Gladstones Text - Scotland

MrBrightside2020

Hi there,

Looking for some advice here please?

I stay in Scotland and have this morning somehow received a text message from Gladstones solicitors for a Letter Before Claim. No letter has however arrived in the post from them.

I have logged into the portal (not sure if I should have) and it seems to relate to a parking ticket for £170. The clients name is not provided, nor is any evidence. 

The keeper has received around 7 letters from Premier Park and a 'debt collector' and ignored them all as per the advice for Scotland. 

My understanding is that LBC is an English legal route and does not apply in Scotland? Neither does the concept of Keeper Liability exist in Scotland?

I am also aware that under Simple Procedure, that fees will not be awarded in the Sheriff Courts for fees valued at less than £300. 

How should I proceed with this? It again seems like pressure tactics to get the keeper to pay an overinflated parking ticket. They have provided absolutely no evidence whatsoever or even named their client.

I am thinking about phoning to deny the debt, refuse to identify the driver and advising that I consider the matter closed. Would this be sufficient?

I do not believe they will seriously pursue this.

Thanks

The_Slithy_Tove

A text isn't worth the paper it's not written on. Means nothing. (Logging in may have been a bad move, as your doing so will be logged. Though they have no idea who it was who did log on. That text could have gone to anyone. They are only assuming they have the right number. Also very foolish to follow any link sent to you unsolicited. That's how malware gets onto phones/computers.)

And if you learn anything from this forum, it's never ever phone them. Same "value" as for texts. And you could say something to your disadvantage in the heat of the moment.

Ignore it unless you actually receive something in the post. Gladstones as a solicitor aren't threatening to take action against you, they are merely acting for someone else. So an LBC that doesn't show who the actual creditor is has no value or meaning.

MrBrightside2020

I took the reference number and logged in from a desktop - no links were clicked for that reason. The site contains no details whatsoever on the debt either.

I was angry at receiving it and definitely will not be phoning them in hindsight.

Would an email stating the following be advisable? This would ensure I have a paper trial.

1. I am refuting the debt as no evidence has been supplied as to who/what it is or when it apparantly happened

2. Gladstones are not a registered solicitor in Scotland and it appears they are trying to apply English law via the Scottish courts - which they know is not possible

3. That I consider the matter closed and that any further correspondence will be considered harassment 

4. That I am complaining to the solicitors regulation bodies in both England and Scotland about the communication and also my MSP and MP

I think it is scare tactics - absolutely nothing has come in the post, presumably because they are not licensed to practise Scottish law!

Thanks

The_Slithy_Tove

It certainly is scare tactics. Rather than a futile engagement with Gladstones, you could have a similarly futile word with the SRA. Complain that a solicitor is using semi-legal tactics to do nothing more than a debt collector's job in sending hollow threats, but using their status as a solicitor to do so.

Personally I would ignore Gladstones. What you have is unsolicited, contains no credible details, so should be treated as the spam that it is.

MrBrightside2020

That is exactly what they are doing. Using their status as a solicitor to intimidate.

It is a complete and utter scam. You cannot write to someone and ask for payment of a debt, without telling them what that debt apparantly is.

They will be getting a strongly worded email tonight and the relevant authorities and local politicians emailed. 

Fruitcake

Plan A is always for the keeper to complain to the landowner and their M(S)P. 

Is your V5C information correct (in other words do the DVLA have your correct name and address on your V5C)? Don't guess, go and look.

Have you moved since the date of the alleged event (assuming you even know when that is)?

If you have not moved, ignore everything and anything other than a claim from a Scottish Court.

If you have moved since, or just before the date of the alleged event, send a rectification notice to the DPO of the PPC instructing them to erase your old data and replace it with your current address for service. Make sure you use the word I highlighted.

The driver sits on their hands in the corner and says and does nothing.

MrBrightside2020

I have got in contact with the landowner and they are looking into cancelling it - I remain hopeful 

hyl1212

Hi received the same text this morning detailing that I owe £160 and failed to respond to the pre-action letter (which I didn’t receive) and I have to pay to avoid court action🙄 I have no intention of paying but any advice on how to word the complaint to the land owner? The shop I had been in when I received it said they don’t take anything to do with the PCNs

Coupon-mad

You can copy an example posted in the Successful Complaints thread linked in the NEWBIES thread.

hyl1212

Coupon-mad said:

You can copy an example posted in the Successful Complaints thread linked in the NEWBIES thread.

Unable to find the contact details for the retail park online, should I ignore the letters in this instance? Gladstones sent a letter asking for the £160 and threatening possible civil court action within the next 5 years but not sure if this is a scare tactic.

patient_dream

hyl1212 said:

Coupon-mad said:

You can copy an example posted in the Successful Complaints thread linked in the NEWBIES thread.

Unable to find the contact details for the retail park online, should I ignore the letters in this instance? Gladstones sent a letter asking for the £160 and threatening possible civil court action within the next 5 years but not sure if this is a scare tactic.

It's Scotland ?   It's Gladstones adding a fake £60

Gladstones ..... have been spanked in court for fakery alone many times.  Then there is the SRA, where they got a huge spanking which cost them a lot of money

Stupid company threatening you could get court action up to 5 years ... in Scotland any debt can be claimed within 5 years but that applies to a real debt with no fakes added

I would do what the The_Slithy_Tove said and tell the SRA the antics Gladstones are getting up to again

And the shop who would not help ...... you have the final answer, you never spend money with them again, and let them know

Simply ignore these fakers because that is all they are.

You probably know that is was Gladstones wHO set up the great IPC/IAS SCAM