UK Car Park Management - Gladstone LETTER BEFORE CLAIM

Gladstonehelpneeded

Hi,

Last year I parked in a car park that I had previously parked in almost every day for work a few years before when I worked nearby.

Back then there were no parking restrictions. I parked at this car park in August last year, I was in a rush as was late to watch a football match that I'd been invited along to last minute and so didn't notice the signs prohibiting parking until I came back and found the ticket on my car.

I received a couple of letters from UKCPM which I stupidly threw away thinking I could just ignore.

The fine was £100. The charges now total £160 on the Gladstone letter before claim. The letter seems to be legit from Gladstone with ways to pay involving their website and bank account details etc.

It says I need to reply within 30 days with payment or legal proceedings are likely to have been issued.

My credit rating is bad but its just starting to turn as things have dropped slowly off my record after the 6 years has passed (I had a lot of pay day loans at uni).

My main concern is that I don't want this to affect my credit rating, so should I just pay the £160? Or is there a way to avoid this without risking my credit rating or can I try and fight it at least until the last minute before it could affect it?

If they issue proceedings does that mean my credit rating is affected at that point even if I chose to pay it at that point? And if they issue proceedings and I choose to pay to save my credit record (if that's possibly at that point) then will the amount be more than the current £160?

Would really appreciate any help as really stressing out over this!

Thank you,

Tom

The_Deep

so should I just pay the £160? Or is there a way to avoid this without risking my credit rating

Have you not read the stickies/FAQs? Have you not googled parking charges on private land? Do so and all will be revealed.

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams 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, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but 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.

Gladstonehelpneeded

Thanks I will do but in the meantime what should I do regarding this letter? From what I've read this is a legitamate letter and court action is likely to follow.

Le_Kirk

As The Deep suggested, go to the NEWBIE sticky and read post # 2 about LBC/LBA/LBCCC and see if it is genuine, for example, does it give you 30 days to respond, include financial forms (which you don't fill in) and does it include the Particulars of Claim including all the evidence the PPC are going to rely on in court. If it passes all of those tests it is a genuine LBC. What you do then is research on the aforementioned post # 2 about completing the AoS and compiling your defence. When you receive formal court papers, you will know what to do. Is your address current on your V5C, i.e. you haven't moved in the last year or so?

The_Deep

Thanks I will do but in the meantime what should I do regarding this letter?

In the meantime you should do as advised in posts 2 and 4. First learn to walk before you try to run.

Gladstonehelpneeded

The letter mentions 30 days to respond and there is a website link for a reply form so I'm pretty sure it's legit. My address is still the same.

But can someone just confirm about credit rating I can't see that on that newbie part you said to look at.

At what point will it effect my record?

Thanks!

Le_Kirk

Your credit rating from this parking issue will ONLY be affected if you go to small claims court and lose and then fail to pay the judgment within the timescale set by the judge.

Gladstonehelpneeded

And will there be expensive court fees if I lose?

The_Deep

But can someone just confirm about credit rating I can't see that on that newbie part you said to look at.

Credit rating is fully explained on the internet, try using a search engine.

The only way that a PCN can affect your credit rating is if a PPC takes you to court, they win, and you refuse to pay.

The_Deep

Gladstonehelpneeded wrote: »

And will there be expensive court fees if I lose?

Please read the stickies or google, all of this is available in the public domain.

Gladstonehelpneeded

OK so if I send an SAR letter, they have to respond but in the meantime could I receive the court papers and at this point if I decide I don't want to go to court can I pay the 160 avoiding other fees? I'm thinking to make my decision after I see the evidence they will be using?