Debt Recovery Plus letter - Horizon Parking

daniiceo

Hi all
I have a parking charge notice issued from 15 August 2020. Today I received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus requesting £145.
I've only recently stumbled across this thread and unfortunately had I done my research at the time of reciving the original PCN, I probably could've avoided this space.
So the story is I drove into a Sainsburys car park at 22:40 and left 7 minutes later at 22:47 (according to the PCN). I had to drive in to the car park because my car was losing power (later found to have an issue with my DPF and turbo pipe causing EML to illuminate and loss of power). I sent a picture of my dashboard to Horizon Parking and appealed my case. They rejected and issued POPLA referral. However, as a number of weeks had elapsed, I forgot to put through my appeal to POPLA and wasn't able to escalate. I've tried to contact Horizon Parking via email on numerous occasions to try and fight my case but didn't realise until coming across these posts, that I was clearly wasting my time!
Anyway, I sent an email to the Sainsburys CEO after reading it worked for some members here but I wasn't successful.
I'd really like some advice for how to proceed next. I really don't think it's fair for Horizon Parking to have charged £80 for sitting in the parking space for 7 minutes whilst I had car issues!
I really am not in a position to pay £145 given the climate, but I'm a little worried about what may happen next. 
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. 

beamerguy

The simple fact is that DRP are complete idiots and you ignore them. You do not owe £145
DRP ARE ONLY MONEY SCAMMERS WITH NO CLOUT
I am more concerned about Sainsbury's, do you ever shop with them ?
What did you say to them and what was their reply.

Fruitcake

The fourth post of the NEWBIES explains why it is safe to ignore powerless debt collectors.

Get pics of the site and signage in case a court case comes your way in the next six years..
If your car breaks down, stop on the road as long as it is safe to do so. Single and double yellow lines allow that. Never enter private property unless instructed to do so by the emergency services unless it is absolutely impossible to stay on the road.

Did you complain to the store manager in case they are willing to help, or to the landowner if Sainsburys don't own the land?

The PCN cannot increase above £100, but another £75 to £100 could be added if you lost in court. If you won you could get up to £95 in costs.

If you do get a court claim then come back here for further help.

D_P_Dance

Have you complained  to your MP.

Umkomaas

You missed an easy opportunity to kill this off with the blue text initial appeal template from the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, first post, and if that didn't work, a pretty much guaranteed win at POPLA. 

So as you seem to have exhausted the retailer complaint route, you'll need to ride this out for the next six years, or until a Judge determines the case .... whichever comes the earlier. 

daniiceo

Thanks for your responses.
I occasionally shop with Sainsburys but my local. This was a Sainsburys roughly 10 miles away from where I live and not an in area I visit often. I haven't been back there since the event and I haven't spoke with the store manager or Sainsburys at all - other than the email I sent to the CEO.
Now that the debt has been passed accross to DRP - is it still worth popping in to speak with the store manager OR to complain to the landowner if it isn't Sainsburys?
I also haven't complained to my MP. I assume that's worth doing as well?

fisherjim

daniiceo said:

Now that the debt has been passed accross to DRP - is it still worth popping in to speak with the store manager OR to complain to the landowner if it isn't Sainsburys?

I also haven't complained to my MP. I assume that's worth doing as well?

Of course you should complain it's never too late also you should look at grace periods seven minutes is a ridiculous time to receive a scam invoice for.

You are not in debt to anyone unless a judge decides you are, a PPC has alleged you broke their made up rules and has sent you a speculative invoice which has subsequently been passed on to some bullying nomarks to try to frighten you.

daniiceo

fisherjim said:

daniiceo said:

Now that the debt has been passed accross to DRP - is it still worth popping in to speak with the store manager OR to complain to the landowner if it isn't Sainsburys?

I also haven't complained to my MP. I assume that's worth doing as well?

Of course you should complain it's never too late also you should look at grace periods seven minutes is a ridiculous time to receive a scam invoice for.

You are not in debt to anyone unless a judge decides you are, a PPC has alleged you broke their made up rules and has sent you a speculative invoice which has subsequently been passed on to some bullying nomarks to try to frighten you.

Okay thanks. Any templates or suggestions of what I should say in the letter to MP or should I just explain what happened once again?
My email to the CEO was along the lines of explaining what happened, and also explaining how disappointed I was in the company for having dealings with Horizon, and the threat of losing consumers etc..
They obviously didn't care much - see below.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for your email which has been received into the Executive Office, I have been asked to look into your complaint and respond on behalf of Sainsbury's.

Whilst I can appreciate your frustration in regards to the parking charge notice you have received, I apologise that as this is issued by a third party, and not by Sainsbury’s directly, I am unable to offer any assistance in regards to this matter. 

Should you wish to dispute the notice you have received may I kindly refer you to the company that have issued the parking charge notice in order to do so.

Whilst I appreciate this may not be the response you were expecting and would like to apologise for any disappointment, I trust this makes our position clear.

Kind regards. 

beamerguy

daniiceo said:

Now that the debt has been passed accross to DRP - is it still worth popping in to speak with the store manager OR to complain to the landowner if it isn't Sainsburys?
I also haven't complained to my MP. I assume that's worth doing as well?

I don't think you have understood so far so I will shout ....

DRP ARE CIRCUS CLOWNS, SEWER LIVING CRITTERS, MONEY SCAMMERS, LIARS, IDIOTS, BULLIES and 100% POWERLESS ... CLOUD DREAMERS TO TOTALLY IGNORE

End of shout

Fruitcake

There are no templates for complaints to MPs. Have a look at the NEWBIES where comments made by MPs can be found in red text. Select a few of the phrases and let your MP know what her/his colleagues think about this unregulated scam as well as your actual complaint about these scammers driving custom away from their constituency.
Mention that people are getting these £100 charges along with threats of court claims at vaccination centres which will deter people from going to get their jabs

Was this a stand alone store, or one in a retail park? If the former, then the Sainsburys probably employed the scammers and can cancel the charge.
If Sainsburys do not own the land, then you need to do a further search to find the landowner.

Ask the local council who pays the non-domestic business rates.
If you get a court claim, then pay a few quid to get a copy of the Land Registry entry. 

Redx

How to research land ownership in this post by Umkomaas in this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78015785#Comment_78015785