Carflow > ZZPS > GCTT > QDR Solicitors

the_biscuit

Hi
Thanks in advance, much appreciated. - the threads/FAQs have been read and parties have held off asking you till as late in the "fine" process as possible.
"Someone" went food shopping during the height of the pandemic in a shopping center with 2h free parking.
"Someone" bought food in the shopping center but had to queue for sometime more than the parking allowed.
"Someone" was very stressed at the time.
"Someone" did not buy a ticket. 
Shopping center retailer say they can't help without receipt and it can't currently be found .....possibly a bank statement with transaction proof for that day might be found, after a long search.

- Letters have been sent to the registered owner address of the car in question.
- For the sake of conversation, it's probably best to talk about actions to be taken by the driver of the car at the time.
- Carflow sent letters....with a slightly higher than expected "Fine". They were ignored.
- They progressed eventually to having ZZPS chase. Those letters were ignored.
- Then GCTT "Enforcement Agents" started chasing, wanting an amount between 3-5 times higher still. Threatening transfer of case to solicitors, stating "The Motorist did not pay for sufficient parking in contravention of the terms and conditions of the car park"
- Now there is have a letter from "QDR Solicitors" . Wanting the same (increased amount) as GCTT for the same reason as above.

They said there is 14 days to respond or they may pass the issue to their litigation department.

That "deadline" is up, in 1 day's time - apologies, this should have been posted sooner.

It is understood, many think this should be fought / refused to pay the amount on principle.
The amount certainly is not easily paid.
The parties in questions are far from rich, but can just about afford the amount being demanded.
Though It couldn't be afforded, if the amount increases hugely from "legal fees".

If fighting the issue, is from this point onwards likely to consume more than 12h of time, the parties would rather pay now, even if the end result of the fight would be a "win".

If the parties fight and "win" but the process consumes say 20h time and causes lots of stress, the parties would rather just pay.

- What do you think the chances of success from this point are? 
- If the parties fight, how sure can they be the amount demanded can't increase from what it is now?
- Bearing in mind the parties limited available time to fight this, what do you recommend be done next?

Thanks again in advance
The kind gift of your time is appreciated.

Coupon-mad

NB:  That parking firm read this forum.

They have made that obvious from other cases so be careful with detail about the location and dates.

The parties in questions are far from rich, but can just about afford the amount being demanded.
Though It couldn't be afforded, if the amount increases hugely from "legal fees".

It doesn't increase hugely.

Small claims for under £300 are capped (£35 claim filing fee and £50 legal fees = £85 in total which the Claimant pays). QDR will try to add admin/trace fees of an eye-watering extra £82 on top but they wouldn't get that.

So you can see the costs risk is pretty much the same as now!  I bet that letter has already added the fake £82.

Sit tight.  If the QDR letter gives thecrecipient 14 days then it's not a real LBC. The tedious letter is probably just the standard laughable one with a 14 day deadline, actually likely to have been sent by ZZPS themselves.

No solicitor is involved in the case at this stage and nothing is likely to happen:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80223271#Comment_80223271

Here's the letter, am I right?
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80254693/#Comment_80254693

No time needs to be spent on this at all.  Except try to find the bank statement - the bank can locate it; they can do a search by payee's name and find all payments to that shop.  Do try hard to sort it, to get the monkey off your back.

If you get a court claim:

-  we have a template defence that takes maybe an hour to add your facts to.

- after that, there is a form to fill, to choose your local court.  All the simple answers to the standard Questions in that form are in the NEWBIES thread. Takes half an hour.

- witness statement stage is also in the NEWBIES thread.  It's just your story, added to a template.  Two hours maybe. Most people do their WS in one evening.

patient_dream

Under no circumstances should this be paid

KNOW THE FACTS ...
ZZPS is the great OSNER scam named after the bod who owns ZZPS. A scam approved by the BPA ??  fake add-ons is the name of their game

Who is GCTT ?   it's ZZPS of course.
ZZPS are operating another WONGA and we all know about the WONGA scam ..... 

"Wonga, which collapsed in 2018, was once the UK's biggest payday lender but its practices attracted intense scrutiny by the FCA"

QDR are an offshoot of the shamed Wright Hassall solicitors.

These scare tactics DON'T work on this forum

14 day warnings are just rubbish.
QDR, if they take it futher, by law must issue a Letter before Claim giving you 30 days and then you can extend it by another 30 days stating you are seeking debt advice .... that's the law

You have NOT received a Letter before Claim from QDR, only another silly debt chasing letter hoping you are a mug.

If you do get a Letter before Claim, come back here. It is vital that you get proof from your bank statements

KeithP

the_biscuit said:

....possibly a bank statement with transaction proof for that day might be found, after a long search.

"possibly"... "might be found"... "a long search".

Crikey!! What a complicated life you must lead.   

the_biscuit

Thank you all for your time.
The parties will hold fire and not panic. Nor contact QDR.
Will watch for "Letter before Claim".
The bank statements will be searched for (sadly, a hard task indeed) for and the parties will assume that if this ever does go to court, the bank statements will likely swing a judge's view in favour of the parties in question.
Thank you for your time.

The parties will try and contribute to this "We are particularly wanting photos of unmanaged car parks and Asda/Tesco/Sainsburys £70 signs or Hospital £50 or £60 deterrents (or car parks with broken signs) please."