CEL - What to do next?

asari

Hey everyone! I'm a newbie here but I've been reading a lot of posts on what to do about a parking fine I received, and I'm just a little unsure on what to do next.

Long story short, I received a parking fine in April through the post and immediately appealed with POPLA but unfortunately I lost the appeal.

However, the appeal was lost about 4-5 months ago now. I'm sure it was around June time that I lost the appeal, but I haven't heard a peep from CEL in that time... until this morning.

I received a letter and the first line was "Despite our various communication your debt remains oustanding"... however, this is the first time since my POPLA appeal that I'd heard from them.

The amount they want now is £140 (as opposed to the £60 initially) and they say if I don't pay within 14 days then they will take further action.

In the letter it goes on to say: "Unless payment is received in full within 14-days we will unfortunately be left with no alternative but to instruct third party collection agents and costs will escalate. Please be aware that following which we may be left with no alternative but to instruct our Legal Department to commence proceedings. In such circumstances, we will be seeking full costs of the Application together with all our legal fees in dealing with this matter."

"If a Judgement is thereafter obtained the options that may be available to us is as follows:-
Appoint Court Bailiffs to attend your property
Seize your vehicles / goods
Apply for an attachment of earning
Third Party Debt Order"

It then goes on to say how if I were employed they could obtain a Judgement and make an application for an attachment of earnings which would be sent to my employer.

I've been reading about how to deal with it if it goes to court / CCJs etc., is this what it means by a Judgement?

I'm self employed so I'm not sure how that would work?

I'm very anxious about them sending bailiffs or seizing goods - has anyone experienced this?

I was reading something on another thread about a Letter before Claim - is that what this letter is? Do I need to respond to it?

If I don't pay the fine and it goes to court, what are the chances of me winning the case? I can't really afford to pay it off at the moment but worried if I don't it may cost me more in the long run. Also, do CEL accept monthly payments to pay this off? If they do it might be something I'd consider if I don't have a leg to stand on.

Thanks for reading and will very much appreciate any advice you have on what I should do next

Quentin

They are scaremongering by mentioning bailiffs etc


Bailiffs etc only get involved if you lose in court or ignore the court claim and don't pay off in full the amount ordered against you within a month of the date of the judgement


But all a long way in the future


This is not a lbcca


It's a debt collecting attempt


See the newbies faq thread#4 for advice on dealing with debt collectors/the wait and see stage you are now in


Throughout here you are advised never to reveal who was driving


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


The ppcs monitor here and can use your posts against you

asari

Hi Quentin! Thank you for your advice!

The letter came from CEL directly, and not a debt collector - should I treat it the same though and ignore it until I hear anymore?

The debt is currently £140. if it goes any further how much more is it likely to go up by?

Thank you.

Quentin

Yes, ignore everything now except a LBCCA or court correspondence


Read up here on CEL, and try not to worry!

The_Deep

This is all smoke and mirrors, ignore.

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..

Dartforddad

After dealing with CEL and looking at other posts it will probably go:


Further letter from CEL possibly with a Letter Before Court Action


Then letters from ZZPS followed by QDR which attempts to inflate the claim further


Then another LBCA, this is when you need to get back involved, the NEWBIE section explains this.


They will probably issue a Court Papers via Northampton and then you will find lots of people willing to help on here.