One Parking solution PCN - client intends to proceed letter from dcblegal

jocarwash

Hello,

I've been pointed to this site by a friend and have read the newbie thread.  I realise I should have taken some of the advice on this site sooner but have only just become aware of it so please bear this in mind.  The case involves an unpaid PCN from 18th April 2019.  I didn't receive this PCN and only became aware of it when I received a letter from ZZPS who had added ££70 admin fees to the PC of £100.  I called ZZPS for more info and they were very dismissive.  I ignored all subsequent letters until I received a claim form from the court in March.  I wrote a defence as follows:

"I became aware of this PCN on 31st May 2019 when I received a letter from ZZPS limited claiming that an unpaid PCN had been passed to them to resolve and that I needed to pay £170, which included late payment and debt recovery charges.  I immediately called ZZPS and informed an advisor by phone that I had not received a PCN and had not been given an opportunity to recall the alleged incident , let alone dispute it.  I was not even aware who had issued the PCN.  I have a written record of this call.  The advisor was dismissive and said that the PCN had been sent and that failure to pay it would result in 'solicitors getting involved'.  He did not seem interested in the fact that I had not received a PCN.

I assumed at this point that I was the victim of an attempted scam.  Since then, I have received five letters from three different companies which I have ignore (although kept) because I felt that the basis of the claim was unlawful.  I keep meticulous records and am not in the habit of ignoring legitimate bills.  I am not however prepared to pay an inflated amount or indeed any amount for a PCN that I did not receive and did not have an opportunity to contest.

The particulars of this claim state that 'the driver agreed to pay within 28 days but did not'.  This is untrue.  I absolutely did not agree to pay this claim when I called ZZPS in May 2019.

I have now received a letter from dbclegal stating that their client intends to proceed with the claim and offering mediation.  Should I contact the PPC at this stage asking for documents or is it too late?  Or should I cut my losses and offer a low sum to dbslegal?  My gut feeling is still that it cannot be right that I should be expected to pay this and am prepared to go to court on principle - although this will be awkward work-wise.

Any advice would be gratefully received and I apologise in advance if I've overlooked an obvious course of action in the newbie thread.

Coupon-mad

No, do not make any offer!  Yes email a SAR to OPS, tonight.  You want to see the letters and photos you missed. 

Which car park?

jocarwash

@Coupon-mad Thank you for responding. The car park is Newhaven (South coast).  I have just e-mailed a SAR to the data protection officer at OPS using the template on this forum - much appreciated.  Should I then just wait for it to go to court?

jocarwash

*in Newhaven

Coupon-mad

Wesr Quay, One Stop, the parking spaces in the road outside the Villandry Car Park in Newhaven?

Or a residential car park?

jocarwash

The location given by ZZPS was Villandry, Newhaven. I parked in what I thought was the shop car park whilst I went into the shop (5 mins). I subsequently realised signs had gone up but didn't register them at the time and would probably have researched inadequate signage if I'd had an opportunity to appeal.

Coupon-mad

https://www.google.co.uk/local/place/fid/0x47df6fe05f7c515d:0xfb00962285742cee/photosphere?iu=//geo2.ggpht.com/cbk?panoid=80WThekdV4bZLlMArXQcqA&output=thumbnail&cb_client=lu.gallery.gps&thumb=2&w=160&h=106&yaw=278.9977&pitch=0&thumbfov=100&ik=CAISFjgwV1RoZWtkVjRiWkxsTUFyWFFjcUE=

There is a row of shops (including MP Maria Caulfield's office) with flats above. Some of the spaces are marked for residents.

The entrance sign was turned round so people with these PCNs didn't see it.   One person I know about, parked in a resident's bay (because some kids had left their bikes lying on the ground in the bays for the shops) and went to the shop for a few minutes. 

jocarwash

Wow, thanks - I wouldn't say that was noticeable! Is that a current Google image - if so, can I use it to make a case against a PCN from 2019?

Coupon-mad

You can find Google images by dragging the little pegman in and looking.  I didn't actually capture that one.

D_P_Dance

Have you complained to your MP?

jocarwash

D_P_Dance said:

Have you complained to your MP?

Not yet, but will do.