CCJ Threat via text from unknown solicitor

DevonMorning

Hi, I have tried to research and decide what to do about a solicitor called Gladstones who have threatened to issue a CCJ via text message. 

I have received no correspondence other than three texts over the past three days, and have no idea what this is for, or whether it’s a scam. They appear to be acting for a number of private parking firms when I’ve researched it, however I have never received any correspondence, so the advice given in other threads is impossible without contacting them to find out more information. 

I have no debt, a good credit rating and I’m terrified that they will issue a CCJ if I do nothing. I believe they are relying on this to extort £150 out of me but have no idea where they even got my number. If the debt is for a parking issue, the DVLA wouldn’t have supplied my number. 

Please can anyone advise on a next move? I don’t want to leave it as it is stressing me out having it sent every day. 

Many thanks in advance 

Nasqueron

Highly likely it's a parking firm and the DVLA would have given your details and they probably traced you that way.

Gladstones are an active firm in parking disputes. Did you move house perhaps and not update your licence and V5C until later?

You don't get a CCJ even if you lose in court unless you don't pay inside 30 days.

I would suggest posting what you have on the parking forum (with any personal info hidden) and ask for advice there

MEM62

You can safely ignore TXT messages.  Anyone taking court action against you has to communicate with you in writing.  That is - on paper.  In respect of parking charges, it is important that your details with DVLA are up to date.  That aside, you have nothing to worry about until something arrives in the post.   

Coupon-mad

MEM62 said:

You can safely ignore TXT messages.  Anyone taking court action against you has to communicate with you in writing.  That is - on paper.  In respect of parking charges, it is important that your details with DVLA are up to date.  That aside, you have nothing to worry about until something arrives in the post.   

They do have something to worry about.

The risk is under their nose: they need to tell Gladstones their new address and to 'erase' the old one. People who don't do that, risk getting a CCJ from some old parking firm scammer behind their back.

Updating the DVLA now does not get seen by the scammers. Too late because the rogue industry aren't allowed to ask the DVLA twice for the same incident.

You have to update them separately.

Claims are often sent deliberately to old DVLA addresses. It's what some of the roboclaim legals seem aim for: CCJs.

The good news is that the OP is being helped on the parking board now:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6580659/advised-to-post-here

...and as ever, as long as the claim (if one comes, and often it doesn't get that far) arrives at their correct address, they'll easily defend and win.

Parking court claims are such a cinch to beat that it's laughable.

Parking CCJs at an old address are also easy to unpick - usually seeing the N244 application fee ending up paid back by the scammer and the entire claim struck out too - but that's much more of a headache.

MEM62

Coupon-mad said:

MEM62 said:

You can safely ignore TXT messages.  Anyone taking court action against you has to communicate with you in writing.  That is - on paper.  In respect of parking charges, it is important that your details with DVLA are up to date.  That aside, you have nothing to worry about until something arrives in the post.   

They do have something to worry about.

Not if their details are up to date and correct.