Stupidly contacted the debt collector now what?

master0vdarkness

Hi All, 
TLDR: Is it still possible to complain to the retail park and resolve the issue after contacting the debt collector?
Are there any case studies of anyone who's done the same as me and won?

Hope you are well

I was receiving text messages from a debt collector and decided to call them to see why and tell them to stop.
I gave a reference number and they gave me my car's registration.
I stupidly gave me details, and they told me they'd sent letters to my old address and I gave them the new one (slapping myself as I write this, metaphorically).

They then emailed me the PCN letter with a photo with writing at the top showing that my car stayed there from 14:13 until 15:46 and after looking online the car park stay is only 1hr 15 minutes. So I overstayed by 19 minutes and they wanted me to pay £170!

I said I'd review and get back to them.

I was shopping at Halfords and have an e-receipt with the time 14:43. I would have promptly left following my purchase so I must have been stuck in a queue. From viewing the google reviews, the retail park Stone Lake Retail is notorious for this and for charging everyone £100 parking fines!

Now I've been reading these forums stating not to contact debt collectors and to instead complain to the retailer.

I've found out that the retailer is called Premier Park Ltd, they have their own appeals page: https://appeals.premierpark.co.uk/.
Their phone line just loops - 0800 145 5171 and I can't get through to anyone.

I was thinking of either completing the appeals page or writing to them. Instead, I contacted Halfords, from whom I had bought an item. 
The customer rep said to come into the store with the PCN and receipt and the store owner would help, but they can't email me, the issue is that it's 2 hours from me. She's given my number as I asked for them to call me. Hopefully, I can get an email or the Store Owner can resolve it over the phone.

Otherwise, I'll have to contact Premier Park.

My questions: Is it still possible to complain to the retail park and resolve the issue after contacting the debt collector?

Are there any case studies of anyone who's done the same as me and won?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

If I am posting in the wrong forum, please direct me to the right place. Thank you.

Yogi

fisherjim

The "retailer" is not premier park they are just a private parking company that scam people out of money for doing nothing.

Never ever phone them or useless debt collectors (you don't have a debt by the way unless proven in court) but don't worry about it.

You were given a speculative invoice by a bunch of chancers that say you owe them money for breaking a contract that was supposedly written on signage in the car park.

Of course the landowner/ Halfords can get this cancelled pursue that line, and read the newbies thread on here also which explains all.

Fruitcake

As above, never, ever 'phone a PPC or their agents, and block their 'phone numbers. A 'phone call is not worth the paper upon which it is writ.

You should send a rectification notice to the PPC instructing them to erase your old data and replace it with your current address for service, and tell them to instruct all their agents to do the same. You need to do this to to ensure all future correspondence reaches you.
Make sure you use the word I highlighted as it has a specific meaning where data handling is concerned.

Debt collectors are powerless and can safely be ignored. Do not ignore a Letter of/before Claim.

Coupon-mad

Just ignore it. Come back if you get a claim, which is the stage where you win.

master0vdarkness

Hi all,

Thank you fisherjim, Fruitcake and Coupon-mad for your posts, they've put me at a little more ease.

Halfords called me back and have emailed Premier Park to cease the request for payment (attached, I've removed the pcn number in case there are any legal implications for sharing this publicly).



I thought this would be the end of it, however, as I gave the debt collection company my address, I'm now receiving letters from them asking to still pay the £170. I'll ignore this for now or is there a way to stop the letters?

Kind regards,
Yogi

Fruitcake

You could tell the PPC to instruct their agents to cease and desist since Halfords have instructed a cancellation. Whether they will bother or not is an unknown. I'm still receiving debt collection letters despite the charge having been cancelled two months earlier because the debt company won't contact the PPC, and the PPC obviously can't be bothered to tell the debt company the charge is cancelled.

I generally scan mine then turn the paper copies into firelighters or paper briquettes for my wood burner. I even sent a photo of the debt collector's letter back to them as it was going into my fire along with the comment, thanks for the free winter fuel just to wind them up.