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Armtrac help please!

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I hope that someone can help. I have tried reading the Newbies thread, but cant see anything that answers my question.

I parted in a hospital carpark, attending an emergency meeting because a client had committed suicide. I assumed that the carpark was for visitors and didn't check the notices. I know that this was stupid, but i was quite distraught under the circumstances.

I emailed an appeal to armtrac explaining this on 29th March. I received back a standard email saying that they would investigate.

Today i received a letter stating that as i had not paid within the 14 days from their decision then i now owed £100, not £60. I called them to explain that i had never received the decision letter from my appeal and explained that a search of my email junk/deleted etc items showed that i have never received a decision from them. They got really agressive and the woman kept telling me not to shout at her - i genuinely didn't raise my voice and said that to her. She kept raising her voice and claiming that i was shouting at her and so i calmly asked her to record the conversation to evidence that i was not shouting and she then passed me over to her supervisor. I started the conversation with him by explaining that i had never had their decision email/letter and he then told me that he was ending the call as i was being rude! I can genuinely state that i have never been rude over the phone and definitely wasnt shouting at all!

I don't know what to do now. They are insisting that i owe £100. Can i do anything? I agree that i parked where i shouldn't and would pay the £60, but i am not happy about paying the extra.

Am i screwed?!!

Comments

  • The_Deep
    The_Deep Posts: 16,830 Forumite
    They got really agressive and the woman kept telling me not to shout at her -

    Have you not read the stickies/FAQs? They tell you never ever to telephone a scammer, get everything on paper, if this gets to court, as many do, judges love a paper trail.

    They are obviously trying to scam you so complain to your MP.

    Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, and persistent offenders denied access. Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers.

    Until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

    Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.
    You never know how far you can go until you go too far.
  • Quentin
    Quentin Posts: 40,405 Forumite
    If you have read the FAQ then you know that appeals to IAS companies is futile anyway!

    Stop phoning them!

    Apart from getting on to Pals at the hospital to get this cancelled you now ignore everything except a lbcca or court correspondence

    If it comes to that then come back to the FAQ for advice on how to deal with a Court claim at that time

    Throughout here you are advised never to reveal who was driving

    You need to edit your post to remove details of who was driving
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,216 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    I called them to explain that i had never received the decision letter from my appeal and explained that a search of my email junk/deleted etc items showed that i have never received a decision from them.

    They got really aggressive and the woman kept telling me not to shout at her - i genuinely didn't raise my voice and said that to her. She kept raising her voice and claiming that i was shouting at her and so i calmly asked her to record the conversation to evidence that i was not shouting and she then passed me over to her supervisor. I started the conversation with him by explaining that i had never had their decision email/letter and he then told me that he was ending the call as i was being rude!

    Why oh why oh why do people phone scammers and expect a normal conversation?

    Same here earlier, why do people not smell a scam and come here first?

    https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5995894/help-needed-debt-recovery-plus-advice-for-an-parking-offence-i-the-registered-keeper-did-not-do

    Please read that one - your case is the same. Read the advice and STOP phoning.

    WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU COMPLAINED TO PALS OR THE NHS TRUST?

    WHAT THE HECK ARE EX-CLAMPERS ARMTRAC DOING INFESTING A HOSPITAL?
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
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