CST Letter before claim

Notsosmartlol

Hi there, apologies for making another thread but I tried looking over the newbie stuff and it was a little complicated for me.

Last year I overstayed at a car park and got a letter with the charge. I ignored it as I just thought that was what everyone did! anyway I received a few letters from debt collection companies - Zenith etc. I was happy to ignore them as they were clearly just trying to rip me off. I didn't receive a letter for quite some time so I just presumed they were done with it. However yesterday I received a letter from 'CST Law' which looks somewhat more serious. It's got LETTER BEFORE CLAIM as a header, added another £15 (lol) has multiple pages attached with things like can I pay the debt and also a page asking for my income, expenses etc?? Anyway at this point I'm actually considering paying it just to get it over with, however the pages they've got attached make that look very complicated, I honestly wouldn't even know where to start. How would I go about paying this?

Also, what would happen if i chose to ignore this again? would I go to court? would that be so bad? Thanks
ps I live in scotland

Le_Kirk

Did you read the bit in the NEWBIE sticky about "if you live in Scotland?"  Providing they don't know the name of the driver, they are going to find it difficult to chase the keeper as there is no keeper liability in Scotland (at the moment - but that it is changing).  Bit more detail would help; where is the car park - supermarket, town centre, pub//restaurant, hospital?  What is the name of the parking company?  Did the event take place in Scotland as well as you living there?

BrownTrout

Lots of LBCs issued by CST for smart this week. They did the same in January but not seen any court claims for single ticket ones despite a ton of LBCs

Notsosmartlol

Le_Kirk -  Apologies for the lack of detail, this took place in the car park of a supermarket chain which was in scotland. The letter says They are being instructed by DRP as the agent of Smart Parking Ltd

Also I think the original charge was £60 or £70 and now it's nearly £200, seems a little steep.

Coupon-mad

I honestly wouldn't even know where to start.

Why not?  That's why this forum is here but why post before reading the advice thread (2nd post of the NEWBIES thread) about how to win?  Simple stuff, a lot of reading but then 'copy & paste' stuff and we even have a template defence.

How would I go about paying this?

Why woudl ANYONE do that?  Come on, Smart can't even hold you liable under the POFA (if you don't know what that law is, or why it matters, you really do need to read the NEWBIES thread!). 

Have you sent a SAR to Smart Parking yet - see NEWBIES thread first please and no asking for a link to it.  My signature (below) covers that...

Le_Kirk

 Now we know it is Smart Parking and a Supermarket, did you carry out plan A, which is complain to the supermarket?  If so what did they say?  Just now do as @Coupon-mad suggested, submit the SAR to find all they have on you - attach a copy of V5C as proof of who you are (but NOT driving licence of passport) - no blabbing about who was driving.

Umkomaas

Send the SAR to Smart Parking (see NEWBIES FAQ sticky, second post, for details and link to a template). Thereafter, as you are in Scotland, ignore anything further. The chances of a Sheriff Court case are so infinitesimally small, I'd just forget about things, but obviously come back if real court proceedings are issued. 

Coupon-mad

And please continue on this new 'CST letters' group thread from now on, unless you get a COURT CLAIM in which case reply again here and we'll help you individually:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6166004/cst-law-parking-fine-letter

Notsosmartlol

I cannot complain to the supermarket as it was a different supermarket at the time of the fine. Just emailed them a SAR.

Notsosmartlol

Sorry just seen that, will do.

Fruitcake

It is not a fine.
The important thing is that at the moment a keeper who lives in Scotland cannot be held liable, but a driver can. If you did get a court claim it would have to be from a Scottish court (Simple Procedure-Act of Sederunt). If it came from an English court then you would point out that as you live in Scotland and Scottish laws apply, you will be out of the court's jurisdiction.

You can safely ignore debt collectors anywhere in the UK.

Even if a different supermarket is now in operation at the location, you should still complain to the previous outfit because it is they who will have had the contract with the parking company at the time of the alleged event.