Received a Letter Before Claim from SIP as claimant and solicitor

ScammingIndustry

Coupon-mad said:

I do think charging more than the advertised tariff is an offence though, unless the signs says extra will be added.  However they can't add more for card payments - that's illegal.

brilliant, I've got all the evidence to prove they are in the wrong. they've said it would cost more to pay by card however it doesnt matter whether I pay by card or cash. it always charges me more than displayed tariff

Coupon-mad

https://www.businesscompanion.info/en/quick-guides/pricing-and-payment/payment-surcharges#:~:text=Businesses are not permitted to,commercial debit or credit cards.

Even if they say they are charging the extra for people who pay by cash, it exceeds the advertised price.  Why not send your evidence on that to your local Trading Standards and say it is a systemic breach of payment surcharges legislation and this firm is doing this every single day, contrary to the advertised price.

Fighting back v a PPC involved several layers and branches of complaint!  This is just one but will keep them busy and might stop that issue if TS take it up.  Local TS hardly exist these days IMHO, but misleading pricing advertising is an easy one for even a single busy staff member to grasp.

Castle

Vat numbers have 9 digits; the picture of the PDT you posted on 2nd May showed a VAT number with only 8 digits, you may want to check any others PDT's you have here:- 
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number

ScammingIndustry

Coupon-mad said:

Even if they say they are charging the extra for people who pay by cash, it exceeds the advertised price.  Why not send your evidence on that to your local Trading Standards and say it is a systemic breach of payment surcharges legislation and this firm is doing this every single day, contrary to the advertised price.

Fighting back v a PPC involved several layers and branches of complaint!  This is just one but will keep them busy and might stop that issue if TS take it up.  Local TS hardly exist these days IMHO, but misleading pricing advertising is an easy one for even a single busy staff member to grasp.

will be contacting trading standards after work. This firm is doing it every single day to every single customer gaining money by false advertising. I have eye witness accounts who will back up the claim alongside video evidence.

Castle said:

Vat numbers have 9 digits; the picture of the PDT you posted on 2nd May showed a VAT number with only 8 digits, you may want to check any others PDT's you have here:- 

Thank you for pointing this out! I have checked every single ticket. it only contains the same 8 digits on every receipt. what does this mean? I think this is a very badly run car park, with more coming to light as we speak

Coupon-mad

Mention the VAT issue to TS as well, as an aside.  You could say you are concerned it's a money laundering or possible VAT 'fraud' operation as well as a scam, because VAT is payable on parking fees/tariffs (NB: not on parking penalties so don't state it wrongly).

Nothing to stop you reporting this to HMRC online as well.  There's an easy way to report alleged VAT fraud.

ScammingIndustry

Coupon-mad said:

Mention the VAT issue to TS as well, as an aside.  You could say you are concerned it's a money laundering or possible VAT 'fraud' operation as well as a scam, because VAT is payable on parking fees/tariffs (NB: not on parking penalties so don't state it wrongly).

Nothing to stop you reporting this to HMRC online as well.  There's an easy way to report alleged VAT fraud.

Fantastic! I will Contact HMRC as well. In the letter I have written to the company. would it be wise to include all this information that has come to light? or leave this information out for later use should PPC pursue court proceeding

Umkomaas

Castle said:

Vat numbers have 9 digits; the picture of the PDT you posted on 2nd May showed a VAT number with only 8 digits, you may want to check any others PDT's you have here:- 
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number

I've used the 8-digit VAT number shown on the parking ticket and started adding a further digit to it starting with a 1.

Eventually (4) found this. 

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-vat-number/known

Castle

OP

What is the full name of the parking company on the LBC?

ScammingIndustry

I do not have the letter with me at the moment. I will post the name as soon as I have the LBC

Castle

Umkomaas said:

Castle said:

Vat numbers have 9 digits; the picture of the PDT you posted on 2nd May showed a VAT number with only 8 digits, you may want to check any others PDT's you have here:- 
https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-vat-number

I've used the 8-digit VAT number shown on the parking ticket and started adding a further digit to it starting with a 1.

Eventually (4) found this. 

https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-vat-number/known

Thanks; although it belongs to an entirely different company SIP Car Parks(1) Ltd.