Debt Collectors (IM A NEWBIE)

tomhjones

Hi All
Was just browsing around looking for a way out of my parking fine
Currently I have received 2 letters from debt collectors (Debt Recovery Plus) for a parking ticket a couple months ago
I'm a student and I don't fancy paying the £160.00 charge they have issued me. I am struggling with what to do next as I have totally ignored the debt collection company up to this point
I tried a POPLA appeal with the parking company and failed.
The original company is MET Parking services LTD and I am very worried about being taken to court etc as this can affect my credit score etc (so I'm being told) and I also lack the money to pay solicitors etc being a student.

TL:DR- I need some advice with what to do next regarding the debt collection company and this fine

The_Deep

It is not a fine, it is an invoice for the damage they allege that you caused them when you allegedly breached the terms and conditions of a contract they allege you agreed to . They want £100 to repair that damaage. It is a scam, so do not worry if they do take you to court, it really is no big deal.

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of alleged contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week, hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. It has even been suggested that some of these companies have links with organised crime.

Watch the video of the Second Reading and committee stage in the House of Commons recently. MPs have a very low opinion of this industry.

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

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-19/debates/2b90805c-bff8-4707-8bdc-b0bfae5a7ad5/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Bill(FirstSitting)

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind they will be out of business by in the not too distant future..

fisherjim

The [STRIKE]fine[/STRIKE] invoice is not for £160 the debt recovery lazy scumbags just add £60 on to make their exorbitant profit out of your error.


If you read the newbies thread all will be revealed about the scam that is private parking.


But Debt recovery firms are basically on a no win no fee contract to scare you into paying, if you ignore them they will hand it back to the PPC to try their own tack.


In the case on Met that means at present they are unlikely to take it any further, but they have six years to mull it over.


But what ever happens you don't need a solicitor, and you can't just get a CCJ without going to court, losing, and then failing to pay, and if it did go to court that extra £60 debt recovery fee can't be added on.



Pity you didn't come here first before appealing though, you could have discovered some pointers to nip it in the bud.

Quentin

Everyone is politely asked to read up on this in the newbies FAQ thread near the top of the forum before starting a new thread

Go there now to learn about the game you are now caught up

#4 there covers debt collectors letters

You can ignore debt collectors

You are now in the wait and see stage where you ignore everything except a lbcca or Court correspondence

They have 6 years to start legal proceedings against you

Throughout here you are advised not to reveal who was driving

You need to edit your post to remove details of who was driving

The ppcs monitor this forum and can use your posts against you

tomhjones

What happens if i get a IBCCA or a court correspondance?
I'm still confused. Basically just ignore them?

beamerguy

tomhjones wrote: »

What happens if i get a IBCCA or a court correspondance?
I'm still confused. Basically just ignore them?

You totally ignore DRP as they are timewasters
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74439905#Comment_74439905

If you get a "letter before claim" ..... you do not ignore this and come back here.

You do not owe £160, it's the scammers DRP who have added £60

tomhjones

so defo not worth paying anything at this point?
I really dont want a court letter etc or have to go to court so...

beamerguy

tomhjones wrote: »

so defo not worth paying anything at this point?
I really dont want a court letter etc or have to go to court so...

Well you don't pay scammers do you ?? That is just supporting the scammers to attack other people.

At this moment of time, we cannot offer any other route

Quentin

tomhjones wrote: »

so defo not worth paying anything at this point?
I really dont want a court letter etc or have to go to court so...

A letter won't hurt you!

Wait and see if it comes to that

tomhjones

Thank u v much guys very helpful!