Gladstones - LBC query

almostthere1984

I sent them the template as per the advice here, and finally received a response nearly 2 months later. Seems they are giving me until the 24th September which is nice of them considering it was a 30 day pre-action notice. The numbers I 'owe' seem to vary between all the letters they send me. Do I response or just wait to see what they send next?

Dear ****

 

We apologise for the delay in responding.

 

We assume the additional sum of £185.00 you refer to is an error as the sum outstanding is only £160.00. By virtue of the IPC Code of Practice where a parking charge becomes overdue a reasonable sum may be added. This sum must not exceed £70 unless Court Proceedings have been initiated.

 

Payment of £160.00 needs to be made by the 15th September 2024 to avoid further action.

Kind Regards

 

Bethany

Legal Assistant

Coupon-mad

Dear xxxx

Answer the question about VAT on the extortionate £60 fee your firm added.

Yours,

almostthere1984

Coupon-mad said:

Dear xxxx

Answer the question about VAT on the extortionate £60 fee your firm added.

Yours,

Thanks, did that, and got her out of office saying she's on mat leave until September 2025 

LDast

Coupon-mad said:

almostthere1984 said:

Coupon-mad said:

Dear xxxx

Answer the question about VAT on the extortionate £60 fee your firm added.

Yours,

Thanks, did that, and got her out of office saying she's on mat leave until September 2025 

Forward it to  paul@dcblegal.co.uk because he can't be in maternity leave!

EDIT: oh wait...I shouldn't assume...

The Wokerati will have your balls for that CM. 

almostthere1984

So this is the latest reply I've had from them - assume I should just wait it out to see if they follow up with their legal threats?

Thank you for your email and apologies for the delay in responding.

 

1. The Amount Due/ Debt includes £60.00 claimed by our Client for the time/resources spent facilitating the recovery of the unpaid parking charge notice(s) pursuant to its ATA’s Code of Practice and the Terms and Conditions of the Contract, which was entered into upon the driver of the vehicle entering the Relevant Land. The amount is a pre-determined and nominal contribution to our Client’s losses as a direct result of your non-payment. VAT is not applicable as the parking charge notice which was issued to you is a contractual charge.

   

2. Motorists can park on the site in accordance with the terms and conditions on the sign, without incurring a charge but to park without incurring a charge they may need to display a permit; be a patron whilst remaining on the site; become an authorised user, it is whatever the sign states. If a motorists wishes to park ‘as they please’ within reason, they can do so but pay a charge for this ‘privilege’, the charge is set out on the signs and by a motorist parking otherwise than in accordance with the signs they accept the charge at the point of parking and a valid contract is formed. The charge is due within 28 days of being incurred, if the charge remains unpaid after this date the contract the motorist entered into is breached and a debt is owed to our Client, they are then entitled to damages that have occurred as a result of the breach.

Our Client remains satisfied this charge was issued correctly and we invite you to make payment of the outstanding balance, in full, within 14 days of this email.

 

Payment can be made via bank transfer to the account detailed as follows: 

Gladstones Solicitors Ltd 

Barclays Bank 

Account Number: 33028712 

Sort Code: 20-24-09 

Reference: 104431.068

Amount Due: £160.00

Should full payment not be forthcoming within the time frame specified, we are instructed to issue legal proceedings to recover the outstanding balance in full. Should it become necessary to issue legal proceedings, we suggest you follow the steps on the Claim Form upon receipt of the same.

Kind Regards, 

 

Olivia

Coupon-mad

No, report them to HMRC for VAT concerns which was the whole point of the VAT question in the LBC response.

Search the forum and copy others.

almostthere1984

Coupon-mad said:

No, report them to HMRC for VAT concerns which was the whole point of the VAT question in the LBC response.

Search the forum and copy others.

Thanks, I've got the posts, but can't seem to find what I need to do following that with Gladstones? HMRC can take years to deal with this kind of thing, so it's not going to get my case dropped. Just curious what this achieves on a specific case?

LDast

Nobody said that reporting them to HMRC is going to help your claim. It is just a matter of reporting them to HMRC for suspected VAT fraud and takes a few minutes online with no comeback. Once enough reports have accumulated, hopefully HMRC will take action.

https://www.gov.uk/report-tax-fraud

In the meantime, wait for your n1SDT claim form to arrive in the post.

Coupon-mad

almostthere1984 said:

Coupon-mad said:

No, report them to HMRC for VAT concerns which was the whole point of the VAT question in the LBC response.

Search the forum and copy others.

Thanks, I've got the posts, but can't seem to find what I need to do following that with Gladstones? HMRC can take years to deal with this kind of thing, so it's not going to get my case dropped. Just curious what this achieves on a specific case?

What it achieves?!

Think of the bigger picture.

It's not meant to affect your case. It's about making a difference and getting HMRC to investigate why they aren't getting any VAT from £millions picketed in debt recovery fees.