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CST Law - debt expiry?

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lmsol
lmsol Posts: 20 Forumite
Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
edited 11 December 2023 at 8:42PM in Parking tickets, fines & parking
Hello. 

I received a fine from Anchor Security/Care Parking on the 12th June 2018. I parked on a train station car park (not operated by the train companies). They’d put up small signs a couple of days prior that apparently said that you weren’t allowed to park outside of marked spaces. 

The vehicle wasn’t blocking anyone in and lots parked in a similar way (all with tickets), no harm done to anyone, cars had always parked in this manner prior to the signs going up. 

I’ve ignored all of the DRP letters, but have now received the letter before claim from CTS. 

A few questions (whilst in the meantime following the format from the NEWBIES thread) 

The signs in the car park have since been changed in wording and I think that they’ve removed the bit about parking inside marked bays (will triple check this tomorrow) 

The debt is now 5.5 years old almost. How long would the process take to go to court, and could this expire in the meantime?

Without images of the original signs to prove that A - they were only v recent additions and B - the rules about parking in marked bays were not clear, does that scupper my defence? 

Comments

  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,667 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 28 November 2023 at 10:39PM
    You haven't got a fine.

    If they get a claim form to you before the 6 years is up then they would be able to continue.  Hard to know whether this latest batch of CST Law LBCs are going to be followed by claim forms or not.

    You can't know. But how to respond to the LBC is in the second post of the NEWBIES thread.


    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • lmsol
    lmsol Posts: 20 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ok, thank you. 

    If/When the claim form comes through, what are my options if I might ask? To be honest, with three young children, ADHD and full time job, I’m not sure I have it in me to go through court. 
  • KeithP
    KeithP Posts: 41,296 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    The second post in the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with a Claim Form - should the need arise.
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,667 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    lmsol said:
    Ok, thank you. 

    If/When the claim form comes through, what are my options if I might ask? To be honest, with three young children, ADHD and full time job, I’m not sure I have it in me to go through court. 
    Easy as pie.

    The defence is 95% written for you already.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • lmsol
    lmsol Posts: 20 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I am just writing to CST using the template from the newbies thread, however, based on other threads I am going to submit the email via the CST law website as a back up. 

    On the site, it asks if I have any specific vulnerabilities. I am diagnosed with ADHD which is considered a long-term disability however it is not listed on their suggested options. 

    The ADHD website has the following letter to use in debt cases, would you recommend mentioning this or leaving it out of any defence for now? https://adhduk.co.uk/adhd-fines-and-debt/ 

  • lmsol
    lmsol Posts: 20 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I've also discovered that the land is owned by Punch Taverns, I guess because there's a pub adjacent to the car park. Is there advice on how to word the complaint to the landowner? 
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,667 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 11 December 2023 at 10:53PM
    lmsol said:
    I am just writing to CST using the template from the newbies thread, however, based on other threads I am going to submit the email via the CST law website as a back up. 

    On the site, it asks if I have any specific vulnerabilities. I am diagnosed with ADHD which is considered a long-term disability however it is not listed on their suggested options. 

    The ADHD website has the following letter to use in debt cases, would you recommend mentioning this or leaving it out of any defence for now? https://adhduk.co.uk/adhd-fines-and-debt/ 
    Whilst this isn't a real fine or debt, so this isn't the "debt crisis" that letter suggests (it's just another 'outrageous scam' from a PPC) it is relevant info, so I reckon attach that letter, both to your response to the LBC and in the complaint to the pub chain.  

    There's deliberately no template for a complaint. Of course not!  And don't use the truly awful ChatGPT whatever you do. Shudder!!
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • lmsol
    lmsol Posts: 20 Forumite
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Ha thank you. Luckily I have an “in” with Punch Taverns so hopefully someone might be able to help. Never crossed my mind that they might own the car park! 
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