QDR Solicitors - £160 fine!!!!

HA199422

Hi all, October last year I got a private parking charge from May by LDK security who gave it to ZZPS and now being chased by QDR solicitors. I have paid 3 of these already, but the 4th one I didn’t receive the first letter so missed the 2 week lowered amount of £45. Soon as I found out about the charge I emailed ZZPS and told them I didn’t know about it and to reduce the new amount of £160 to £45 and I’ll pay, but they refused. 

Instead they passed it onto QDR solicitors who sent me a letter threatening me to pay £160 or they could potentially take me to court/chance of a CCJ. I emailed them a long email telling them what happened with ZZPS and that if they were to take me to court I would win. 

Long story short they emailed me back saying that they closed the case, but few weeks later I get another letter from them. I didn’t take much notice of it as they told me it was closed and thought it was automated. Now just last week another letter came through, this time I looked at the case number and it was a different number to the first case! They opened a new case after telling me they closed it.

At this point I told them they are not getting a penny more than £45 from me, because if I had the first notice I would have paid it. They emailed back saying they’ve “noted my comments” and that if it were to reach the litigation stage, fees would go up, etc.

I also mentioned in one of the emails how disgraceful the signing was at the car park, hence it being the reason why I got so many of these charges in the first place and why so many others have also (I’ve attached a picture of it below)

Basically I want to know what are the chances of this actually going to court? I told them that because I have paid 3 of these on time already and that I immediately got in contact with them soon as I found out about the charge trying to resolve it, but it was them who decided to ignore it, the court would favour me, but would this actually be the case though? I was just saying that to scare them abit.

What do you reckon, should I just pay it off? Is there even a chance if I did go to court for this of me winning? And if I didn’t win, how much would the costs likely go up? Even now only thing I am asking them is to lower the fee to £45 and I’ll pay it, but still no luck. Do you reckon me trying to fair deal with them would hold up in court? 

Sorry for the long post but any help on this would be appreciated, I also attached an image of the signage of the parking there. It’s absolutely outrageous how that signing was able to be allowed. Signs are above eye level, blend in with background, text too small to read, it’s an absolute joke.

Coupon-mad

I have paid 3 of these already.

Can I just ask at first, because the above is quite shocking for us regulars to read: why did you pay any? Why are you taking this seriously? Who told you that these are fines?

They aren't fines.  They aren't to be paid, all the time that this rogue industry remains unregulated due to their big guns throwing 'your' money at fighting the Government.

The advice here with BPA member firms like LDK which don't use the PoFA 2012 (so they could not have held you liable as registered keeper) is to appeal as keeper, like this:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6548349/appeal-rejected-by-ldk-no-notice-on-windshield/p1

Too late to appeal now but look how easy it was not to pay these invoices.  Equally you could have safely IGNORED LDK completely.

What's happened is that you seem to be on a "mugs' list" now (sorry for that phrase but the parking industry love 'keen to pay/is taking us seriously/thinks it's a fine' victims like you) because you've paid other fake PCNs.

Just ignore them now; stop taking the bait.

Come back if you get a court claim. Posters here don't worry about £170 threatograms nor pay up to avoid that easy stage!

Basically I want to know what are the chances of this actually going to court?

Almost certainly not. Even if it did, you'd win. What are you concerned about? There's no CCJ risked by defending a court claim and almost nobody loses.  Even the odd lost case just sees the person pay £200ish all told. No bailiffs, no CCJ. And we 99% win cases here!

And LDK are unlikely to litigate.

Please read and look at the pictures in post 4 of the NEWBIES FAQS thread (no link: see my signature for how to navigate the forum).

HA199422

Coupon-mad said:

I have paid 3 of these already.

Can I just ask at first, because the above is quite shocking for us regulars to read: why did you pay any? Why are you taking this seriously? Who told you that these are fines?

Thanks a lot for that info and taking the time to answer. Main reason why I was paying was I read somewhere that you’re not supposed to ignore them and if not paid they can take you to court, increasing the amount from £45 to £200+. Also I live with my parents, so the constant letters from the solicitors threatening a CCJ would’ve stressed them out

Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of this forum back then when I got the first charge, otherwise I would’ve asked here before doing anything. I didn’t even know about the whole PoFA 2012, I could’ve ended the whole thing with appeals ages ago 🙃

I’ll take your advice and ignore them from now on and I suppose even if this does go to court I’ll post on here again asking for advice

HA199422

Please read and look at the pictures in post 4 of the NEWBIES FAQS thread (no link: see my signature for how to navigate the forum).

Also thanks for providing this, I’ve had a read through and it was very useful 

fisherjim

Well I suppose we musn't be too judgemental but this is an unregulated industry where a company is set up, and contracts its "services" free to a landowner just to scam people for breaking their rules. So bad signage means more victims more victims means more potential profits.

The whole industry is bad, they have a COP which is rarely followed or enforced, an appeals route which is a farce, and all the paperwork involved can look official and like a fine providing the word "fine" and "penalty "isn't used.

Corrupt? You might think so, I couldn't personally comment!

Coupon-mad

HA199422 said:

Coupon-mad said:

I have paid 3 of these already.

Can I just ask at first, because the above is quite shocking for us regulars to read: why did you pay any? Why are you taking this seriously? Who told you that these are fines?

Thanks a lot for that info and taking the time to answer. Main reason why I was paying was I read somewhere that you’re not supposed to ignore them and if not paid they can take you to court, increasing the amount from £45 to £200+. Also I live with my parents, so the constant letters from the solicitors threatening a CCJ would’ve stressed them out

Unfortunately I wasn’t aware of this forum back then when I got the first charge, otherwise I would’ve asked here before doing anything. I didn’t even know about the whole PoFA 2012, I could’ve ended the whole thing with appeals ages ago 🙃

I’ll take your advice and ignore them from now on and I suppose even if this does go to court I’ll post on here again asking for advice

I'm so glad. And please tell your parents not to be concerned because you've now found the right advice and know what to do and that no CCJ, high costs or bailiffs are at risk.

If you go in holiday for more than a week you will need them to open any post (it can't sit and wait 2 or 3 weeks if it is ever a court claim form) and they need to be confident NOT to pay it for you and NOT to panic. There is no risk as long as you don't miss seeing and defending a Claim.