PCM ticket - letter before claim

evie525

Hello,

I'm hoping for some advice on what to do now... I've been ignoring all letters relating to my parking charge from PCM. Most of them I've not read beyond the first paragraph, including one from Gladstones which I've just realised is a Letter Before Claim. After reading through these threads, now I know that was a huge mistake!

My charge was issued on 19th July 2021 as I "failed" to display the permit PCM issued to park in my own parking space. The Letter Before Claim is dated 14th June 2022, so I'm well outside of the 14th July 2022 deadline Gladstones gave me. I'm not sure what to do next. Should I reply now or will that just give them cause to issue court proceedings faster? Judging by what I've read, no argument I make would stand up in court because I've failed to comply with the Practice Direction. 

(Context on the ticket: I have a lease agreement that doesn't mention the need to display a permit to park in a secure gated car park which you need a fob to access so only residents can get in.)

In short, my question is: should I continue ignoring, respond even though it's way beyond the deadline, or just suck it up and pay the charge?

Any advice (other than the obvious, I should have responded within the 30-day window - I know I'm an idiot for that) would be much appreciated!

Coupon-mad

(Context on the ticket: I have a lease agreement that doesn't mention the need to display a permit to park in a secure gated car park which you need a fob to access so only residents can get in.)

Reply saying the above and attaching a copy of the permit and telling Gladstones that it was always displayed as a courtesy not an obligation.  No contract with PCM existed and the lease agreement does not set out any charges except ground rent, etc.

Add that it seems that PCM took secret photos of the car within 2 minutes whilst the permit was being fetched from indoors.  No grace period was afforded to fetch the permit, contrary to the IPC Code. There was no breach.

Ask for all evidence and photos, and tell them that you have emailed PCM a SAR.

(the above complies with the PAP and delays the case till past Christmas.  Also Email the SAR - as coached in the NEWBIES thread - to PCM, and from their reply you'll be able to see all photos taken and how many minutes the car was observed for.  Then when you get a claim in 2023 you can use our template and repeat the above as your facts).