Private Parking Ticket Now Passed To Gladstones Solicitors

Peter4444

Hi All,

I hope you can help me with this case. I have read through the threads but can't seem to find answers
I am looking for so apologies if this has been covered already   .

I received a private parking ticket in 2019 from Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd.
The letters were ignored and eventually, the letters for the charge stopped coming after a few months.

Then earlier this year (2021) I started to receive texts and letters asking for payment of the parking ticket
offering me a discount again but I ignored these letters.

The parking company then passed my case to Gladstones Solicitors who have been chasing me for the money.
I have attached the letter I received from Gladstones informing me to pay in 30 days or dispute the debt.

They are also threatening to start court proceedings and mentioning that I may receive a CCJ if the amount is not paid.
Apparently, the £160 charge would amount to £275 if taken to court.

What would be the best course of action to take?

Appreciate your kind help.

Umkomaas

That is a formal Letter Before Claim which you cannot ignore. You must now deal with it as guided in the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post.  Get your SAR done and your instruction to Gladstones to place your case on hold for a minimum of 30 days while you are seeking debt advice. Each of those actions described more fully in the second post of the newbies announcement. 

D_P_Dance

Apparently, the £160 charge would amount to £275 if taken to court.

They have added what appears to be an extra unlawful amount for debt collection. Judges have dismissed an entire claim because this. Read this and complain to your MP.

Excel v Wilkinson

At the Bradford County Court, District Judge Claire Jackson (now HHJ Jackson, a Specialist Civil Circuit Judge) decided to hear a 'test case' a few months ago, where £60 had been added to a parking charge despite Judges up and down the country repeatedly disallowing that sum and warning parking firms not to waste court time with such spurious claims.   That case was Excel v Wilkinson: G4QZ465V, heard in July 2020 and leave to appeal was refused and that route was not pursued.  The Judge concluded that such claims are proceedings with 'an improper collateral purpose'.   This Judge - and others who have since copied her words and struck dozens of cases out in late 2020 and into 2021 - went into significant detail and concluded that parking operators (such as this Claimant) are seeking to circumvent CPR 27.14 as well as breaching the Consumer Rights Act 2015.   DJ Hickinbottom has recently struck more cases out in that court area, stating: ''I find that striking out this claim is the only appropriate manner in which the disapproval of the court can be shown''.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/16qovzulab1szem/G4QZ465V Excel v Wilkinson.pdf?dl=0

Have you complained  to your MP?

Coupon-mad

LBC stage is fully covered in the 2nd post of the NEWBIES thread, along with court claim stage which will follow.

if this is a PCN at your own home car park, what does your lease or tenancy agreement say about parking of vehicles, anything about an obligation to display a permit?

Peter4444

Coupon-mad said:

LBC stage is fully covered in the 2nd post of the NEWBIES thread, along with court claim stage which will follow.

if this is a PCN at your own home car oark, what does your lease or tenancy agreement say about parking of vehicles, anything about an obligation to display a permit?

Hi @C@Coupon-mad this was my partners address and I was given the charge after arriving back from holiday and parking at her place for a short while so I don't have any tenancy agreement. What can I do without it?

KeithP

OK then, what does your partner's lease or tenancy agreement have to say about parking and permits?

patient_dream

And to add, that letter before claim.

Gladstones saying that "time spent for recovery" accounts for the fake £60 is total rubbish

Judges don't accept this rubbish because it's just a feeble attempt of double recovery which in turn is abuse of process.

This is totally against the Supreme court who ruled "The main reason for the charge was to meet the costs of enforcing the parking rules" ?

You can watch this here
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/78306189#Comment_78306189

And on this thread you can see what happens to Gladstones in court
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6014081/abuse-of-process-district-judge-tells-bwlegal/p1?new=1