[Armtrac] Invalid PCN Details

NobodyNobody

Hi all,


I'll get right to it. I've been receiving mail that's addressed to someone that isn't present at the address for quite some time. After countless unopened letters, I opened one to see what it was regarding. On opening it I find it's a letter from a company called BW on behalf of ARMTRAC, referencing a parking ticket for my old vehicle. The letter effectively says I'll be summoned to court if I don't pay up, which I'm not really sure if I need to be fussed about considering it's not addressed to me?



I rang the DVLA and asked them to check to see if the addressee's name has ever been a registered keeper, and they've informed me that the name is not present anywhere. For context, lets say my name is Keith Dover and the mail is addressed to a Bob Dover (different first name, same surname). I have also rang BW anonymously (not providing a name / private number) and informed them that the addressee does not live at the address.



Where do I go from here? BW want £160 (100 for the fine + 60 for legal expense) and I don't really want to pay that; I don't recall ever seeing a parking ticket on my vehicle, and had ARMTRAC addressed the mail to myself I would have likely just paid the original £60 (discounted/bribe fee).


Thanks,

KeithP

And what about the vehicle registration number?

Do you recognise that?

NobodyNobody

Hi Keith,


As I said in my original posting the vehicle plate is indeed my old vehicle (it's been written off since).


Thanks

Johno100

someone that isn't present at the address for quite some time..

Interesting wording there. Do you want to give us the full story, who is 'Bob' to you for a start?

ShakeItOff

Does the PCN date fall within the time that you were the RK for the vehicle?

Be very careful about ignoring this type of letter - it isn't that unreasonable to see that Mr Dover was meant to be the recipient, and you don't want a default CCJ applied because you didn't bother (you may find that a set aside would be more challenging to obtain).

waamo

Were you the registered keeper of the vehicle on the date of the parking event?

NobodyNobody

Johno100 wrote: »

Interesting wording there. Do you want to give us the full story, who is 'Bob' to you for a start?

The addressee has never lived at this address; I don't even know anyone by the name they're addressing it to. Poor wording on my behalf.

waamo wrote: »

Were you the registered keeper of the vehicle on the date of the parking event?

Yes I was the registered keeper at the time documented in the letter



To note: I also phoned Armtrac to say the addressee was NOT the registered keeper and their information was wrong; I advised them to check it again and they said they didn't need to check again. This is prior to me phoning the DVLA. My residential car park is monitored by Armtrac, so I find it likely that is related, even though I do have a permit stating i'm allowed to park here.

ShakeItOff wrote: »

Does the PCN date fall within the time that you were the RK for the vehicle?

Be very careful about ignoring this type of letter - it isn't that unreasonable to see that Mr Dover was meant to be the recipient, and you don't want a default CCJ applied because you didn't bother (you may find that a set aside would be more challenging to obtain).

I'm not really sure how relevant this is: BW and Armtrac are both hunting a fictional person, even after being advised he's not the RK and doesn't live at the address.
Essentially it's looking like they've made an admin blunder and this is why they've not been able to get the original amount out of me, as I've been ignoring the mail they've been sending (not opening it and flagging it as "does not live here"); I didn't know about this issue until today. My main query is can they actually take me to court? The person they're addressing is fictional and they've refused to double check their data so I'm not really sure what else I can do.

ShakeItOff

But the surname is the same as yours, right?

NobodyNobody

ShakeItOff wrote: »

But the surname is the same as yours, right?

Yes, but there's also 3 people living in the house with that surname. My concern is not getting out of paying it, more so getting out of paying the full blown £160 because of an admin blunder their end, even though they've been told that's not the RK

Umkomaas

Write to the DVLA and ask them to confirm the full details of the registered keeper of your vehicle at the time of the parking charge. It may well be they have recorded your name on the V5C as Bob Dover, as the name the PPCs use in pursuing a PCN is that given to them by the DVLA.

Hope they don't come back and state it was registered to your other 'brother' - Ben!

NobodyNobody

Umkomaas wrote: »

Write to the DVLA and ask them to confirm the full details of the registered keeper of your vehicle at the time of the parking charge. It may well be they have recorded your name on the V5C as Bob Dover, as the name the PPCs use in pursuing a PCN is that given to them by the DVLA.

Hope they don't come back and state it was registered to your other 'brother' - Ben!

I've already had the DVLA confirm the RK, as stated in my original post. Again, I don't have anyone in my family called by the name "Bob"; I'm an only child, and my father (/mother) certainly isn't called "Bob", nor are any of my relatives for that matter.

Without trying to sound rude, can I request people actually read my post prior to commenting?