PCN LDK Security - No PCN on windscreen - DRP

kmawd

On Friday I received a debt collection letter from DRP Debt Recovery Plus LTD. This was for a £150 fine for an unpaid PCN that I, was allegedly issues with, on February 7th 2018 whilst at Durham University Hospital (Not parked in the main car park but on the outskirts of a privately owned car park)
This was the first I had heard about any PCN and, therefore, I contacted DRP to discuss the matter.


From the off, the telephone conversation was incredibly hostile and aggressive. The 'lady' who I spoke to was extremely abrupt and was, essentially, trying to force me to make the payment.


I explained that I was aware of the date and time that I had allegedly been given the PCN as it was given to me when I had taken my Mum to hospital for an urgent post-op appointment after she has undergone corrective surgery after suffering with Breast Cancer.


I explained that although I was not disputing that a PCN may have been put on my car, there was no notice on the car when I returned to it. The 'lady' then asked for my email address in order to send me photographic evidence. I received this 'photographic evidence' which showed my car with a PCN on the windscreen. I, again, explained to the 'lady', who by this time was extremely rude and aggressive in her tone, that despite her having this 'evidence' there was still not PCN on my windscreen when I returned to the car.


I was then told that my case would go down as 'refusal to pay' and would escalate to a CCJ. To this, I explained that at no point had I refused to pay, but that I was disputing the legitimacy of the case as there was a. No signs to say I couldn't park there and b. no PCN on my windscreen.


I was then asked if I had received a reminder letter about the PCN, which to my knowledge at the time, I hadn't. After the telephone conversation I found the letter which had slipped behind a shoe rack. The letter was dated 28th March and this was for payment of the original £90 fine. This letter stated that I had 28 days from the day that followed the date on that letter to pay the £90. Given that today is day 24, why did I receive a letter from DRP on 18/04/2018 - which would have been day 19?


Another photograph was then sent to me of a 'permit holders only' notice. However, this notice was on the opposite side of the road and there was no notices near where my car was parked.
I was then, very aggressively, told I could not dispute the PCN as it was out of the 28 day period. I tried to explain that this was due to not being aware of the PCN, but this, unfortunately, seemed to fall on deaf ears as the 'lady' then proceeded to speak a lot of jargon and legislation, clearly to confuse me and put me off my original point.


The conversation then came to a very abrupt end.


As I am out of the 28 day appeal time frame, do I have a leg to stand on?
What can I do with regards to the fact I am 100% positive that there was no PCN on my windscreen?


Any help would be extremely appreciated!

KeithP

Oh dear. You seem to have told DRP who the driver was.

This is the very reason the advice given hear is to never rig either a private parking company or a debt collector.

You should send the template appeal to LDK Security anyway.

Apart from that, ignore all debt collector's letters.

Have you complained to the hospital's PALS?

kmawd

Thanks for your reply!


I can see this now, but I was unaware of all of this advice until after the event. I have never been in this situation before and panic called DRP - Do you think this will make much of a difference?


What is the hospitals PAL's?

Le_Kirk

kmawd wrote: »

What is the hospitals PAL's?

A quick question to Auntie Google found this.

KeithP

Google is your friend.

Stick Durham University Hospital pals into google.

PALS = Patient advice and liaison service

pogofish

Post four of the Newbies sticky covers DRP completely. Phoning them is a complete waste of time.

Complaiing to PALS is your best option for now but TBH, it is best done at earlier in the process.

kmawd

Would PALS deal with it? It was not in the main hospital car park, but on, what appears to be Privately owned land.

KeithP

kmawd wrote: »

Would PALS deal with it? It was not in the main hospital car park, but on, what appears to be Privately owned land.

Hospital land is also privately owned land.

Do you know that the land you parked on is not owned by the hospital?

If the land is not owned by the hospital, then of course they will have no interest.

Who is the land you parked on owned by?

Actually, that may well be a question that PALS can answer for you.

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, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and another 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 lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

Hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned.

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 they will be out of business by Christmas.

Coupon-mad

Oh why would ANYONE phone a debt collector and tell them all about who was driving? They may ring & text you now, unless you withheld your number. You will be hounded as a possible 'mug'.

Oh well, at least you didn't PAY...

But why why why do people pick the phone up before researching, so frustrating. Debt collectors are not companies to have a little chat with! So sad to read you just gave them all your info and pointlessly told them the story of what happened, they must have been laughing at you and thinking 'we've hooked a live one here, bet I can get them to pay'.

Such a waste of your time. Next time, research FIRST before you phone some random firm up.

OBVIOUSLY do not pay...!

pogofish

kmawd wrote: »

Would PALS deal with it? It was not in the main hospital car park, but on, what appears to be Privately owned land.

PALS usually have a very good record for getting PPC tickets cancelled but promptness is essential - Once it has filtered down to the debt collectors, the issuing PPC tends to try and deny responsibility and the debt vultures ain't interested, so it can become less effective.