Letter before Action received - real? bogus? what next? NPE

sassoon36

Story in brief.

Driver parked in what they thought was a parent and child parking bay in a Co-Op car park managed by National Parking Enforcement. The sign in front of the space declared "this parent and child and disabled bays...." but turned out the space was disabled. Driver did not notice the disabled logo painted on the ground (why would you once you've parked in it).

Any who. Had the PCN. Seemed watertight. Had about 5 debt collector letters. Last week it was the turn of a "Letter before Action". One page on Facebook said this is a genuine LBC and needs a reply within 30 days.

(1) Should I respond?
(2) What is the best template to use to respond? Do I now add the evidence about the bad signage and request all their info as I've seen in some templates (e.g. contracts, evidence of maintenance etc.)
(3) If I do respond, should I send it recorded mail?
(4) By doing this, if they do not respond within 30 days does that nullify the case?
(5) I read lots about NPE being triers and nothing ever going to court due to the nefarious directors of the firm. Anyone have experience of this?

I've attached the LBA and the associated paperwork. I've also included a selection of the other letters received including original PCN. Thank you.

sassoon36

Sorry, photos didn't attached. Attached inline here.
- 1-3 are the LBA
- 4 is a Final Notice
- 5 is Streetview of the space (driver parked in the far left)
- 6-7 are the PCN

Coupon-mad

NPE do not file court claims, so that is just hot air.

But do come back at the end of July to join us in getting the new law & Code of Practice over the line.

I say this because the the third week in July is when we hope the DLUHC will have published their draft Impact Assessment and Public Consultation. 

Anticipated 'before Summer recess' in Parliament.

I'm hoping for useful words and clear analysis about the fake £70 'fee' slapped on top of private PCNs, which will (fingers crossed) help to blow a lot of ongoing exaggerated court and pre-court cases out of the water and hopefully expose a systematic attempt to "extort money from motorists" (Minister's words).

Even if you hear no more about this rubbish charge you will want the Government to hear about your experience. So come back and see what we are saying about the draft Impact Assessment.

KeithP

K*****n, your full name is visible on one of those images.
Seems rather strange as you've obliterated everything else on that line.

sassoon36

KeithP said:

Kathryn, your full name is visible on one of those images.
Seems rather strange as you've obliterated everything else on that line.

Thanks for that, I took it out

patient_dream

That Letter before claim ..... calling the fake £60 ? "ADMIN COSTS"

That old wheeze is outdated to describe the SCAM

sassoon36

Coupon-mad said:

NPE do not file court claims, so that is just hot air.

But do come back at the end of July to join us in getting the new law & Code of Practice over the line.

I say this because the the third week in July is when we hope the DLUHC will have published their draft Impact Assessment and Public Consultation. 

Anticipated 'before Summer recess' in Parliament.

I'm hoping for useful words and clear analysis about the fake £70 'fee' slapped on top of private PCNs, which will (fingers crossed) help to blow a lot of ongoing exaggerated court and pre-court cases out of the water and hopefully expose a systematic attempt to "extort money from motorists" (Minister's words).

Even if you hear no more about this rubbish charge you will want the Government to hear about your experience. So come back and see what we are saying about the draft Impact Assessment.

Thanks for this - but - apart from NPE not filing claims (and I've seen a post on this very forum with NPE using Gladstones...?), what exactly gives the tell tale sign this is a bogus claim? As mentioned an expert on a Facebook page said I MUST reply to this as its an LBC. What's the impact if I don't reply to it, and NPE do file it? Is it watertight as an LBC?

sassoon36

Should I reply to it anyway? What's the impact of replying or not replying to it?

Coupon-mad

sassoon36 said:

Coupon-mad said:

NPE do not file court claims, so that is just hot air.

But do come back at the end of July to join us in getting the new law & Code of Practice over the line.

I say this because the the third week in July is when we hope the DLUHC will have published their draft Impact Assessment and Public Consultation. 

Anticipated 'before Summer recess' in Parliament.

I'm hoping for useful words and clear analysis about the fake £70 'fee' slapped on top of private PCNs, which will (fingers crossed) help to blow a lot of ongoing exaggerated court and pre-court cases out of the water and hopefully expose a systematic attempt to "extort money from motorists" (Minister's words).

Even if you hear no more about this rubbish charge you will want the Government to hear about your experience. So come back and see what we are saying about the draft Impact Assessment.

Thanks for this - but - apart from NPE not filing claims (and I've seen a post on this very forum with NPE using Gladstones...?), what exactly gives the tell tale sign this is a bogus claim? 

 

Yes, they occasionally use Gladstones - but the LBC would be from Gladstones.  I didn't mean they never get a roboclaim bullyboy to file claims; I meant that the 'giveaway' is that this letter you've received is only from NPE.

NPE themselves never file claims so you can ignore it.  That letter is just hot air.

