CST LAW LBC from parking fine at Clacton Waterglade retail park

Priconbanham

Evening all, 

So, I am starting my own thread after accidentally hijacking someone else’s as they appeared to be asking the same questions as myself.

Last August I received a parking fine from the Waterglade retail park, I wrote to them and explained that I had not realised that I had gone over the maximum stay of 2 hours. I had 4 children with me shopping for school essentials, 2 of which were very young and do not shop efficiently!!!

In April I then received a unpaid debt notice from CST LAW. I contacted them and asked for details of the notice as it had no reference number attached to it but they couldn't give me that information as they didn't have it!!! They also replied to 2 emails on a Sunday (strange??) stating that DRP will be in contact because of the poorly detailed unpaid debt notice.

Since then I have followed advice and contacted 2 local MPs as advised on the other MSE thread. The first MP redirected me to the second MP, who has since replied with no concern about the parking fine issues, but agreed to forward it on to the SRA. I also contacted the SRA and received an unconcerned response from them stating that they could not see any wrongful act from CST LAW/DRP. 

Fast forward to now and I’m freaking out because I have received a further letter (now with a proper reference no.) from CST LAW titled “LETTER BEFORE CLAIM” with it worded that I will be subject to legal proceedings if I do not pay £170 within 30 days of the date of this letter… which is in 3 days time.

I have emailed Smart Parking with a strongly worded email that another member had put together for me. Smart Parking responded saying that the matter is no longer in their hands and they have passed it over to DRP to deal with.

I am not sure what to do next or who else to contact. Believe me when I say I do not want to give money to them, but I am so out of my depth with the letters, the legal jargon, and what to do next that I just want it to go away now. I know they play on peoples fears but I really don’t want anything like a CCJ attached to my name 

Many thanks

Coupon-mad

Oh dear. You could have killed any Smart Parking PCN with one email, had you come here at the time.

What happened when you complained to the retail park? They can cancel it in one minute flat. You'll know from the NEWBIES thread (we hope) that a written or email complaint to the landowner is PLAN A at any stage (never too late).

Priconbanham

I didn’t know that at the time.

Morrisons, Next and B&M couldn’t help, they all referred me to the parking company. They sympathised as they have countless people in the same situation visiting the shops.

I have no idea who the land owner is, the shops also could not help me with this. There are no signs anywhere listing the land owner. I called the council offices and they said they could not help because of GDPR.

Priconbanham

I have until tomorrow to pay according to my most recent LBC    

Coupon-mad

Priconbanham said:

I have until tomorrow to pay according to my most recent LBC    

But you won't be paying.

When we say complain to the landowner we mean the retail park owner or whichever property agent runs it (Google it or just look at the main entrance sign).

Trainerman

Unless I have missed something, you could still send the 30 day hold email NOW and buy yourself time to do all the other things such as learn the process and contact the landowners

Priconbanham

Coupon-mad said:

Priconbanham said:

I have until tomorrow to pay according to my most recent LBC    

But you won't be paying.

When we say complain to the landowner we mean the retail park owner or whichever property agent runs it (Google it or just look at the main entrance sign).

I have already tried to find the details of the land owner. There is nothing and no one named on the signs at the entrance to the retail park. The shops have been unable to help as all of them are part of a big chain and none of the stores have the details.

I have also spoken to the local council offices regarding finding details of the land owners and I was told that information wouldn't be given out because of GDPR.

Priconbanham

These are the only 2 signs in the carpark

Priconbanham

Trainerman said:

Unless I have missed something, you could still send the 30 day hold email NOW and buy yourself time to do all the other things such as learn the process and contact the landowners

Thank you, but I am completely lost. I have been back and fourth for months now and I really can’t get my head around things on this forum…I wish I had gone to a solicitors and paid them to do it for me as I really would rather pay anyone else that these crooks. I can’t find the ‘hold email’ you speak of and I need to pay the fine by today apparently (I know you say I don’t, but I really can’t risk there being anything bad against my name).

Trainerman

Hold on a moment. The 30 day hold email is this :- email the solicitor acting on behalf of the parking company and say that you dispute the debt, but that you are taking debt advice and therefore the case must be put on hold for 30 days, as per the pre action protocol.

That is it. Buys 30 days, and we can help. 

Edit to add, they won't start anything today/sunday. Courts are closed until Monday. Send that email and take a breath. Make sure you BCC it to a friend in order to prove sending/arrival

patient_dream

Trainerman said:

Unless I have missed something, you could still send the 30 day hold email NOW and buy yourself time to do all the other things such as learn the process and contact the landowners

YES, the problem with CST is they probably don't know what the extra 30 days means ..... least of all what they are claiming for ?

CST add fake amounts and when asked about them they cannot explain
What we are seeing is the PP'c using CST as a freebie scaremomger setup
Another bunch called UKPC do the same and go on to use another legal

This after all is a scam industry and these rogues eat each other.

As far as the SRA, if they don't understand a fake scam when it's put in front of their noses, it is about time that government  reviews this as currently the SRA cannot be an authority and allow a scam