So I got the "we have been instructed" letter from Gladstones on behalf of UKCPM - Advice please!

acme15

Hi folks,

Back in May 2018 I was spotted on two occasions parked in a pub car park covered by UKCPM. Once on the 14th, and once on the 24th.

I received numerous letters from UKCPM and then Gladstones Solicitors, but was advised to simply ignore them, however today I have received the "We have been instructed to commence legal action against you" letter, some months after all other communications had stopped, and the amount they are after is £320.

Now I do not own the vehicle mentioned on the letter anymore, I did at the time obviously, but I sold it some 4/5 months ago and it is now living in Northern Ireland, whereas I am near Brighton. Not sure if I can use this in my defence... I was wondering if I could take the angle of "its not even my car" but I don't know if they would have the power to find out when I was and was not the owner.

What say you, what should I do?

Many thanks. :beer:

The_Deep

The car was your at the time of the PCNs, therefore you must defend this claim. Were you a customer of the pub? If so have you approached them?

Most important of all have you read the stickies/FAQs? r

Coupon-mad

I did at the time obviously, but I sold it some 4/5 months ago and it is now living in Northern Ireland, whereas I am near Brighton. Not sure if I can use this in my defence...

No, you can't. The car is irrelevant.

Please read the NEWBIES thread post #2 for how to handle this, and then the claim.

acme15

I was not a customer at the pub, i was using the carpark because it is opposite the station... I have used the pub several times in the past however and they are friends of a friend. Would the owners have the power to request the charges are overturned?



I'll have another look through the sticky as well, thanks.

Coupon-mad

Yes, get into the pub sharpish, especially if you know them and don't say you were not using the darn pub. Take the friend who knows them with you, so they are more likely to be happy to cancel it. Make it clear you often use the pub & say you can't recall the occasion in question and cannot understand why you got a PCN.

You can't hang about as they won't be able to cancel it after court action starts.

acme15

I won't be able to take my friend in with me sadly as she's away at the moment, but I will pop in there tomorrow and see what I can do. The fact it was almost a year ago is probably helpful because they won't remember if I did or didn't go in there on two random days 10 - 11 months ago.

Then if they aren't helpful I'll do the SAR and email to Gladstones.

Sorry, I didn't read past the first post in the sticky thread, the second post held all the info I needed!

acme15

Stupid question but does the court process involve actually going to court or is it all done in writing going back and forth? I've never had to do anything like that before.

Le_Kirk

You can have it done "on papers" but you will need a very good defence and you are at the mercy of the judge on the day. Far better to turn up and defend, it is not as scary as one thinks, check out the video linked in post #2 of the NEWBIE section that shows you what your "day in court" look like.

acme15

Well I went to the pub, they weren't there but the bar staff were nice, pointed me in the direction of another pub they run, so I went there, but they weren't there either. The other pub is one I've been to a quite few times so hey, they might even recognise me. What a turn up for the books... I left a note with the bartender with my contact details on which she assures me she will pass on when they are next there on Thursday.

Naturally I'm just going to go back on Thursday. :rotfl:

Might even buy a beer... :beer:

Wish me luck...

acme15

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Yes, get into the pub sharpish, especially if you know them and don't say you were not using the darn pub. Take the friend who knows them with you, so they are more likely to be happy to cancel it. Make it clear you often use the pub & say you can't recall the occasion in question and cannot understand why you got a PCN.

You can't hang about as they won't be able to cancel it after court action starts.

Spoke to the landlady of the pub, she was happy that I had been in the pub on those days but suggested I talk to them myself as they operate independantly and manage everything, and name drop her and say she's happy to speak to them if they want to call her.

Their offices are actually only down the road from my house, next to where I used to work in-fact.

So I'm going to speak to them and see if they can call their dogs off... Not sure how willing they would be to do that but I guess I'll see?

Then if that goes nowhere I'll start the letter writing process...

The landlady did mention that there is supposed to be a permit that the bar staff give you to put on your car, but I've been parked in that car park legitimately (using the pub) on several occasions, as well as their other pub which is managed by UKCPM as well, and I've never been told about or offered any such pass by the pub staff.

Thoughts on how to tread and what to say/not to say by those more experienced among you?

@coupon-mad