2014 Charge!?

JohnnyO10

Hi

Apologies first if this is in the wrong section or if this isn't how we are supposed to get help.

Here goes:
In 2014 I was renting a flat (private tenant) in a block, underneath which was a gated underground car park operated by UKPC.
I had a permit to park there as there was a space allocated to the flat I was renting.
I was issued PCN's as I lost the paper permit (therefore didn't show it) which was linked to my registration plate, however when i was issued the PCNs, it was for the right car and it was still registered.
At the time I told UKPC this and I received letters cancelling the charges. I no longer have these letters.....why would I?
Out of the blue, today, a letter was sent to an address i haven't been associated with since 2013 by "SCS Law" asking for payment for these old PCNs or they would take me to court. The last PCN is dated September 2014!!??!!??!
I have not answered the letter or given any confirmation of receipt

What on earth do I do? Why are they writing to that address (it's my mums FYI)

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

waamo

The address they are writing to is the one on your V5c at the time of the parking event.

Send a SAR to UKPC asking for all the information they have on you. Make sure you ask for all correspondence sent both to you and about you.

Send an email to their data protection officer detailing your new address

JohnnyO10

Thanks Waamo. I don't own that car anymore and haven't done for years - do i have any responsibility here? they could just look my details up with the DVLA which are up to date?

The_Slithy_Tove

JohnnyO10 wrote: »

I don't own that car anymore and haven't done for years

Did you own the car at the time of the parking event which raised the (alleged) charge? If so, who on earth should the alleged debt stay with the car? It can't. It has to be assigned to a person (or a company). What happened to the car afterwards is entirely irrelevant.

JohnnyO10

Exactly, so shouldn't there be an onus on them to find my up to date details, rather than relying on details that are half a decade old and for a car i don't own anymore? a simple v5 check would tell them i no longer own the car and therefore that address is likely to be incorrect....

Le_Kirk

JohnnyO10 wrote: »

Thanks Waamo. I don't own that car anymore and haven't done for years - do i have any responsibility here? they could just look my details up with the DVLA which are up to date?

JohnnyO10 wrote: »

Exactly, so shouldn't there be an onus on them to find my up to date details, rather than relying on details that are half a decade old and for a car i don't own anymore? a simple v5 check would tell them i no longer own the car and therefore that address is likely to be incorrect....

PPCs are only allowed to look up your details with the DVLA once. Having said that if they write to you after as long a time as it appears to be in this case and receive no reply, they should try to find a more up-to-date address perhaps by using a tracing agency.

KeithP

JohnnyO10 wrote: »

Exactly, so shouldn't there be an onus on them to find my up to date details, rather than relying on details that are half a decade old and for a car i don't own anymore? a simple v5 check would tell them i no longer own the car and therefore that address is likely to be incorrect....

The parking company can only ask the DVLA for the keeper's details once, and that must be within six months of the parking event.

They did that and found your old address - your Mum's address.

The address on your Driving Licence has no relevance.

The_Deep

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP after the election, or to all likely candidates now, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and often, if they know an MP is in the loop, they will cancel the charge..

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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.

[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.[/FONT]

Coupon-mad

JohnnyO10 wrote: »

Exactly, so shouldn't there be an onus on them to find my up to date details, rather than relying on details that are half a decade old and for a car i don't own anymore? a simple v5 check would tell them i no longer own the car and therefore that address is likely to be incorrect....

There is an onus on them to check the address, yes. But not via the DVLA.

JohnnyO10

I have gone on to the UKPC website and tried to download the photos from the charges, using the ticket numbers in the letter. For every ticket there are no records obtainable from the website. Is this normal?

Fruitcake

JohnnyO10 wrote: »

I have gone on to the UKPC website and tried to download the photos from the charges, using the ticket numbers in the letter. For every ticket there are no records obtainable from the website. Is this normal?

Yes.

Send an SAR asking for all data they hold about you including the alleged NTK and any and all photos.

Also send a data correction letter/email to their DPO giving them your new address for service and telling them to erase your old incorrect data (address).

Does the letter from SCS tell you to pay UKPC or a debt collector?