First letter from UCS

QDanzer

Hello all, apologies in advance, I know my case isn’t any different but I’m starting to panic about a parking ticket I received on 17th from PEA which has now been handed over to UCS.

I’m from N.I. and I have completely ignored them to date but today received the first letter from UCS addressed with my full name and address and the charge is now sitting at £160 ( I expected this) but from searching elsewhere around these forums and online I’ve read that UCS actually will send out letters from solicitors like Gladstone’s. Is solicitor letters just another one of their scare tactics? I don’t want this to escalate into something much bigger obviously so do I continue to ignore or?

KeithP

Have you read post #1 of the NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread?

There is a whole section in there devoted to invoices issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It starts with the text - If in Scotland/NI:

Quentin

Everyone is politely asked to read the newbies faq thread near the top of the forum before posting


Go there now - NI is covered there!

QDanzer

I did read that, but does this mean I have nothing to worry about if I continue to ignore? Like what are the chances of them actually pursuing this?

Call me paranoid

Quentin

What is confusing about what the newbies faq advises for NI residents??

Redx

very little chance of the PPC pursuing this if they do not know who the driver was (so no blabbing)

in england and wales we have a law called POFA2012

you do not have this law in NI

so as keeper you have no liability , so it is unlikely that the PPC will try and take the keeper to court, whereas if they know who was driving then they probably would

so keep on IGNORING

the only paperwork you would not IGNORE is a court claim in whatever civil court system you have over there

until then , just stick all the letters in a file and after 6 years there is no reason to keep them

you are panicing because you are READING their letters, so stop reading them

its a standard form of intimidation and harassment , but its only a piece of paper in a paper envelope , nothing more

QDanzer

I’m not confused, I’m just making sure

Redx you say very little chance unless they know who the driver is, but they sent a letter with my full name and address?

Quentin

If you haven't told them you were driving then that letter is addressed to the keeper, not the driver!


If you have told them who was driving the game is over!

Redx

QDanzer wrote: »

I’m not confused, I’m just making sure

Redx you say very little chance unless they know who the driver is, but they sent a letter with my full name and address?

you ARE confused

That NTK was sent to the KEEPER of the vehicle after PEA paid the DVLA for keeper details

at no time has the KEEPER told them who was driving and the DRIVER has never received any letters whatsoever

POFA2012 does NOT apply in NI

the KEEPER is not liable in NI

there are no laws in NI that allow for a keeper to be taken to court

unless the UK government changed POFA2012 to cover the UK as a whole (which wont happen) then as KEEPER you may receive letters but have no reason to reply or to pay up

and unless STORMONT was reconvened and decided to pass a similar law to POFA2012 then a NI resident has no liability as keeper

I cannot see STORMONT doing this when it was dissolved last year and has bigger fish to fry if it reconvenes again

do you ?

please tell US what law you think there is in NI that makes a keeper responsible just because somebody has found out their details ? (hint - there isnt one)

so yes , you are confused, and paranoid

you will not find one thread on here in the last decade that is about a keeper being taken to court in NI where the drivers details are not known - not one thread !!!!

the truth is that a keeper is not liable for the alleged debt that their vehicle incurs under civil law in NI

hence why the message is - IGNORE

Coupon-mad

Quentin wrote: »

If you have told them who was driving the game is over!

Not really 'game over' though, Q. We all know a PPC based in England is not going to try to sue in NI, where they would have to attend the consumer's local court.

Relax, QDanzer. The info in the NEWBIES thread is correct, just read post #4 of it about ignoring debt collector daft letter chains like most of us used to before POPLA existed. No biggie.

QDanzer

Okay, well thanks for explaining the NI situation thoroughly!