7 year old parking ticket

rokx

Apologies in advance if this is covered somewhere - I did take a look at the FAQs but couldn't spot a definitive answer.

I got a parking ticket 7 years ago (2013).  In December I received a "letter of claim" from BW Legal, which says "if payment or a response is not received by 15 January 2021, we are instructed to issue a claim against you in the County Court without further notice."  They've attached an information sheet, reply form and income & expenditure form.  

Am I correct in thinking that this is now statute barred and I can continue to ignore?

Snakes_Belly

What was the date of the actual transgression? They have six years from the date of the transgression. There is a similar recent thread regarding this with instructions on how to deal with the letter from B W Legal. 

Redx

Checkout the Limitations Act 1980

Enforcement may be barred , but the alleged debt never expires

Snakes_Belly

I think that BW have tried this on recently and there was instructions on the thread on what to write back.

Umkomaas

Snakes_Belly said:

I think that BW have tried this on recently and there was instructions on the thread on what to write back.

Maybe they continue the strategy if it's paying off.  There must be enough people gloriously ignorant of the Limitations Act, and scared witless enough by the threat of court, to be writing them a cheque by return. 

Well done @rokx for not falling for this scam!

rokx

Thank you both. It was March 2013.
I've been searching for the recent thread you've mentioned, but no luck.  Will keep searching 

Snakes_Belly

This was the thread. Same scenario. 
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6225115/bwlegal-limitation-act-1980-query/p1

Fruitcake

I wouldn't ignore if it were me.
I would write to the scammers and scamlicitors that since more than six years has passed since the date of the alleged event, litigation cannot now be commenced, reference the Limitations Act 1980 as mentioned above.

Whilst the debt can still exist, and can be pursued, it cannot be pursued through the courts. The scammers should know this, and the scamlicitors definitely know this. You should add a line that you are going to complain to the SRA about the scamlicitors threat of court action.

Then make the complaint to the SRA.

This assumes you are in England or Wales, not Scotland or NI.

rokx

Thank you!  The other thread is really useful.
Thanks Fruitcake - I'm filling in a complaint form to the SRA now and will write to BW Legal too.

Fruitcake

Let this thread mature for a bit before you fire anything off to let the regulars comment.

rokx

Will do, thanks   Got it all drafted and ready to go now unless I hear otherwise.