Panicking over Debt letter

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Help!!

A letter has turned up today from PS&P collection agency demanding payment on behalf of Park with Ease Ltd.

My (idiot) son, parked in a local car park without paying several months ago. He claims he has not had any previous correspondance, which I highly doubt.
So, the car park in question is one where you pay on EXIT, there is a camera taking your reg on the way in and pay on the way out either by machine or by phone.

He parked early hours, for 30 mins.

I have been to the car park today - Completely empty btw, there are 2 signs, both within the grounds of the car park, none on the approach or outside, warning of the payment system.

It is a very dark car park, with only one light, directly above the payment machine which, I assumed wasn't working as completely black screen, but, is a touch screen, which obviously lights up once activated.

As nothing has been denied/appealed previously and, we are now at the pay up NOW stage (letter giving 7 days to pay) is there anything I can do, or, should I just make him pay up and learn a lesson!

Thank you

twhitehousescat

PS&P collection agency , full company name please

SnowWhiterThanWhite

twhitehousescat wrote: »

PS&P collection agency , full company name please

That is the full name as per their demand letter, address is PO Box 2196, Bolton, BL6 9FB

SnowWhiterThanWhite

This is one of the signs (Sorry, can't seem to get it the right way round)!

Umkomaas

'Several months' takes this beyond any appeal stage left open. It's at debt collector stage. Debt collectors can only write threatening letters, they cannot carry any of their threats out. So you ignore them. Learn more about debt collectors in the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #4.

It may be in due course that PWE via solicitors might start court proceedings (they aren't particularly litigious, but never say never) and these will need to be dealt with then (not ignored).

Who is PWE (PS&P) actually writing to, you or your son?

twhitehousescat

http://www.psandp.co.uk/about-us

how nice of them , premium rate call charge for customer services

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Umkomaas wrote: »

'Several months' takes this beyond any appeal stage left open. It's at debt collector stage. Debt collectors can only write threatening letters, they cannot carry any of their threats out. So you ignore them. Learn more about debt collectors in the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #4.

It may be in due course that PWE via solicitors might start court proceedings (they aren't particularly litigious, but never say never) and these will need to be dealt with then (not ignored).

Who is PWE (PS&P) actually writing to, you or your son?

Thanks, the letter is addressed to my son. Is there any way of finding out whether PWE have ever taken a non-payer to court?

twhitehousescat

they as debt collectors CANNOT take anyone to court

you would be wize to take a screenshot of the following "only charge you when we successfully collect your debt"

and remember that when park without eaze try adding on this figure

http://www.psandp.co.uk/services/debt-collection/sundry-debts

Umkomaas

SnowWhiterThanWhite wrote: »

Thanks, the letter is addressed to my son. Is there any way of finding out whether PWE have ever taken a non-payer to court?

Until a few weeks ago there was a fantastic resource providing such information - but sadly no more. But as said, PWE don't register on my radar as being litigious. Defend if necessary - but some way off.

But really this isn't your case to deal with. Get your son off his proverbial. Help him grow.

SnowWhiterThanWhite

Umkomaas wrote: »

Until a few weeks ago there was a fantastic resource providing such information - but sadly no more. But as said, PWE don't register on my radar as being litigious. Defend if necessary - but some way off.

But really this isn't your case to deal with. Get your son off his proverbial. Help him grow.

Thanks, and yes, I will be having a strongly worded conversation with him!

The_Deep

Are they BPA or IPC, there does not appear a logo on the sign.

Also, the contractual charge is buried in the small print, it should be much more prominent, and the yellow lettering is very difficult to read. How high off the grounds were the signs?

IMO, you are panicking unnecessarily.

It is the will of Parliament that these scammers be put out of business. Hopefully that will take place in the near future. The Bill has passed through the HOC without hitch, and goes to the Lords soon. In the meantime involve your MP, the poor dears are buckling under the weight of complaints about these scammers. Read this one which I wrote earlier

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. Is has been suggested by an MP that some of these companies may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, (especially 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.

Sir Greg Knight's Private Members Bill to curb the excesses, and perhaps close down, some of these companies passed its Third Reading in late November, and, with a fair wind, will become Law next year.

All three readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 6-7 hours), and published in Hansard. MPs have an extremely low opinion of the industry. Many are complaining that they are becoming overwhelmed by complaints from members of the public. Add to their burden, complain in the most robust terms about the scammers.