Parking Claims, Debt Collectors and Mental Health

Snakes_Belly

 "I have heard of two suicides last year where the last straws included false, inflated demands from the underclass of debt recovery impersonators who cling limpet-like, to this rogue industry.  I heard this from another PPC fighter who dealt with both cases for the family after the deaths of the persons involved."

In response to the above post by Coupon Mad I have started a new thread.

There are situations where someone on the brink will receive the type of letter sent out by firms like Elms Legal and that will be the last straw. 

Regarding mental health, there is much virtual signalling by celebrities, etc eager to nail their flag to the latest cause. There is very little being done to protect vulnerable people against these aggressive debt collection agents who feed off the Private Parking Industry. 

It is not just mental health either.  "The Telomere Effect" deals with the effect of stress on the bodies immune system. Stress will reduce our ability to deal with major illnesses.

The public consultation of the new CoP asked for comments as to whether the activities of debt collectors should be regulated by the FCA. At present they are unregulated.  If they were regulated vulnerable people would have some protection.

The recent post by ROBG_3  included a letter from Elms Legal which disgusted me. It made the recipient think that the debt collection agent had the right to enter their property by mentioning the measures that they were taking over Covid. This is sharp disgusting practice. 

I would like to write to my MP and Robert Jenrick with a copy of this letter however the poster has not redacted the letter.

BrownTrout

The thing is they simply don't care

Snakes_Belly

BrownTrout said:

The thing is they simply don't care

 I agree, they are takers not givers. 

They will kick against any regulation by the FCA and this will be the only way to clean up this grubby business. 

D_P_Dance

You cannot stop people from worrying.  I remember once talking to a colleague's wife,  a notorious worrier.  We heard an ambulance about a half mile away and she started  worrying that her husband had had an accident.  

beamerguy

Snakes_Belly said:

I would like to write to my MP and Robert Jenrick with a copy of this letter however the poster has not redacted the letter.

I have redacted the letter. It's not a personal letter, this will have been sent out to 100's and is by it's nature a scam letter.

When I wrote to Sir Greg, as you know you I copied in many ministers together with Jenrick.  No guesses that he did not reply. 

So, in my thank you reply to Sir Greg, I will ask him to alert Jenrick of this scam.  Pointing out to Sir Greg when he was introducing the bill in the house, he stated that it is rude for companies not to reply and in particular to MP's.   I someone think Jenrick never heard that ?

Snakes_Belly

D_P_Dance said:

You cannot stop people from worrying.  In remember once talking to a colleage's wife,  a notorious worrier.  We heard an ambulance about a mile away and she started  worrying that her husband had had an accident.  

There are some people who are natural worriers however there are people who are classed as vulnerable and there are FCA guidelines for dealing with vulnerable people.

The new CoP is stating that the debt collection agents used by PPC's should be regulated by the FCA. This will mean that the PPC's, solicitor or debt collection agent will have to check whether they are dealing with a vulnerable person before debt collection can start. 

IMHO debt collection certainly should not start until after the second tier appeal providing that that appeal is judgmental and not criteria based and that mitigating circumstances are taken into account. I do favour that debt collection should only start after the court hearing if the defendant has not paid the CCJ.
  

 

Snakes_Belly

Beamer,

Can you send me a copy of the redacted letter please?

Thanks

Snakes


 

D_P_Dance

 however there are people who are classed as vulnerable

I am probably one of them, I am 80, diabetic, and have skin cancer.  My 75 year old wife has Parkison's  and Alheimers,   I do not stress over scam parking tickets.

Snakes_Belly

D_P_Dance said:

 "however there are people who are classed as vulnerable"
"I am probably one of them"

We all deal with certain issues differently. The point I am trying to make is that the debt collection agents and solicitors that engage in these activities on behalf of the PPC's should be regulated by the FCA. Then they would have to comply with the FCA guidelines when it comes down to dealing with vulnerable people.

They would never be able to send out the type of letter mentioned in my original post which cannot be a bad thing.  

MistyZ

I think the strongest argument is that the PPC's debt collectors lie.  They have to be regulated.  

Completely agree that exploiting the current Covid-19 situation is very good evidence of just how far they will go.  Have you contacted ROBG_3 to ask that they redact the letter for their own protection and so that you can use it if they agree?  (I couldn't find it).

D_P_Dance

I agree, but mentally ill people will still be vulnerable, no matter how regulated PPCs become.