Letter before claim

Katy_roberts85

Thank you very much - I’ve sent the chairman an email

The_Deep

Read what Pete wishart, MP said about Smart Parking recently in the house of commons and complain to your own MP.

"I am sick and tired of receiving emails from people complaining about the behaviour of parking companies, telling me that they will never again visit Perth city centre because of the negative experience they had when they had the misfortune to end up in a car park operated by one of these companies. I have received more complaints about one car park in the city of Perth than about any other issue. That car park is operated by the lone ranger of the parking cowboys: the hated and appalling Smart Parking—I see that many other Members are unfortunate enough to have Smart Parking operating in their constituencies. It has reached the stage where one member of my staff now spends a good part of each day just helping my constituents and visitors to my constituency to navigate the appeals process.
…
The BPA does not have the ability to regulate these companies and has shown no sign whatsoever that it is trying to get on top of some of the sharper practices. The BPA gives a veneer of legitimacy to some of the more outlandish rogue operators by including them in their membership, allowing them to continue to operate. The Bill will oblige operators such as Smart Parking to amend their practices."

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 become so widespread that MPs agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. Hopefully, this will become law by Easter .

Umkomaas

DEBT COLLECTORS - HO87

Here is as good an explanation as any to give you an understanding of debt collectors in the context of your parking ticket. It was written by HO87, a highly respected and knowledgable regular here on MSE and over on PePiPoo.

"I remain at a loss to know why people still become so agitated about debt collector letters. A debt collector has no teeth. None. As a result they perpetuate the myth that they do have teeth - and therefore power - by making a lot of noise and strutting around like they own the place.

The very best they can do is to shout loudly and bully by foreshortening deadlines, deliberately sending letters which offer a maximum of 14 days to respond on Day 10 and sending a stream of letters in quick succession to pile on the pressure. Add to that bullying texts, phone calls and threatened calls at your door - that never materialise. They are just strutting, preening bullies that have succeeded in carving out for themselves a piece of the action in the scum and rubbish at the bottom of the pond.

As soon as you understand that debt collectors only make their money if they persuade you to pay (and care not the slightest if you really owe it or not); recognise the liberal use of such words as "may" and "possibly" in their letters; and realise that their staff are on strict "recovery" targets all becomes clear. There never is and never has been anything to fear about debt collectors. That said it would be unwise to think that the Credit Services Association are going to protect you from their members. They are yet another example of an old boys, trade protection society made good in exactly the same way as the BPA is. Both of the organisations exist to protect and promote the interests of their members.

Debt collectors do not give a monkey's jump whether you genuinely owe the money or not or what you think of them. They are interested in one thing and one thing only - getting it out your pocket into theirs because unless you pay them they don't make anything.

The rights and wrongs are therefore utterly irrelevant to them they just want you to pay - regardless. By putting each member of their call centre staff on a collection target the companies have ensured that their staff's interests are completely aligned with theirs so they could not care less about anything except when you are going to get your money out.

Don't waste your time - and move on."

Also read this advisory from the Parking Cowboys' website.

http://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/debt-collectors/

Le_Kirk

Katy_roberts85 wrote: »

I read loads of threads that said to ignore it as they can’t do anything etc - it’s a private car park

Can you please point out the threads where you read this "advice" as they need adjusting, deleting or carrying a "health warning" to stop others making the same mistake as you.

Katy_roberts85

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Can you please point out the threads where you read this "advice" as they need adjusting, deleting or carrying a "health warning" to stop others making the same mistake as you.

See post #14 above yours - that says to ignore and the link it suggests Reading

The_Deep

Do not ignore your MP, a complaint to him can cost them time and money to reply.

Umkomaas

Katy_roberts85 wrote: »

See post #14 above yours - that says to ignore and the link it suggests Reading

But what I copied and linked in post #14 refers only to debt collectors, not parking companies, not LBC, not MCOL claims, not solicitors ....... just debt collectors.

Le_Kirk

Katy_roberts85 wrote: »

See post #14 above yours - that says to ignore and the link it suggests Reading

Yes, that is ignoring DEBT COLLECTORS!

Katy_roberts85

thingamaBob wrote: »

Contact details for the CloudFM County Ground.
Assuming this is the CloudFM County Ground at New Writtle Street, there is a web page HERE full of contact details. I would suggest you contact the PA to the Chief Executive at alana.stokes@essexcricket.org.uk and also copy in the General Enquiries at questions@essexcricket.org.uk

Thank you SO SO much - they’ve had it quashed for me!!

Umkomaas

Katy_roberts85 wrote: »

Thank you SO SO much - they’ve had it quashed for me!!

Excellent result. Well done you and well done Bobby thingymajig on your advice. Come and join us more often.

:T