Debt Recovery Ltd PCN Situation

Sifter46

Hi all,

I know there are multiple threads on these ‘debt collectors’ but I my situations a bit different. I’ll keep this short but some backstory:

I Work at a retail store and was transferred to another for a day as they needed staff that day, they didn’t register my reg and I ended up getting a parking ticket at that retail park for staying over free time. Got a parking penalty charge from debt recovery plus who’s client was smart parking.

Is this still valid as I was actually working for a store on the day?

Anyways, I ignored the first few letters from them as advised on these forums, but few days ago I crumbled and ended up calling them (I know I shouldn’t have) to explain my situation that I was working, but they ended up saying I have to pay it or let it run to court (the letter is currently the last stage before threatening to take to court). I recently read that you should never call these thieves! Did calling them change my position at all or should I keep ignoring? I confirmed my name and mobile with them and explained I was working on the day :mad: .

Some advice please!

KeithP

It looks like that when you phoned them you told them you were the driver. Bad move.

What has you employer said?
They are in the best position to make this thing go away.
In fact, they must take responsibility for not registering your car - unless of course you didn't ask them to do that.

Complain to the store management asap.

Please point out where exactly you saw this:

I ignored the first few letters from them as advised on these forums...

Sifter46

The employers and store manager said they are on it and are going arranging solutions for it, my concern is whether they actually have the power to solve this as a whole.

If this is not the case, this is where I’m paranoid that my call to them was a big mistake as I had already ignored a few of the letters.

Letters
1 - pics of my car going in and out of the car park saying i need to pay them

2 - missing the date and paying the full rather than the reduced price threatening court

3 - They somehow agreed to extend my charge with option to pay in instalments and then threatened court again ( which is weird imo).

Sifter46

Sorry I misread,

I saw this in the newbies thread, and also on a lot of the threads concerning debt recovery plus and smart parking.

KeithP

Surely letter 1 has pictures of your car going in and out of the car park?

See the difference?

The parking companies trawl this forum just waiting for people to trip themselves up and can try and us your posts against you.

Edit your post accordingly.

Sifter46

Yeah that's right. Any info on how to act?

Your help is much appreciated!!!

KeithP

Post #4 of the NEWBIES thread offers good guidance on how to deal with debt collectors letters.

But keep hounding the store manager is your best bet.

Sifter46

Thank you, I will take your advice on board!

One last thing, why isit that every thread insists on NEVER calling them (as i did unfortunately). Why do they emphasise it so much?

KeithP

Sifter46 wrote: »

One last thing, why isit that every thread insists on NEVER calling them (as i did unfortunately). Why do they emphasise it so much?

Simply because they will trick you into saying something you should not be telling them.

Read again the first sentence of your second post on this thread.
When you have read it, edit it. The keeper has far more protection in law than the driver does and if the don't know who the driver is often they will struggle.

Coupon-mad

Sifter46 wrote: »

Thank you, I will take your advice on board!

One last thing, why isit that every thread insists on NEVER calling them (as i did unfortunately). Why do they emphasise it so much?

To stop numpties getting intimidated and tricked into naming the driver, and because debt firms don't have a Customer Service team (or any customers except the client they are pursuing the debt for). These are pond life companies with nothing useful to offer.

It is just utterly pointless and daft to phone DRP at this nothing stage and blab about who parked, blowing the defence point a 'registered keeper' (unknown driver) had open to them under the POFA.

fisherjim

Sifter46 wrote: »

Hi all,

I know there are multiple threads on these ‘debt collectors’ but I my situations a bit different. I’ll keep this short but some backstory:

I Work at a retail store and was transferred to another for a day as they needed staff that day, they didn’t register my reg and I ended up getting a parking ticket at that retail park for staying over free time. Got a parking penalty charge from debt recovery plus who’s client was smart parking.

Is this still valid as I was actually working for a store on the day?

Anyways, I ignored the first few letters from them as advised on these forums, but few days ago I crumbled and ended up calling them (I know I shouldn’t have) to explain my situation that I was working, but they ended up saying I have to pay it or let it run to court (the letter is currently the last stage before threatening to take to court). I recently read that you should never call these thieves! Did calling them change my position at all or should I keep ignoring? I confirmed my name and mobile with them and explained I was working on the day :mad: .

Some advice please!

Oh dear you may have read some threads on here but you really haven't taken in the information, you first port of call should have been the newbies thread not random posts.


Your situating isn't different to any other on here.
You don't have a "penalty charge" you have an invoice.
Explaining anything to a debt recovery firm or PPC is futile they will laugh at you.
You did not get the PCN from a debt recovery company.
The advice to ignore is only for Scotland and Northern Ireland not England, but the very people you should ignore Debt Recovery Plus you contacted.
The "reduced price" is actually a sneaky tactic to get you to pay their scam charges and shut up so they get some money out of you with the least resistance.
Debt Recovery Plus have not said they will take court action have they? They can't only the PPC or the landowner can do that, and there's no guaranteeing that either way.



You should now ignore the lowlife debt collectors, do not ignore any court papers, but keep on to your employers who seem to have caused all this in the first place.