Help! Have followed advice so far...but worried

Lotuslady

I apparently parked in a UKCPM car park a few months back in the county where my family live.. (a Very long way away) saw no signs as it was dark and apparently overstayed by 40 or so minutes.. There was a well known local supermarket there (v small one) and a pub type restaurant.. and was round the back of a retail outlet which I had been unable to find “official parking” for as satnav on phone took me here and despite trying the route again other parking said no-entry or something like that.. To my shock over 3 weeks later I opened this letter with PCN saying I’d overstayed... The other passenger in the car, my daughter said she didn’t see any signs that eve either.. The appeal terms on the back said 3 weeks which I was already over so appealed anyway as still within 4 weeks.. Received reply saying out of time.. Have complained to the Supermarket firm of which am a member, but unsure where to go next.. I used your template originally and took screenshots. Also complained via a generic website to cinema concerned with no response (have no screenshots). I went back there some weeks ago for another visit to the pictures and visited the car park in day light.. There are signs on the way in which appear unlit, though plenty in the car park which appear to be.. though I don’t believe I would have seen these owing to where I parked being near an end bay nearest the shops and the signs being deeper into the open-air car park which admittedly isn’t that big.. Was in a rush by the time I did park as getting close to film time and had retraced the route twice trying to find correct parking which incidentally could see no signs on road to “retail outlet” apart from a local attraction in same area which you would have to have local knowledge to of to know it was in the same location. Have found landowner name and will complain to them too...
My mum is going to complain to local MP (I’ve had severe mental health problems in the past, and is even offering to pay it for me.. as have been very stressed and panicky over it) but can’t help feeling this charge is unjust.. They have a 2 pictures showing not even the outline of my car, but you can see my headlights are on and read the number plate with the times of arrival and leaving... I want to know if I have a winnable case... I have last week received a 3rd letter so fine has jumped now to £140 on Gladstones headed paper the reference starts with a 4 though mentions debt recovery plus limited as contacts now to pay.. They obviously quote Beavis case on it... Am unable to return to site for a couple on months at most to get any more evidence... And to double check in dark that signs definately have no lights on entrance though I couldn’t see any in daylight.
Am also wondering how to complain to MP if mum does without saying who was driving or do we need to.. or does this indeed matter... Realise this could be a long haul to fight.. would very much appreciate to know if this is winnable Any help I’d be most grateful of.. yes have read Newbies thread and as much as I can find so far.. Please help, I don’t want to pursue it if I’m in the wrong.. though don’t see how 2 of us could have missed signs considering we saw all the other ones that eve.. including the ones opposite the car park on the other side of the main road where there was a warning sign..

MistyZ

Hello there.

Well I know this board is all about getting business-like and winning against the parking scammers, but it makes me extra furious when folk who have challenges such as a history of mental health issues are being scammed and harassed. Gladstones et al do an 'excellent' job for their scammy paymasters by bluffing and bullying (though they are lousy solicitors) ... and most of it is bluff at this stage. So my advice is to take a deep breath and to know that you can fight this if you wish to.

The initial appeal to UKPCM was never going to be accepted, regardless of when it was sent. There is no second stage appeal with this company, and I think the recommended course of action is to do nothing at this stage, keep the vile letters but do not reply. The time to act is if you receive a Letter Before Claim. You do have time to read & read here to ensure that you fully understand how the parking scammers work and are fully prepared to fight back. You will get advice from the very experienced regulars, you will get your head around it all if you wish to.

Never reveal who was driving. So in the letter to the MP say 'we visited x place, the driver didn't see signs' etc. etc.

Umkomaas

No one will want to read that wall of text. Try using some paragraphs please.

Lotuslady

Thanks soo much for your kind reply.. I am prepared to fight it so am doing as much research now as suggested to ensure am well prepared at next stage and ease pressure.

Will attempt to use more paragraphs too re following reply!

Thanks again

The_Deep

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.

Lotuslady

HI,
Sorry I do get quite panicky and anxious with this sort of thing... probably since past severe mental health problems.. so just want to make sure correct course of action to take now..

Assuming the letter I,be received today isn’t a Letter Before Clain?

It says from TRACE, saying my case has now been passed onto them by UKCPM and that that my case is now under review before County Court enforcement...
If I don’t pay before 31st Jan they will be forced to take further action which could result in
1) Further solicitor charges being added to balance
2) Court costs being added also
3) CCJ

And that it is too late to appeal.
I will not have an opportunity to revisit the site of alleged offence till 3rd week of Feb owing to massive distance away... to set my mind at rest that entry signs really weren’t lit up even though I have a picture of them which appear to have no lights. Want to make sure and gather any further evidence, even though witness also saw no signs...

. Feeling a bit shaky and concerned about it all.

All help advice greatly appreciated, thanks

Le_Kirk

Does it say it is a LBC/LOC/LBA/LBCCC and does it give you 30 days to respond, include financial forms (which you don't fill in) and include the particulars of the claim (POC) with proof and photos? If not it is likely a Debt Collector letter dressed up as a LBC. If it does have all those items, back to the NEWBIE thread post # 2 for what to do next.

Parkingfines

Trace is a powerless debt collection agency

ShakeItOff

Hi LotusLady

It sounds like a pushy debt collector letter. If it is Trace, you are at the "ignore the debt collectors" stage, which is covered in post 4 of the NEWBIES thread. Please don't worry, they don't have teeth, but just full of their own bullpoop and bluster.

You will need to respond to any Letter Before Claim letter, but this will be from a solicitor. There is advice on how to deal with this in the NEWBIES thread too, as you will need to respond when this letter is sent.

Fruitcake

Do not panic. You are amongst friends here.

Debt collectors have no powers except to send you poor quality bog paper.

They use bullying tactics and scary red font, but all that means is that you might get red ink on your bum when you use it. Don't worry because nobody will ever see it.

Have a look on something like google street view to see if the signs are visible on there. This might give you something to use initially whilst you wait to get your own images in February.

Lotuslady

Hiya,
ThankU so much for your swift reply, no it doesn’t say any of those things and only gives me less than 14days to pay and no proof only PCN number and date of it.
Assuming am safe to ignore for now then

Thanks again