If I was to be proved wrong you'd just defend anyway (not a disaster, nothing lost) but I can assure you that it won't happen until NPE hand the case to a Roboclaim 'legal'.

More important this month is the draft Impact Assessment (IA), which you might be able to use to send Gladstones running if they send a LBC later.

If you want to wind NPE up I'm not saying you can't reply.  You can!  If it were my relative I was advising, I'd wait for the DLUHC's draft IA to be published this month, then read through it & pick out some choice phrases ... and throw them at NPE in a robust 'get lost' retort in August.

That would show them you are well-informed and well aware of the latest developments and they might put your case on the "too difficult / don't bother" pile.  

sassoon36

Coupon-mad said:

sassoon36 said:

Coupon-mad said:

NPE do not file court claims, so that is just hot air.

But do come back at the end of July to join us in getting the new law & Code of Practice over the line.

I say this because the the third week in July is when we hope the DLUHC will have published their draft Impact Assessment and Public Consultation. 

Anticipated 'before Summer recess' in Parliament.

I'm hoping for useful words and clear analysis about the fake £70 'fee' slapped on top of private PCNs, which will (fingers crossed) help to blow a lot of ongoing exaggerated court and pre-court cases out of the water and hopefully expose a systematic attempt to "extort money from motorists" (Minister's words).

Even if you hear no more about this rubbish charge you will want the Government to hear about your experience. So come back and see what we are saying about the draft Impact Assessment.

Thanks for this - but - apart from NPE not filing claims (and I've seen a post on this very forum with NPE using Gladstones...?), what exactly gives the tell tale sign this is a bogus claim? 

 

Yes, they occasionally use Gladstones - but the LBC would be from Gladstones.  I didn't mean they never get a roboclaim bullyboy to file claims; I meant that the 'giveaway' is that this letter you've received is only from NPE.

NPE themselves never file claims so you can ignore it.  That letter is just hot air.

If I was to be proved wrong you'd just defend anyway (not a disaster, nothing lost) but I can assure you that it won't happen until NPE hand the case to a Roboclaim 'legal'.

More important this month is the draft Impact Assessment (IA), which you might be able to use to send Gladstones running if they send a LBC later.

If you want to wind NPE up I'm not saying you can't reply.  You can!  If it were my relative I was advising, I'd wait for the DLUHC's draft IA to be published this month, then read through it & pick out some choice phrases ... and throw them at NPE in a robust 'get lost' retort in August.

That would show them you are well-informed and well aware of the latest developments and they might put your case on the "too difficult / don't bother" pile.  

Thanks for that! Totally understand, makes sense. I must say "Beth, Legal Department" did seem a little informal and a bit like they just chose a name at random for a non-existent department.

The legislation you refer to, is that going through parliament? Is there any other details on this?

The letter was dated July 10 so to meet the 30 days (although irrelevant) would be part way through August.

KeithP

sassoon36 said:

Coupon-mad said:

sassoon36 said:

Coupon-mad said:

NPE do not file court claims, so that is just hot air.

But do come back at the end of July to join us in getting the new law & Code of Practice over the line.

I say this because the the third week in July is when we hope the DLUHC will have published their draft Impact Assessment and Public Consultation. 

Anticipated 'before Summer recess' in Parliament.

I'm hoping for useful words and clear analysis about the fake £70 'fee' slapped on top of private PCNs, which will (fingers crossed) help to blow a lot of ongoing exaggerated court and pre-court cases out of the water and hopefully expose a systematic attempt to "extort money from motorists" (Minister's words).

Even if you hear no more about this rubbish charge you will want the Government to hear about your experience. So come back and see what we are saying about the draft Impact Assessment.

Thanks for this - but - apart from NPE not filing claims (and I've seen a post on this very forum with NPE using Gladstones...?), what exactly gives the tell tale sign this is a bogus claim? 

 

Yes, they occasionally use Gladstones - but the LBC would be from Gladstones.  I didn't mean they never get a roboclaim bullyboy to file claims; I meant that the 'giveaway' is that this letter you've received is only from NPE.

NPE themselves never file claims so you can ignore it.  That letter is just hot air.

If I was to be proved wrong you'd just defend anyway (not a disaster, nothing lost) but I can assure you that it won't happen until NPE hand the case to a Roboclaim 'legal'.

More important this month is the draft Impact Assessment (IA), which you might be able to use to send Gladstones running if they send a LBC later.

If you want to wind NPE up I'm not saying you can't reply.  You can!  If it were my relative I was advising, I'd wait for the DLUHC's draft IA to be published this month, then read through it & pick out some choice phrases ... and throw them at NPE in a robust 'get lost' retort in August.

That would show them you are well-informed and well aware of the latest developments and they might put your case on the "too difficult / don't bother" pile.  

The legislation you refer to, is that going through parliament? Is there any other details on this?

Already been through Parliament to produce 

Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019.

Read more about the latest developments here...
MSE Parking Ticket Appeals Guide feedback.