Incomplete address on PCN

Nalwoir1

Hello all,

Apologies if this has been asked, but I cannot see a situation quite like this one on the FAQ or forum.

My wife and I parked in a car park in December and unfortunately overstayed our paid ticket. We did not realise this was the case until last night, when a neighbour dropped by some post for us with two letters, both PCN, that state a prior (location unknown) letter was sent, outlining a parking violation.

The reason we have not received these letters is because they did not include our flat number on them, just the building number, and as such the postman clearly didn't know where to post them.

We don't mind paying the original amount (well, we do, but we guess our chances of success would be low as we did overstay our welcome), but the inflated amount is ridiculous, especially considering they did not send the notices to the correct address.

What steps should we take? Should we contact the company directly , the BPA (of which they are a member) or some other route?

Thanks in advance.

Le_Kirk

The address would have come from your V5C, so that is the first place to check before you make a complaint. The PPC would have applied to the DVLA for your address. If you are still within time to appeal (using the BLUE text appeal from the NEWBIE section), then do so but if you are out of time, then a complaint to the BPA is in order.

Coupon-mad

Which PPC is bothering you, and what happened when you did the VERY first thing the NEWBIES thread tells everyone to do in every case, complain to the retailer/landowner management?

The_Deep

We don't mind paying the original amount (well, we do, but we guess our chances of success would be low as we did overstay our welcome),

They are almost certainly trying to scam you, do not pay them a farthing unless a judge orders you to. Complain to your MP instead.

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. It has cleared Parliament and hopefully, this will become law shortly.

Nalwoir1

Le_Kirk wrote: »

The address would have come from your V5C, so that is the first place to check before you make a complaint. The PPC would have applied to the DVLA for your address. If you are still within time to appeal (using the BLUE text appeal from the NEWBIE section), then do so but if you are out of time, then a complaint to the BPA is in order.

I will take a look at the V5C and work it out from there. Thanks very much!

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Which PPC is bothering you, and what happened when you did the VERY first thing the NEWBIES thread tells everyone to do in every case, complain to the retailer/landowner management?

It is premier park. We contacted the retailer today and they said that they have no dealings with the firm and it is entirely separate to them. I can imagine this is the case, as it is a large parking section in an industrial estate that caters to multiple businesses.

Nalwoir1

The_Deep wrote: »

We don't mind paying the original amount (well, we do, but we guess our chances of success would be low as we did overstay our welcome),

They are almost certainly trying to scam you, do not pay them a farthing unless a judge orders you to. Complain to your MP instead.

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. It has cleared Parliament and hopefully, this will become law shortly.

The only issues for me and my wife are:

1) We are looking to buy a house soon, and don't want anything that might mess with our credit score (the £115 is significantly cheaper than a higher interest mortgage)

2)Should a judge order us to pay, we would also have to cover court costs, which would be a magnitude higher than the fine itself.

Coupon-mad

The only issues for me and my wife are:

1) We are looking to buy a house soon, and don't want anything that might mess with our credit score (the £115 is significantly cheaper than a higher interest mortgage)

2)Should a judge order us to pay, we would also have to cover court costs, which would be a magnitude higher than the fine itself.

Luckily, neither of those are an issue because:

- even if a person loses at small claims, there is NO CCJ. They'd just pay within 30 days.

- PP only rarely do small claims, and when they do they are weak. Usually it's just threatograms.

- we win 99% of defended small claims here, and have done for over 2 years

- as long as you tell them your new address to make sure you never miss a court claim, you are safe. Completely safe, for any credit effect.

- even if you were the 1% who lost, there is no 'multitude' of court costs anyone can add in small claims. This isn't prosecution or a large multi-track case. People who lose (very rare) pay about £150-£175.

Well worth fighting.

What about escalating the complaint to the retail park agents/landowner, as per the info Google will give you (email address of an agent should be easy to find on any retail site advert). Nothing to lose by complaining more robustly.

BTW PP do read this forum and tried posting here once - and intimidating a person by private message - so beware of giving away info!

Le_Kirk

Whatever the outcome of the search of your V5C, you would be wise to send a rectification notice to the DPO of Premier Park [EMAIL="dpo@premierpark.co.uk"]dpo[/EMAIL][EMAIL="dpo@premierpark.co.uk"]@premierpark.co.uk[/EMAIL], giving the correct address for service. Make sure you don't blab about who was driving!

Nalwoir1

Le_Kirk wrote: »

Whatever the outcome of the search of your V5C, you would be wise to send a rectification notice to the DPO of Premier Park [EMAIL="dpo@premierpark.co.uk"]dpo[/EMAIL][EMAIL="dpo@premierpark.co.uk"]@premierpark.co.uk[/EMAIL], giving the correct address for service. Make sure you don't blab about who was driving!

Thanks for the email address. I will do this later today once I know whether it is correct on the V5C. I will of course not admit any fault or liability :-)

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Luckily, neither of those are an issue because:

- even if a person loses at small claims, there is NO CCJ. They'd just pay within 30 days.

- PP only rarely do small claims, and when they do they are weak. Usually it's just threatograms.

- we win 99% of defended small claims here, and have done for over 2 years

- as long as you tell them your new address to make sure you never miss a court claim, you are safe. Completely safe, for any credit effect.

- even if you were the 1% who lost, there is no 'multitude' of court costs anyone can add in small claims. This isn't prosecution or a large multi-track case. People who lose (very rare) pay about £150-£175.

Well worth fighting.

What about escalating the complaint to the retail park agents/landowner, as per the info Google will give you (email address of an agent should be easy to find on any retail site advert). Nothing to lose by complaining more robustly.

BTW PP do read this forum and tried posting here once - and intimidating a person by private message - so beware of giving away info!

I have found the contact details for the retail park management company and will contact them next.

If I do receive anything from PP, I will make sure to post their threats in a new thread, just so you can all have a laugh!

Coupon-mad

No not in a new thread, but do post them here, like Andrew Gogun did about PP!