Gemini PCN and Debt recovery plus letter

mr_handle

Hi Everyone,


I got a PCN on my widscreen from Gemini Parking solutions on March 02 this year. I was picking up some things from my workplace, and parked my car in an area managed by Gemini (near the queen Elizabeth Olympic park, london), just while I nipped in to grab some post. There were no spaces in the loading bay so I parked in a corner out of the way, but not a legitimate parking space. I was gone for maximum 15 minutes. I came back and there was the dreaded yellow sticker on my windscreen.



Now, I can't find fault with their signage, I know I shouldn't have parked there but this whole area is completely locked down, and the alternative would have been a half hour walk.


I ignored the windscreen thing, and q few weeks later a letter got sent through to the registered Keeper (my mother). The letter states all the details of the "offense" and begins with "we have recently contacted you about PCN bla bla bla..." I find this strange because that letter was the first written correspndence.


Naturally my mum freaked out, and my Dad did too. I have had a lot of difficult things going on in my life and I neglected to appeal in time, or to request a POPLA code. Now my parents have called me up in a rage because they received a letter from "Debt recovery plus" stating that the charge has gone up to £160 and if it isn't paid they will reccommend their client to initiate court proceedings. I know this letter is pretty worthless, but my parents are freaking out, I don't want to cause them any stress, but I also don't want to pay these bullies.



I appreciate MSE is not a family counciling sevice, but if anyone has any advice as to how to resolve this situation I would be very very apreciative:A


Thanks in advance,


Mr H

The_Deep

Naturally my mum freaked out,

Why, this is no big deal. Millions of these invoices are issued each year, I would venture that well over 90% are fraudulent (but still the law still says they are not).

What you have received is an invoice for the damage they allegedly suffered when you allegedly breached an alleged contract. We call it a scam. .

... if anyone has any advice as to how to resolve this situation I would be very very apreciative

Have you not read the stickies/FAQs? They contain a huge amount of advice.

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.

Coupon-mad

I can't find fault with their signage,

We can.

You should have appealed at PCN or NTK (postal notice to keeper) stage.

If they are freaking out why haven't they replied to the NTK transferring liability to you as driver? The option is there in a tear-off slip in the NTK and can still be done, as it doesn't sound like they are robust enough to defend a worthless scam court claim.

You are though. Get them to give your name and address. THIS CANNOT COME FROM YOU. See the tear off slip, get them to do that, keep a photocopy of the completed slip, and get PROOF OF POSTING free from the Post office and to keep the little receipt for years, in case they have to prove the transfer of liability.

I DO NOT mean signed-for post, I mean a free 'certificate of posting' for a letter sent by normal 1st class.

And IGNORE DRP OF COURSE , which you should hopefully already know from laughing at the links in post #4 of the NEWBIES thread.

Make sure the letters are then coming to YOU.

Come back if you get a court claim in the end - we win 99% of them as the NEWBIES thread tells you at post #2 - and get some photos of those (crap) signs, especially the area where you stopped which probably has no signs or lines whatsoever...

And for goodness sake show your parents the links in post #4 of the NEWBIES thread. DRP are a joke. They are not bailiffs, and no-one is stupid enough here to phone or pay them (LOL!!) or do anything except laugh at loud at their stupid letters.

Promise us you will tell your parents this is a scam and NOT to rise to the bait, not to phone and NOT to pay, thinking they are helping you!

And yes, we are upstanding members of society - we just know how to sniff and beat a parking scam. We are people who know what we are talking about on this subject.

See you over the Summer here again, replying on this thread (no new ones please) once you've hooked the daft DRP and Zenith letters in your direction, and please please no updates about those daft letter chains. All we need to know is if and when you get a LBC or claim, as dealt with in post #2 of the NEWBIES thread, probably from Gladstones.

99% win here when they get the court claim, either before or at a local hearing, with NO RISK of a CCJ and no huge costs even if you lose. No repercussions as long as you make sure the PPC continues to have your current address at all times if you move within 6 years.

Shame you didn't simply win it by appealing in the rk's name, to POPLA!