CPM, DRP, Gladstone Solicitors

floydyb

Looking for a bit of advise.

I live on an estate where you have to display a parking permit. We have a permit for an allocated space, with our house number on ground and a permit for a Visitors space, which is first come first serve basis.

A bit of background.

In March this year my wife, our 3-month-old Son and myself had returned back from holiday. On the journey back from the airport on Son was very ill in the car. When we arrived home, we both rushed him indoors to settle him and make sure he was ok, leaving our entire luggage in the car. About an hour or so later when he was settled my wife went to the car to bring our luggage in, and discovered that we had been given a parking charge notice on our windscreen. She also discovered the parking permit in the footwell of the car. I can only assume that either we knocked it off in our haste of exiting our car or as it was quite a windy day, possibly blow off the dash. The point is we were parked in our own allocated space, where the car is registered. So we were not encroaching on anyone else’s parking space.

We received a letter from the CPM with the fine of £60, which we appealed; 2 weeks later received another letter with an increased fine of £100, which we appealed again. On receiving our third letter, we then decided to phone them. They said they had not received any appeal but if you send one now it would be looked at. So appealing again we then received a letter saying it was too late to appeal and the fine has now moved on to the DRP. Unfortunately we have no proof of our letters being sent (didn’t send them recorded). By this stage the fine has increased to £120. I spoke to a few friends and looked at forums, and was advised to ignore the fine. We kept receiving letters from the DRP. It was getting quite stressful and I was tempted to just pay the fine, so I decided to ring the DRP with the circumstances. They said they were willing to reduce the fine by 15%, which I refused. I then received a letter from the DRP saying if we don’t pay, the matter will go further. I have now received a letter from Gladstone Solicitors (fine now £149) saying if I not pay, there might be court proceedings, which could incur court and solicitors fees.

At the end of the day, my Sons wellbeing is the utmost priority to me; His start in life was not the best as he Colic, Reflux and is Lactose intolerant. I don’t want to make things worse but also want to stick to my principles. I think the fine is totally unfair! Is there anything I can do? Should I just pay the fine? Will they take me to court?

Please help

pogofish

The Newbies Sticky will bring you up to date on private parking and your remaining options.

Is your space covered in your deeds/lease? If so, you should be creating hell with your managing agents for them to get this cancelled.

Appealing based on what happened was a bad idea - no matter how much your child is suffering, all a PPC wants is money and common humanity is wholly absent. Similarly you wasted your time with DRP - but that's by-the-by now. You need to be reading-up on responding to a Gladstones LBC - which is covered in post two of the sticky. DRP are fully covered by post four.

Coupon-mad

Exactly the same as this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5676008

safarmuk

#1 have you up to now contacted the Management Agent and asked for them to get this PCN cancelled?

#2 what does your lease say about your parking rights in your allocated bay?

#3 this is par for the course with UK CPM, they don't allow email appeals and in most cases pretend they don't receive your letters, I have heard this story a multitude of times. However even if they had received your letters they would not cancel the PCN anyway and would probably refuse your appeal on the simple grounds of "no permit displayed".

#4 what is the location where the PCN was given, if you let us know we can look at the signage etc. on Google Street Maps etc.

Your best bet to get this PCN dealt with is either a cancellation via complaining to the MA or winning in court should the PPC take it that far. The former is quicker and easier, do not let the MA fob you off as they employed the PPC and are liable for their behavior, especially if it breaches your leasehold rights (which is why we need to see what the lease says)

floydyb

Sorry because I’m a bit new to this forum, can you tell me how to get to the newbies sticky

Redx

go to the top of this parking forum

click the second thread down from the top and read it

post #4 deals with debt collectors (who you can IGNORE)

post #2 deals with any LBC letters or an MCOL from Northampton CCBC

ensure that the latest letter is from GLADRAGS themselves and not a pimped up letter from DRP on gladrags letterheaded paper

gladrags use a ref starting with a 1 , DRP usually start with a 3

Coupon-mad

floydyb wrote: »

Sorry because I’m a bit new to this forum, can you tell me how to get to the newbies sticky

Please open your eyes, it's in my post two above yours! And below, repeated AGAIN.

Where to click is stated in my signature under EVERY post I make!