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Minster Baywatch Parking Fine HELP

Hi all, looking for some advice as I'm very new to all this,

Have been receiving letters from minster Baywatch for a little while, parked in a car park near London road in Sheffield I think for only around 20 mins IIRC, I had automatically assumed the letters were some sort of scam as the carpark looks very unofficial (there is a few vehicles that are permanently parked/lived in there, car park looks very scruffy etc) I received the county court letter from Northampton and thought it was definately fake as there were spelling mistakes (as in a few of their other letters) and the logo itself was quite pixelated, I have only just (stupidly) done some research as I was under the impression these fines were unenforceable. Can anyone offer me any advice on what to do as I really do not want a CCJ and since the fine is now £260 i will struggle to pay it.

I received one from the same car park well over a year ago in my previous car and ignored it to no consequence, I have also stupidly binned all the letters I've received bar the last one as I simply believed them to be a scam (£100 charge for 20 mins parking initially) I am also worried that paying the £260 will open the floodgates for them to charge me for the previous one!

Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • pogofish
    pogofish Posts: 10,853 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Please start by reading the Newbies Sticky at the top of this forum carefully - This will inform you and lay-out your options for seeing this off.
  • KeithP
    KeithP Posts: 41,296 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Tomzi111 wrote: »
    I had automatically assumed the letters were some sort of scam...
    A reasonable assumption when you consider some of the things our Members of Parliament have to say about the parking industry:

    parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41
  • Tomzi111
    Tomzi111 Posts: 19 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It appears I am at the 'letter before county court claim' stage, this was a fair few weeks ago now and since I have received another letter from Gladstone's basically reiterating what has already been said, but none of the details of the apparent infringement are on this particular letter, the letter was dated 5th oct, and it is now the 16th and I've heard nothing since
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Tomzi111 wrote: »
    It appears I am at the 'letter before county court claim' stage, this was a fair few weeks ago now and since I have received another letter from Gladstone's basically reiterating what has already been said, but none of the details of the apparent infringement are on this particular letter, the letter was dated 5th oct, and it is now the 16th and I've heard nothing since

    But you said you received a letter from Northampton which you
    thought it was a scam, now you say it's an LBA

    It's going to court so what have you done about this ?
  • Tomzi111
    Tomzi111 Posts: 19 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Ok plot twist, turns out I have 2 separate tickets from the same car park (both with slightly different amounts I may add) up until today I believed it to be a scam and as such haven't done anything about it yet as I'm unsure how to proceed and how to win the appeal. The letter I received just today (dated 10th Oct - now 16th) says that there is supposedly judgement lodged against me, basically the next paragraph is a 'pay up now or we will pass this on to Direct Collection Bailiffs LTD'
  • KeithP
    KeithP Posts: 41,296 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Lack of clarity on this thread makes it difficult to offer any guidance.

    What, if anything, have you received from the County Court Business Centre in Northampton?

    Have you received a Claim Form or a Judgment for Claimant?
  • Tomzi111
    Tomzi111 Posts: 19 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I believe it was a claim form, spelling mistakes and pixelated graphics made me think it was fake, so I binned the letters in my stupidity thinking there's no way in hell I need them as it was a good 3 months ago and I didn't think they would chase me for it still :/ apologies for the lack of information and thanks a lot for your help it's much appreciated
  • Tomzi111
    Tomzi111 Posts: 19 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It is my understanding I need to reply to court correspondence, does this include the LBA? If so how do I obtain another copy as I no longer have either of mine unfortunately?
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