Help much appreciated please ! :)

amandap123

Hi everyone,

I am new to this forum and would really appreciate some help. I have read the Newbies Thread and cannot seem to find an answer to my question. I have now received 2 letters from Gladstone’s Solicitors regarding a parking charge from PCM. Up until now Inhavennot entered into any correspondence at all. They now say their client may instruct them to take legal action in a county court. I am not worried as I have previously been through this process , (and won:p) My issue is, I am not entirely sure which parking charge they are referring to. I received two from PCM last year, and have not paid either. I did appeal one of the grounds of a disabled badge having fallen down, however the appeal was rejected. The second was regarding resident parking only. I don’t really want to enter into correspondence with Gladstone’s as they make my blood boil, but as the letters do not state the alleged contravention, what is the best way to find out? Obviously if this is taken to small claim i need to know which incident it was and defend appropriately.
Thanks in advance!!

Coupon-mad

Do write and ask your questions, as engaging with them looks more reasonable than ignoring, and you need photos of the alleged contravention and copies of all letters (will help you defend). Also if you have had 2 letters, isn't the second one a LBCCC with reply forms, which you should answer anyway.

If you search the forum for 'Solicitors immune 1st October' you can adapt the letter you find.

The_Deep

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of contracts for alleged parking offences.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and a smaller company have already been named and shamed, as has Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each year). They nearly always lose) and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P.

The problem has become so rampant that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. Watch the video of the Second Reading in the HofC recently.

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind most of these companies may well be put out of business by Christmas.

amandap123

Thanks for the swift reply, I will be sure to write to them. Regarding the two letters, they are both exactly the same, word for word, apart from one is headed !!!8216;Final Reminder!!!8217; but no reply forms attached. No sign of said LBCCC . My 14 day period ends on the 19th, does this matter ?

Thanks again.

amandap123

Can i just check, as the letter does not mention being a LBCCC, do I need to wait for this before I send the letter as mentioned in Newbies #2? Or do I just send it now as Imthe letter states !!!8216;Final Reminder!!!8217; and !!!8216;we may now be instructed to issue legal proceedings against you in the County Court!!!8217;

Thanks again

Coupon-mad

Please switch off your 'Smart Punctuation' on your iPhone/iPad to avoid clogging up your posts with !!!!8820 and the like.

Go to 'General' > 'Keyboard' > 'Smart Punctuation' and flick the switch off.

Switching off seems to have no negative affect on any other use of the keyboard.

amandap123

Apologies , all done ! As for the response to my query should Insend the letter or wait?

amandap123

Could someone please advise as to whether I must wait for an LBCCC to engage with Gladstone's? I am not sure how else to find details of the whereabouts of the charge. Should I call them and ask?

Coupon-mad

ABSOLUTELY NEVER NEVER PHONE A PARKING FIRM, THEIR DEBT COLLECTORS, OR SOLICITORS.

If the letter asks for payment to Debt Recovery Plus, ignore it. Not a real solicitors letter.

[Deleted User]

By all means write letters. I agree not to call.

Letters place everything on record and if Gladstones fail to supply reasonable requests for information, may assist you to prove unnecessary and premature issue of court proceedings.

No harm in requesting all of the information you require now, reminding them that you cannot determine whether the charges they seek require payment without it.

One the letter of claim comes in, they are positively obliged to provide information, but usually fail to do so. Again that should be followed up hard. Im a fan or circling the provisions of the protocol not complied with and sending it back with a written response.