Notice of transfer to solicitors

Uberkandi

Hi everyone, I've looked through the forums first and checked the newbies board on parking fines but I'm after a bit of advice,

Yesterday (sat 5th august) I received a letter from GCTT enforcement agents saying notice of transfer to solicitors in big red letters, apparently I owe UKPS NORTH WEST LIMITED £160!!!

Hand on heart this is the first letter I have received about any of this and it was a lovely surprise as I'm sure it would be to anyone,

The letter states I was previously given opportunity to resolve this long overdue charge either by paying what ukps states I owe them or providing evidence as to why I'm not liable,

The offense or apparant breach of contract was 15/04/2023

This is my last chance to pay £160 within 14 days of this letter (dated 31/07/2023) before my account will be sent to the solicitors,

Now honestly, I've not had any letter before this one, it's not like I'm ignoring it and it's got to this stage it's just taken me off guard, 

I have NOT yet contacted this company until I have seeked some advice first, 

The back story of the offense itself I am fully  aware, that the "driver of my vehicle" did pop into a small car park behind some shops to use the launderette as the washing machine at home had broken that day. 
This car park was last used by the "driver of my vehicle" some 2 years previous for the same task and there was no private parking company at that time so assumed it was still OK. 
Driver of my vehicle realised after about 15 mins that there was now signs in the launderette saying there was a private parking company on the car park so moved the car to asda because, you know. Don't want to get a ticket, and yes the signs were pretty clear on the entrance but were missed as driver was concentrating on letting another road user through the gate (narrow entrance exit only room for 1 car in or out) 
An honest mistake and there was no windscreen ticket but a camera on the entrance of the car park. 

I rang the launderette owner yesterday and he did let me know that the reason the company is now on that car park is because school rush mums were abandoning cars and blocking the delivery doors to the florist next door so the landlord of all the shops bright them in (car park only fits about 12 cars tops anyway) 

Driver of the car was parked in a proper bay not blocking anything until mistake was realised and moved the vehicle

I honestly don't know what to do at this point, I do have adhd so find it hard to concentrate and that amount is absolutely sickening especially when we are struggling to afford even food and rent. 

If anyone can offer any wisdom or advice it would be greatly appreciated 

Thank you

Umkomaas

Yesterday (sat 5th august) I received a letter from GCTT enforcement agents saying notice of transfer to solicitors in big red letters

Oh no, not the big red letters letter!  😄. GCTT cannot enforce anything!  They're just a carbuncle attached to ZZPS debt collectors. Please read the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, fourth post, about handling debt collector letters. 

Hand on heart this is the first letter I have received about any of this and it was a lovely surprise as I'm sure it would be to anyone

More serious, potentially. Parking companies access your data from the DVLA who provide them with your name and address as shown on your V5C (logbook). Please check what is shown on that (not your driving licence), because if it is an old address, you won't want a 'lovely surprise' from the DVLA, because that 'surprise' will be a £1,000 real fine!  Get that checked soonest. 

Other than getting the car park landowner to intervene and get this cancelled, you're just going to have play this out. Come back if you receive a formal Letter Of/Before Claim (from solicitors representing the parking firm), or a County Court Claim form from the Northampton CCBC. They have 6 years to instigate legal action. 

Coupon-mad

Just ignore it.

Search the forum for ZZPS GCTT and laugh.

Not sure why so many people take this scam stage seriously?  It's hilarious trash.

But you MUST check your address on your logbook right now, as explained by @Umkomaas

Uberkandi

Thanks for your quick response guys, 
I have checked and my V5 and license all correct bought the car while living at current address and been here ten plus years. 

I will try and contact the landowner tomorrow as I now have their details given to me,  

I also have taken a few pics of the entrance etc and location of the signs, the ones at entrance are 10 to 12 foot high on left hand wall impossible to see in a car as I approached and entered from the left. And looking at their wording it's no parking or waiting at any time so looks like as soon as you enter regardless it's a 100 quid what a load of bottom dwellers!!! 

Uberkandi

Update on this, the landowner has basically said it's private parking since last year and they can't do anything as it's not in the hands of UKPS anymore and that I should deal directly with the debt collectors and explain that I didn't receive any prior notification of this at all until Saturday. 

I tried to contact UKPS to at least record anything that I want to appeal it but their number rings out

I rang the collectors yeah probably shouldn't have but never told them it was me driving and that this is the first I've heard of this. They basically said nowt I can do but pay full outstanding amount as per their letter and it's my problem that I didn't get prior notice as their client sent letters starting end of April, I should be apparently checking the post better. In case of situations like this.

So been told too late to appeal anyway. 

Really can't be hassled with the stress this is causing

Coupon-mad

Really can't be hassled with the stress this is causing.

Of course not, nor would we, so start ignoring the letters instead of reacting to them.  It's a scam.

This is why we advise not to contact debt crawlers.  Just laugh at the letters.  Relax!

Grizebeck

why would you be stressed out by this when you have told what to do
you are told not to contact them, then you DONT follow the correct advice , contact them and feel stressed.
Sorry but thats of your own doing there, if you actually took the good advice people had given here, then you wouldn't be stressed
It really grates on me that people ask for help then go against the grain

Uberkandi

Ok I will start ignoring completely, should have done that to begin with. just hope I've not cocked anything up by contacting. 

Uberkandi

(a family member pointed this out to me today as they did some independant digging yesterday and Monday for a laugh and shared their findings you guys may already know these things but this charade is all new to me) ... 

They tested the phone number the signs in the car park say to ring, (independently of me) it just rings out to answer machine, and no one returns calls or messages .. if this was a legit company would UKPS not be willing to speak to so called clients? 

Their website listed on the signage is misspelt! Both times listed on each sign! and doesn't even exist unless they are  some Chinese virtual pet store or something (it's missing the R in services) 

It's almost like they don't want anyone to contact them at any point - only them forwarding people's details direct to DC's to try and fleece even more

Ok
I think I finally see the light on how absolutely absurd and ridiculous this whole pantomime is

At least a pantomime had ice cream

Coupon-mad

Yay the penny has well and truly dropped!

While your case is quiet ... we need evidence photos please!  From friends & family too.

We sincerely hope that you are au fait with the need to respond to the private parking draft Impact Assessment by mid-September?

The Government released a 'draft Impact Assessment' ten days ago and it has some useful analysis about the fake added £70 'extortion' that you will see on your threatograms..

All discussed here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6463361/dluhc-private-parking-code-government-launches-call-for-evidence-discussion-thread/p6

That's page 6 where I summarise what evidence is needed.

We need YOUR photo evidence please...but not of the car park in your claim.  Nope!

You want to help us change the law?

To be clear, we are nearly there; it's not a petition or some weak campaign, it's a final push on a law already passed, to cap the £PCN levels and ban the fake DRA fees.

The Government has a Call for Evidence open right now.

We are wanting photos of unmanaged car parks, Hospital car park signs near you that show £50 or £60 as the deterrent, and Aldi, Asda, Tesco or Sainsburys £70 signs please.

We need photo evidence of low or no deterrent car parks near you, please!

NOT £100, NOT £90 or £80.

Just signs that are less - or places with no PPC.

Thankyou!