Help please - Formal Demand Letter from CPM

Amaka123

KeithP wrote: »

Yes you are reading something that doesn't apply to you.
Nor does it apply to anyone else.

Did you see the date of those posts? 2013.

A lot has changed since then.
In particular, a Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (PaP) was introduced in October 2017 which amonsst many other things stipulated that thirty days notice of court action must be given.

Google those bold words for the full text. It's easy to read.

Thanks I will read into that, and thanks for clarifying the info I was looking at was out of date.

Amaka123

So yesterday I received a letter reply from Gladstones (reply to my letter sent on 23.1.2018).
They have provided answers to my 5 questions, along with half a dozen photographic images of my car parked up and an image of the signage.

At the end they say: Please refer back to our Letter Before Claim and then they give me details of how I can make payment. It says that if I don't pay in next 30 days, further legal action will be taken.

Am I to respond to this letter in any way or do I sit and wait for the court papers to now arrive?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Coupon-mad

I must get around to an edit of the NEWBIES thread to add this, seeing as only the regulars read every defence thread and see this said time and again:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/75754579#Comment_75754579

Please don't disappear for months on end now you are at this stage.

Amaka123

Thanks for the reply but I don’t understand what you are telling me.

Do I respond to their letter or prepare a defence ready for when they send Court Claim through?

I have read lots of info on the newbies thread and feel I could write a defence but I’m unsure if that’s the next step or whether that’s a bit premature?

Please can someone clarify for me? Thanks

Coupon-mad

Did you wait 2 or 3 seconds for the link to land on Umkomaas' actual post (not the entire thread) telling people how to respond to solicitors to buy yourself 30 days?

Amaka123

I did what you suggested (searched for debt advice) on this form but I still don't feel much wiser I'm afraid.

So, do I just send a letter back to Gladstones saying:

"I am now seeking debt advice, albeit any debt is denied, and thus you must put the case on hold for 30 days."

Then what do I do? Should I be doing something in the meantime whilst awaiting 30 days to pass and them to issue court proceedings?

Thanks

Coupon-mad

Yes you send that by email to Gs.. It buys you 30 days to get your SAR

I assume you'd already done what the NEWBIES thread says about that?

Amaka123

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Yes you send that by email to Gs.. It buys you 30 days to get your SAR

I assume you'd already done what the NEWBIES thread says about that?

No, I hadn't done the SAR....
I have now written an SAR letter to send to UK Car Park Management and will also email them with the same letter.
I will also email Gladstones about debt advice as you stated previously.
Thanks

Amaka123

So I have received an email in response to my SAR request. They have provided all data they hold on me and attached documents.

So, what do I do now? Do I sit and wait for the next letter which I expect will be court papers or do I need to start preparing my defence now? Or something else? Thanks

Le_Kirk

Start researching for your defence based on what info the SAR turned up. You can look at the several concisely written defences by Bargepole and others in the NEWBIE thread post # 2.