TFL / Bristow & Sutor - HELP!

mg278

I wonder if anyone can help me,

I recently started receiving texts from a 'No Reply' claiming to be from Bristow and Sutor debt collection agency, with regards to a debt I had with TfL (Transport for London) - the last time I went to London was nearly 2 years ago and I drove to Stanmore, parked and paid for parking, didn't contravene any ULEZ laws (not that I think they were in place then) and also paid for the tube etc. 

I ignored the first text, then a week later I had another and emailed them for information about this 'debt'. They've yet to respond with any details about it however today I've received a text from them saying that if I don't pay my debt (now revealed to be £935) they will be sending a bailiff to my house to collect payment or items for the debt.

I literally have no idea what this could relate to, I never received any letters or anything with regards to this and they've yet to give any more details. On the TfL website it seems like they legitimately collect debts for them but say I need to contact B&S for details about it.

I'm getting seriously stressed out and worried about this as I've not had any bailiffs or anyone come to my house before but no matter where I look online I can't find out what it could relate to, it says either a parking charge notice or emissions zone non-payment but I haven't broken any of these and live about 100 miles away from London.

Does anyone have any experience of this or what I could do to find out more? I don't have any CCJ's that I can see so not sure how/why a bailiff would turn up for something I've not known about.

Thanks.

Voyager2002

Almost certainly a scam.

See if you can find B and S online and use correct contact details from there to find out if the genuine firm is seeking to collect money from you. And use the email address from whoever is sending you the text messages to remind them that they need to provide proof of the debt before taking any action.

mg278

Voyager2002 said:

Almost certainly a scam.

See if you can find B and S online and use correct contact details from there to find out if the genuine firm is seeking to collect money from you. And use the email address from whoever is sending you the text messages to remind them that they need to provide proof of the debt before taking any action.

This was my initial thought and why I ignored the first text. Then the second one came in and I did some research to find their site. They have my name and address and so I used their websites contacts form to ask for proof/details of the debt (which I’ve still not had yet) and then todays text warning of a bailiff etc. has got me worried. 

There’s no way something like this would have got this far without me being sent some sort of letter or warning first is there? I tried using the TfL website contact form too but with no response. 

KeithP

Have you moved house and perhaps failed to update the vehicle's Registration Document(V5c) with your new address?

mg278

KeithP said:

Have you moved house and perhaps failed to update the vehicle's Registration Document(V5c) with your new address?

No, had the car for 2.5 years and lived here for over 10 years 

mg278

So a bit of an update on this one. I contacted TFL directly a couple of weeks ago and they responded that they had no PCN's or Charges against either me or my car, which at the time was a massive weight off my shoulders.

However, Bristow and Sutor have still been sending me texts and since have sent me an email stating I need to pay this alleged debt off. I've sent them 2 messages through their website, firstly sending them the response from TFL and secondly asking for proof of the debt or to cease and desist from contacting me.

I've today had another email back basically ignoring my emails and saying that asking them to cease and desist does nothing and that I need to pay. 

It's stressing me out as I want to know what it is I owe as I've had no correspondence from anyone apart from these texts from B&S starting a few weeks back. It's causing me a lot of anxiety the thought of a bailiff turning up and demanding payment for something I don't know about. Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Castle

mg278 said:

Voyager2002 said:

Almost certainly a scam.

See if you can find B and S online and use correct contact details from there to find out if the genuine firm is seeking to collect money from you. And use the email address from whoever is sending you the text messages to remind them that they need to provide proof of the debt before taking any action.

This was my initial thought and why I ignored the first text. Then the second one came in and I did some research to find their site. They have my name and address and so I used their websites contacts form to ask for proof/details of the debt (which I’ve still not had yet) and then todays text warning of a bailiff etc. has got me worried. 

There’s no way something like this would have got this far without me being sent some sort of letter or warning first is there? I tried using the TfL website contact form too but with no response. 

Do any of these texts include your VRM?

mg278

Castle said:

mg278 said:

Voyager2002 said:

Almost certainly a scam.

See if you can find B and S online and use correct contact details from there to find out if the genuine firm is seeking to collect money from you. And use the email address from whoever is sending you the text messages to remind them that they need to provide proof of the debt before taking any action.

This was my initial thought and why I ignored the first text. Then the second one came in and I did some research to find their site. They have my name and address and so I used their websites contacts form to ask for proof/details of the debt (which I’ve still not had yet) and then todays text warning of a bailiff etc. has got me worried. 

There’s no way something like this would have got this far without me being sent some sort of letter or warning first is there? I tried using the TfL website contact form too but with no response. 

Do any of these texts include your VRM?

No just checked and their texts don’t mention the cars reg, just my name. 

Castle

Send a SAR to DVLA and ask them if anybody has requested your personal details for your vehicle(s).

mg278

Castle said:

Send a SAR to DVLA and ask them if anybody has requested your personal details for your vehicle(s).

Thanks, just downloaded the form I’ll fill this in and submit it. What will I be able to see from doing this will it just be to see if any agencies have enquired about my vehicle or will it show any outstanding PCN’s I don’t know about? 

Umkomaas

mg278 said:

Castle said:

Send a SAR to DVLA and ask them if anybody has requested your personal details for your vehicle(s).

Thanks, just downloaded the form I’ll fill this in and submit it. What will I be able to see from doing this will it just be to see if any agencies have enquired about my vehicle or will it show any outstanding PCN’s I don’t know about? 

They might ask you to pay for it. If so .....

You should email the DVLA and ask which organisations (when and for what reason) accessed the registered keeper's data from them between a range of dates which includes the date(s) of the parking incident(s). You need to provide the registered keeper's full name and address, the address on the V5C logbook and the Vehicle Registration Mark of the vehicle involved in the parking incident. 

SubjectAccess.Requests@dvla.gov.uk

This service is free of charge. 

Even though you email your request, the DVLA will respond via Royal Mail.