updated the album to include the most recently received letter. This is what I believe to be a poor attempt at a Letter Before Claim from One Parking.

Would I be right in following the guidance provided here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4754020

and responding to the letter accordingly?

Thanks

Umkomaas

I have updated the album to include the most recently received letter. This is what I believe to be a poor attempt at a Letter Before Claim.

You have two links on this thread, each with (as far as I can ascertain) one letter in each. One headed 'Letter Before Claim' from One Parking and one from WH headed 'Letter of Claim'.

Are you referring to one of these, or is there another one floating around somewhere? Please clarify.

In terms of responding to a LBC the thread started by LazyDaisy which you've linked is over 4 years old, and while much of it will be still relevant, a lot has gone on in private parking world since then.

I suggest you use that thread as a guide to help you develop your own draft, rather than a blind copy and paste. Post it up here for critique and someone will advise on it.

ParkingFun

Hi Umkomaas,

Good spot, forgot to say. This is in relation to the latest one which has come from One Parking.

Yeah, I'd put together my own version. Was just making sure that this is the one that I actually should respond to rather than another that could be ignored.

Thanks.

Umkomaas

If it's headed 'Letter Before Claim' it needs to be dealt with as such. Time will tell if it materialises into a full claim. If it does and there had been no response to their LBC, they might try to convince a judge that there has been a degree of 'unreasonableness' on the part of the defendant.

That opens up the possibility of a costs award over and above the normal capped costs of the small claims court.