Gladstone’s Solicitors - Find paid, still receiving letters

Freyamb

So I got a parking fine from a small car park near where I work, we were all parking there for months until the land owner issued a private parking company, which I then got a ticket. I got the first few warning letters from them, which I ignored, and then a separate debt collector company, which I ignored. I was finally contacted by Gladstone’s Solicitors who sent me multiple threatening letters saying if I don’t pay I will basically be taken to court, having got this far I continued to ignore the letters. I didn’t hear from them for around 6 months until I then started to receive the threatening letters again, so I decided I’d just pay it and they’d finally leave me alone - wrong. I continued to receive letters saying I haven’t paid; so I called them up, they have no reference of my payment but the money is gone and
I have confirmation emails from them, so the lady on the phone gave me her email and asked me to forward the payment references. I didn’t hear from her so I sent a kind reminder to ask ‘what’s happening?’ - I hear nothing.

So now I’m stuck with a company taking my money - deep regret ever paying them now - and them ignoring me and having no record of me paying meaning I will continue receiving their letters.

Has anyone had this same experience, even with a similar company? Can I get my money back? Can I report them?

Any help much appreciated!

The_Deep

This is most unsolicitory behaviour, make a formal complaint to their regulatory body.

http://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page

Ask them to tell Gladstones you want your money back. How much did you pay?

Also complain to your MP as nine times out of ten these tickets are scams.

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.

waamo

It's a common practice with parking companies. This is just one of the reasons the so called early payment discount is called the mythical discount on here.

How did you pay? Was it by card? You could try a chargeback from your bank.

beamerguy

You must have some way you can prove you paid.

We have known for a long time that Gladstones are highly incompetent but taking money and threatening you ... well ?

As the Deep says issue a strong complaint to the SRA and involve your local Trading Standards

The_Deep

You are in an excellent position to make trouble for Gladstones, fill your boots.

Freyamb

Will definitely be reporting them through this, thank you! I paid £160 from an original fine of £30.

Freyamb

Paid with my debit card, perhaps I could contact my bank and see what they say

waamo

Freyamb wrote: »

Paid with my debit card, perhaps I could contact my bank and see what they say

You've got nothing to lose by trying.

Ralph-y

I hope you have read the newbies thread



https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou


so that you never get scammed like this again.


Ralph:cool:

The_Deep

It was not a fine, it was an invoice for the damage they suffered due to your allegedly breaching an alleged contract. It is a pity you paid it as nine out of ten of these claims are a scam.

Coupon-mad

I decided I’d just pay it and they’d finally leave me alone - wrong. I continued to receive letters saying I haven’t paid; so I called them up, they have no reference of my payment but the money is gone and I have confirmation emails from them, so the lady on the phone gave me her email and asked me to forward the payment references. I didn’t hear from her so I sent a kind reminder to ask ‘what’s happening?’ - I hear nothing.

Did you pay Gladstones, or the PPC?

A salutary lesson not to pay £160 just to avoid winning a court case and paying nowt.