Parking Solutions 24 / Appeal Refused / Gladstone Solicitors Letter

the_hundreds

I have read the newbies thread it was quite overwhelming. I would like some advice on my situation, please. 

I received a parking fine from Parking Solutions 24 Ltd at my place of work in 2020, the day was hot and caused the adhesive to come unstuck on my permit which was on my seat upon my return. I appealed the fine (without having read any appeal forums as I thought it would be a straightforward fix ...lol), I scanned in my permit, informed them that the adhesive had come unstuck and also suggested they search my reg as it is in the system too as having a permit. The appeal was denied. 

Fast forward two years, I have ignored every letter since, including a “Can’t pay we’ll take it away” letter with a blurry Channel 4 logo on… All debt collector letters have also been ignored. 

This week I received a letter from Gladstone Solicitors threatening court action. I read on another thread that I should take my chances as a small claims court would be cheaper than the £300 Gladstones are estimating. 

I also tried to find out who owns the land - it's looking like it is council-owned so I was surprised the fine wasn't direct council or I would have appealed / then ended up paying. I have contacted a few people about this.

What is the best way for me to deal with this situation, please? Shall I get a solicitor to deal with it for me? Shall I just pay up - currently £170? Continue to ignore, prepare a defence? (I'm extremely bad at that stuff though.) And links/directions I'll be grateful for,

Thanks in advance 

Trainerman

No, No, Yes.

Was this a letter of claim or just another debt collector piece of nonsense? The answer to that will dictate the response. Don't even think of a solicitor.... probably cost more and the experts on here win regularly so just take on board their advice

D_P_Dance

 I should take my chances as a small claims court would be cheaper than the £300 Gladstones are estimating. 

Considerably cheaper, they are trying it on my adding unlawful amounts, read this

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6108153/template-defence-to-adapt-for-all-parking-cases-where-they-add-false-admin-costs-edited-march-2022#latest

and complain to your MP.

Coupon-mad

It won't be Council owned.

Read other Gladstones threads from April and May.  I posted a few times how to respond and mention the DLUHC's ban on the added £70.

the_hundreds

Trainerman said:

No, No, Yes.

Was this a letter of claim or just another debt collector piece of nonsense? The answer to that will dictate the response. Don't even think of a solicitor.... probably cost more and the experts on here win regularly so just take on board their

advice

Please find all received letter attached - Gladstone being the most recent - I'd love to know your thought after seeing them please? 

Also I thought to note: the reason for contravention states: "no permit". I do have a permit and it is registered in the system with the company, had they searched it they would have found this out. Shouldn't the contravention state: "no permit displayed" for example? Does this matter? 

the_hundreds

Thanks for your reply @Coupon-mad I was hoping to hear from yourself. 

There doesn't seem to be a £70 added on by Gladstones. It was already on from the start - I have added photographs of all received letters. Please let me know your thoughts after seeing these? Thank you ever so much 

the_hundreds

Thanks for your reply @D_P_Dance

I have added images of received letters. Please let me know your thoughts after seeing them ? 

Would I complain to the MP who covers the area of my place of work or my MP where I live (two different towns).
Hope this isn't a stupid question. I wrote to the council - they replied asking me about the location etc, when I added further details they did not reply.. 

Umkomaas

It's a formal Letter Before Claim and needs your attention. The NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post, details how you deal with this, including requiring Gladstones to suspend any action for 30 days for you to take 'debt advice'.  

Do this near to the end of their 30 days deadline from the LBC issue date (27 April) to require your further 30 days - gives you more time to deal with this. 

the_hundreds

Lady from the Council has contacted PS24 about this for me. 

Will report back . 

the_hundreds

Umkomaas said:

It's a formal Letter Before Claim and needs your attention. The NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post, details how you deal with this, including requiring Gladstones to suspend any action for 30 days for you to take 'debt advice'.  

Do this near to the end of their 30 days deadline from the LBC issue date (27 April) to require your further 30 days - gives you more time to deal with this. 

@Umkomaas - Do you think I would have a chance in court or would you just pay it? I noticed the contravention states: no permit. I do have a permit and it is registered in the system with the company, had they searched it they would have found this out. Shouldn't the contravention state: "no permit displayed" for example? Does this matter? 

Other people I know who appealed and sent a scan / photo of their permit had their appeal accepted. I can't understand why my situation is any different. Many thanks 

Umkomaas

Do you think I would have a chance in court or would you just pay it?

We don't gamble on second-guessing what a Judge might decide, but the vast majority of court cases the forum has helped with have been won by the Defendant. 

We rarely ever advise anyone to pay, let the Judge tell you to pay if he/she feels you haven't a case. Few ever do now they understand how the private parking business operates.