Gladstone brokes-, letter before claim. Pcn -4 years old

tasha84

Hi 

Please could someone help. I recieved a letter before claim from Gladstone Brooks who want £160 for a £60 fine issued 4 years ago! The client is local parking security Limited. I can remember receiving the fine, but I'm unsure why. I thought at the time it was a fake ticket so never had any correspondence with them. 

I am on maternity at present and not in receipt of any money. I have 30days to reply or they will take me to court. 

Any advice would be grateful. 

D_P_Dance

The letter is from Gladstones, a low rent law firm specialising  in private parking company scams. Gladstone Brookes (note correct spelling), are a more respectable firm..  In matters such as this accuracy is a sine qua non.  A mistake could be very costly so please read the stckies which explain the rules of the game you now have been made to take in.

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and has been known to get the charge cancelled.

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.

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.

 

Fruitcake

As above, it is a company called Gladstones, and they have added on a fake £60 to the original charge (not a fine) which would have been £100 with a mugs discount to £60 if paid early.

Read the guide to court written by bargepole that you will find in the second post of the NEWBIES.
This is a step by step guide that takes you from the LBC to the court appearance.

Also read the Abuse of process thread written by beamerguy where you will find loads of cases where judges have thrown them out for adding on the fake £60.

The search facility on this site is broken so you will need to scroll down to find the Abuse … thread, but the NEWBIES is "stuck" at the top of this forum.

Redx

It's got nothing to do with that company that advertises on TV , so the one with Brookes is not involved , it's the one in Knutsford (be careful the other one doesnt sue for libel !! , lol)

Umkomaas

If you've received a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days to respond, then a court claim via MCOL is almost inevitable. You need to read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, second post, in order for you to have an understanding of what is likely to follow, when, and how to deal with it. 

This is not a simple process, so you will need to spend time reading carefully and thoroughly. 

beamerguy

I would have thought by now that Gladstone Brookes would have put a disclaimer on their web site stating they are nothing to do with the incompetent Gladstones solicitors

No surprise then Gladstones have added a fake £60 to their claim.  But this what the courts say about this scam which is abuse of process .......

Gladstones told by Judge .... added £60 NOT LAWFUL
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76692888#Comment_76692888"nofollow" href="https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76756261#Comment_76756261">https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76756261#Comment_76756261"nofollow" href="https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76533511#Comment_76533511">https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76533511#Comment_76533511"wet behind the ears" rep.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6017649/county-court-claim-private-pcn-from-uk-cpm&page=4
The judge said the £60 in not lawful and claimant rep said they no longer are seeking it (so only the £100). ???
GLADSTONES CAUGHT OUT IN COURT AGAIN

And it's all to do with abuse of process.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6014081/abuse-of-process-district-judge-tells-bwlegal/p1

You have to reply to the letter before claim. At the same time ask Gladstones what LEGAL AUTHORITY they have to add unknown amounts to the claim.

We know they don't have legal authority, the courts already know and we still await a legal reason from Gladstones which will be shown in court.

Feast yourself on the Gladstones scam and their court spankings and be prepared to get them spanked

D_P_Dance

and be prepared to get them spanked

With two mistakes in her title, I doubt that that  is likely to happen.

beamerguy

D_P_Dance said:

and be prepared to get them spanked

With two mistakes in her title, I doubt that that  is likely to happen.

90% chance if the OP follows instructions from here

Coupon-mad

tasha84 said:

Hi 

Please could someone help. I recieved a letter before claim from Gladstone Brooks who want £160 for a £60 fine issued 4 years ago! The client is local parking security Limited. I can remember receiving the fine, but I'm unsure why. I thought at the time it was a fake ticket so never had any correspondence with them. 

I am on maternity at present and not in receipt of any money. I have 30days to reply or they will take me to court. 

Any advice would be grateful. 

This is simple.  Read the NEWBIES thread.

As others have said, you do NOT have a letter from 'Gladstone Brooks' but please no reply telling us it was Gladstones (we know already) and no asking what to do, as that just tells us you have not read the NEWBIES thread.

tasha84

Thank you for responding, sorry, lack of sleep with new prem baby

Coupon-mad

OK we will support you - jut don't ring them up and don't pay.  You will need to defend the court claim in time and we have a template defence which requires no more than half an hour's adding of your own details.