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McDonalds PCN - being chased by Debt Collectors with court threats
Hi everyone
I am really hoping someone can offer any advice re. a letter I have received from a Debt Collection Agency re. a PCN I was unknowingly served 07/2015 in a McDonald's car park
The letter states that I was parked in the car park from 14:54 - 17:15 July 2015, thus over the allowed time. They state they have been writing to me at my prev address (I moved a year and a half ago and updated my details with the DVLA). This letter is the first I have heard about the PCN. Prior to moving, I lived in a property with a shared mailbox so possible they wrote at the time but the letter didn't get to me.
On the day in question, I went to McDonald's, left to go to a retail park nearby, then went back for a drive through drink on the way home. The cameras seem to have captured me arriving on my first visit and leaving on my second, thus making duration of my stay appear a lot longer than in reality. I have rung McDonald's and they have confirmed this is a known error, however as its gone to a debt collectors its not within their remit to deal with.
I have tried to explain the circumstances to the debt agency however they are adamant I owe them £150 which needs to be paid within 2 weeks in a series of threatening emails. They have said I have no rights to appeal as its out of the appeal window, however had I known about the ticket at the time I would have appealed immediately.
I'm not sure on 1/ if they are correct in saying I have no rights to appeal and if I should appeal, what the best route to go down is 2/ whether McDonald's can instruct them to take me to court when they have admitted the ticket could have been issued incorrectly?
I am worried I will get a CCJ against me as this will affect my career however cannot afford/ justify spending £150 on a ticket I believe has been wrongly served.
Any help would be greatly greatly appreciated!
I am really hoping someone can offer any advice re. a letter I have received from a Debt Collection Agency re. a PCN I was unknowingly served 07/2015 in a McDonald's car park
The letter states that I was parked in the car park from 14:54 - 17:15 July 2015, thus over the allowed time. They state they have been writing to me at my prev address (I moved a year and a half ago and updated my details with the DVLA). This letter is the first I have heard about the PCN. Prior to moving, I lived in a property with a shared mailbox so possible they wrote at the time but the letter didn't get to me.
On the day in question, I went to McDonald's, left to go to a retail park nearby, then went back for a drive through drink on the way home. The cameras seem to have captured me arriving on my first visit and leaving on my second, thus making duration of my stay appear a lot longer than in reality. I have rung McDonald's and they have confirmed this is a known error, however as its gone to a debt collectors its not within their remit to deal with.
I have tried to explain the circumstances to the debt agency however they are adamant I owe them £150 which needs to be paid within 2 weeks in a series of threatening emails. They have said I have no rights to appeal as its out of the appeal window, however had I known about the ticket at the time I would have appealed immediately.
I'm not sure on 1/ if they are correct in saying I have no rights to appeal and if I should appeal, what the best route to go down is 2/ whether McDonald's can instruct them to take me to court when they have admitted the ticket could have been issued incorrectly?
I am worried I will get a CCJ against me as this will affect my career however cannot afford/ justify spending £150 on a ticket I believe has been wrongly served.
Any help would be greatly greatly appreciated!
0
Comments
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You need to get this moved to the parking tickets sub forum
They get very busy over there (and are very helpful) so please read the stickies first. There is a lot of good information in them.0 -
Post four of the Newbies Sticky in the correct forum covers this completely - so you don't have to post debt collector threads and we don't have to waste time on them.
Please read it and never make the mistake of contacting a debt collector again!0 -
If McDonalds have stated that this is a known error, then you need to get that in writing from them that you can show to the debt collection agency.
Happened to me three years ago with a PayPal hacking, they refused to acknowledge I'd been hacked, passed £70 onto a debt collection agency and as soon as I told the agency it was a hacking, provided them with a crime number as proof. I never heard anything back.
With proof it's an error from McDonalds, the debt collection agency don't have a leg to stand on0
This discussion has been closed.
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