PCN Notice Previous Address - Just Found Out..

eddr

Hi there,

I have recently become aware that my vehicle overstayed at a private car park (Whiteley Shopping Centre - East Car Park) on 22/07/2022.

I have only recently been made aware because I recently received recovery demands via post (and SMS) from Debt Recovery Plus to my current address.

I have learned (and this is certainly my fault) that when you move house and change your driving licence address, it does not update other DVLA addresses such as the registered keeper address on your vehicles. Therefore, the penalty notices for the above contravention have been going to my previous address.

Fortunately, I am friendly with the buyer and I went around today and asked for any mail; they handed over a bunch...

I was first issued with a notice to my old address from CP Plus on 01/08/2022 asking for £100 (reduced to £60 in 28d). They said there would be a £40 debt recovery charge if ignored. To be clear, I have only just seen this letter today 30/10/2022.

Here it is:



I do not contest that this happened and the driver (not me) overstayed in my car.

Next, there is a letter from Debt Recovery Plus dated 04/10/2022. This is the second correspondence to my previous address but looks like it was handed off to DRP from CP Plus... Of interest is that DRP are asking for £170, which is £30 more than the CP Plus demands of £100 + £40 recovery fee....



Ok, so now we are at the point where I actually found out about the situation... I received a letter to my current address on 24/10/2022 (Half term, only just read it tbh...). This still demands the £170.



Finally, I received a day later on 25/10/2022 another reminder (!!!) to my current address:




I accept that it's my fault I didn't know about changing DVLA address on car separately to driving licence, so overall I accept that this is my responsibility, but does anyone have any advice on what I should do here? And also why they suddenly added £30 without explaining what it's for?

Q: Could I ignore this and not pay it without any recourse? 
Q: if not, Could I get the original fee back down to the £60 or £100 by talking to car park owner?
Q: If not, could I get the £30 removed from the £170 because it doesn't explain why it's been added?

KeithP

At the Whiteley Shopping (not shipping) Centre near Fareham?

The fourth post of the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with debt collectors letters, but to summarise that post - ignore them.

You need to write to CCPlus telling them to correct your address for correspondence and instruct them to get DRP to do the same.

Remember to update the keeper's address on the vehicle's Registration Document. Can be done online.

Coupon-mad

Same advice as this case:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79588848#Comment_79588848

What happened when you complained to the Retail Park managing agents who contracted with CP Plus?

eddr

KeithP wrote:

At the Whiteley Shopping (not shipping) Centre near Fareham?

Yes, that's the one! Will update typo.

You need to write to CCPlus telling them to correct your address for correspondence and instruct them to get DRP to do the same.

I had to do some digging to find this email address. It looks like CCPlus is part of Group Nexus, I see CPPlus's Company Number (02595379) listed here.

The DPO email address is so I am planning to send an email there dpo@groupnexus.co.uk. 

I will state: 

---

Please erase any data associated with the issued address on Parking Charge Notice 20000XYZANBCD as that address is incorrect and not the address of the registered keeper. Please also instruct your recovery agents to do the same.

---

Do I need to give them my current address or should I just update it on DVLA and let them go fetch it again?

Coupon-mad wrote:

What happened when you complained to the Retail Park managing agents who contracted with CP Plus?

I have not made contact with anyone yet. Do you recommend I contact the retail park and ask them if they're willing to reduce the ticket to the original amount or something?

It's not really clear to me if I should continue to ignore these letters or whether I should just pay the £170 and move on (still not clear why DRP think it's OK to lump another £30 on without explaining what it's for...)

Trainerman

Do I need to give them my current address or should I just update it on DVLA and let them go fetch it again?

Give them the correct address for service. Make sure you actually receive any legal paperwork, and avoid a stealth ccj

As regards contacting the retail park, as a customer who goes there and spends money, you expect them to cancel the ticket

Umkomaas

Do I need to give them my current address or should I just update it on DVLA and let them go fetch it again?

They can't have another 'fetch' from the DVLA. Once per parking event only. 

I have not made contact with anyone yet. Do you recommend I contact the retail park and ask them if they're willing to reduce the ticket to the original amount or something?

They can't reduce the ticket, but they can instruct CP Plus to cancel it. Plan A is to always complain to the landowner/managing agent involved. 

It's not really clear to me if I should continue to ignore these letters or whether I should just pay the £170 and move on (still not clear why DRP think it's OK to lump another £30 on without explaining what it's for...)

We recommend you ignore anything further until/unless you receive a formal Letter of Claim from CP Plus's solicitors (usually DCB Legal - but don't confuse with silly begging letters from DCB Limited ) or a county court claim from the Northampton CCBC - come back on this thread if you do. I have to tell you that it is extremely likely you will receive a court claim, but this really is part of their debt collection torture rack to squeeze you to pay them. Fight them following forum advice and the likelihood of a discontinuation is high. Read this thread:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations/p1

In terms of why you ignore the current spate of debt beggar letters, please read the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, fourth post.

1505grandad

Plan A   -  see following thread re successful complaints:-
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4766249/successful-complaints-about-private-parking-tickets-how-to-get-them-cancelled

eddr

I have just spoken to customer services at Whitely Shopping Centre, looking to get the PCN cancelled. Before I had even stated my wish (I merely said I wanted to speak to someone about a PCN issued in their car parks) I was told "We will not get PCNs cancelled".

I was told to appeal the PCN via the notice. I explained that I couldn't do that because the time had elapsed as notice sent to wrong address. I then asked if I could speak to someone in management and was told to email customer services (she did, however, say if I mentioned her name she would get the email forwarded to the Centre Director).

Finally, I was told "what I can do", if I give them permission to do so (GDPR apparently...) "is to ask CPPlus to reduce the fine to the original £60".

I basically did want to explain to them the circumstances around the overstay (only overstayed 48 minutes on a free 4h park). 

But I'm not quite sure how to proceed given the rather immediate wall that customer services put up!

Fruitcake

I wouldn't send this,

"Please erase any data associated with the issued address on Parking Charge Notice 20000XYZANBCD as that address is incorrect and not the address of the registered keeper. Please also instruct your recovery agents to do the same."

as there may be other PCNs for which they could sneakily use your old address.

I suggest you simply instruct the DPO to erase your data and replace it with your current address for service, and instruct all their agents to do the same. You will need to include non-photo proof of ID such as redacted bank/card statements or utility bills with your instructions.