Gladstones LBC

Toonboy24

So, I have received a Gladstones LBC for the car I am the registered keeper for being parked for 20 minutes in a free 2 hour car park that appears to have been reserved for a pub and not a supermarket that shares the same car park. At the time the pub was closed and there was nothing visible to suggest no-one could lark there. To differentiate between the pub and supermarket spaces the pub spaces used blue line (very faded) and the supermarket white.

I have ignored all threats received but now have the LBC which I know is robo-generated, but it seems to be getting serious? Or are they trying their luck in the hope I will give in and pay? Is it likely they have a case that they can win? they don't know who the driver is.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Fruitcake

The advice to ignore a PCN has not been given here since the law changed in 2012.

You need to get stuck in to the sticky thread for NEWBIES, especially post 2 that has a step by step guide to court from LBC to the court appearance itself.
DO NOT ignore this. You need to respond robustly asap.

Take pictures of the site especially the entrance to the car park/part of car park where the car allegedly parked.

Please also complain to your MP as this is the only way to stop this unregulated scam.

Toonboy24

Thanks for that. I'll take photos, the only entrance is next to the supermarket so it's a bit dubious and there are two different parking companies operating the on car park in different places.

I'll start writing yo my MP as well. Thanks for the advice.

Toonboy24

After receiving the LBC i responded using the enquiries@gladstones email address. I have not received any acknowledgment from them. Does anyone know if this is the correct address or should it be sent by post?

Also, I've read there should be a claim form with the LBC, but I just received a one page letter with no claim form. Does this make a difference?

Thanks for any responses.

KeithP

Toonboy24 wrote: »

Also, I've read there should be a claim form with the LBC...

Where did you read that?

LBC stands for Letter Before Claim, thus indicating that the next thing you might receive is a Claim Form.

A real LBC will give you thirty days to respond and include a reply form and two other forms.

Please confirm that your letter is a real LBC, or is it just a debt collector's letter offering you sixteen days to pay up.

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.

Toonboy24

I can confirm that it's a LBC letter that gives 30 days to reply and the reference number begins with a 1, which I believe is correct to be an LBC? on the back of the letter was info on how to pay and a slip I can send to Gladstones to request a paper version of the information sheet. I can confirm that there was nothing else, other than a blank sheet of paper. What would these other two forms be? Or do you think that they were meant to be enclosed but this is another example of Gladstones incompetence....?

Toonboy24

I have emailed my MP and await a response...

Toonboy24

I can confirm that it's a LBC letter that gives 30 days to reply and the reference number begins with a 1, which I believe is correct to be an LBC? on the back of the letter was info on how to pay and a slip I can send to Gladstones to request a paper version of the information sheet. I can confirm that there was nothing else, other than a blank sheet of paper. What would these other two forms be? Or do you think that they were meant to be enclosed but this is another example of Gladstones incompetence....?