Civil Enforcement Ltd Scotland

Fruitcake

GMGlobalVideo wrote: »

Surely if you just blindly ignore all it’s gonna result in is endless threatening letters and the prospect of a CCJ no one has broken down the reasoning why it’s different for Scotland other than it’s rare for them to pursue it. I would prefer to get it sorted especially seeing as the signage in the car park is really inadequate

Yes to the threatogrammes.
No to the prospect of a CCJ as long as you follow the advice from the NEWBIES. I don't even know if it is possible to get a CCJ in Scotland, but avoiding it is in your hands so it won't happen without you knowing about it or being able to stop it happening.

The reason why things are different in Scotland is nothing to do with the fact it is rare for the scammers to pursue it, but all to do with acts of parliament that apply in England and Wales but not in Scotland or Northern Ireland. This is why it is imperative that the driver's identity is never revealed.

As above, complain to the retailer as either the keeper who wasn't in the car or as keeper who was an occupant of the car.

Ignore debt collectors in any and all parts of the UK.

Do not ignore real court papers anywhere.

Do complain to your MP about this unregulated scam.

Coupon-mad

GMGlobalVideo wrote: »

Splitting hairs really I am writing to the retailer to “complain”

There is a huge difference. We have experienced this, been doing this for years.

If you write to the landowner/retailer saying 'I go a PCN and I was to APPEAL because...' then they will reply, sorry to read that. CEL offer an appeals procedure... blah blah...'.

If instead, you write (heading it up 'formal complaint') saying how horrified you are that xxxx retail company is allowing a notoriously aggressive parking firm to harass their customers, especially when the only reason drivers would be delayed by a few minutes was (due to it being Christmas/the January sales...etc., when the car park was choc a bloc/the queues at the tills were longer than normal...etc).

Say you and your family have researched the position and realise that in Scotland there is no independent appeal available. You feel like boycotting the retail park now.

Further, you are alarmed to learn that CEL are a litigious English company where in Scotland, their misleading threatograms to ordinary law abiding people like yourself caused Trading Standards to pursue them. Civil Enforcement was accused of 11 charges relating to consumer protection from unfair trading and one charge of running a fraudulent scheme:

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/parking-firm-cleared-of-fraud-after-landmark-court-case1/

Prosecutors claimed that over a nine month period the firm sent civil penalty charges for overstays, in the full knowledge that the legislation cited on the paperwork was not valid in Scotland. Whilst the case was dropped, that was only because the prosecution had failed to ascertain and evidence the contents of the penalty charge notices.

It is abhorrent that your retail park continues to use such a company against your paying customers, etc., ranty rant, etc...then make a point about the signage being inaqequate (in your own words) and finish by asking them to step in and cancel the PCN, given the fact CEL offer NO independent appeal layer to Scottish people.

Complain to B&Q Head office first as they are the biggest retailer.

GMGlobalVideo

B&Q have been no use so far apparently the company that manages the car park is called Creative Car Park Solutions would you advise I contact them with the above angry complaint or ask them to clarify who the land owner is?

Fruitcake

You have been advised to ignore the PPC on here, and in the NEWBIES. In any case, I doubt they would tell you who owns the land. It is not in their interest.

Creative is another trading name of CEL.

You can ask the council who pays the business rates or pay a small fee to the Land Registry to find out who the landowner is. If you can't identify the landowner then just ignore anything and everything except real court papers.

Please do complain to your MP though.

Coupon-mad

apparently the company that manages the car park is called Creative Car Park Solutions

No! That is CEL!

You need the managing agent, not the parking agent!

What happened when you dealt with B&Q Head Office?

GMGlobalVideo

I have emailed complaint to CEO of B&Q Graham Bell but have had no response, contacted my local store and asked to speak to the manager who told me to contact Creative Car Park solutions which I obviously wont be doing and they advised they don't know who land owner is only the car park management company. Tried the B&Q facebook and got the same response.

Coupon-mad

OK so what about when you Googled the retail park and found who runs it that way?

GMGlobalVideo

The only thing I can find is a company called completely retail but looks like they are more of an estate agent than anything

Coupon-mad

And within that, there is an email address, which starts you off...send a quick enquiry asking if they run the xxxxx car park as you want to complain to the current owners or Managing agents.

GMGlobalVideo

Found a company called Paradigm that I think are responsible for the management of the retail units, so have asked them will see what they say. Although I am becoming more and more tempted just to ignore the PCN. The more I am reading reassures me that unless they can prove who was driving they are unlikely to pursue in Scotland and NI