Letters from Trace following Gatwick/NCP PCN

CFKemp

As suggested on the third page of this thread, I'm reposting my question. I have read the Newbies thread but I'm unsure if I can follow the advice give my missteps so far.

I'm on (I think) my second Trace letter and I've now been offered another 14 days to pay up or they'll consider whether to continue the process, potentially leading to a CCJ. [I appreciate that these threats always say "we may" to scare people into paying up]

The background is that I appealed to NCP (before I'd read all of the advice on here about how to do this) making the point that when I called to pay, they had no record of my vehicle. Their initial response ignored this point and referred to the "more than adequate signage". I challenged this but, presumably because of their policy of only allowing a single appeal, they ignored it and then I got the first letter from Trace.

I spoke to a man with the deepest, Guy Richie character voice at Trace who made it clear that it didn't matter what I said, my only option was to pay. I went back to NCP and eventually spoke to a half decent human who pretended to understand my situation. A couple of calls later and I get a VM telling me that because there is a way to essentially send them money without my car having been caught on camera, I must pay the £170 fine. Seriously.

What's most grating is that I genuinely tried to pay the initial small cost (I paid the next one a week later) but now, partly as a result of my laziness as well as their scumminess, this has become my problem.

So, my question is would it be unwise to continue to ignore the Trace letters or will they wear themselves out if I don't cave?

Since I posted this I've spoken to the chap at NCP again who claims he raised the issue with his seniors. However, as there is an option to pay a voluntary fee, my second attempt at appealing was also rejected. I've also tracked down the phone call I made and realised that it was outside of the very short window (pre-midnight the same day) they give for paying the fine. As such, I did technically earn myself the PCN so I wonder if this means I should give up on the idea of trying to argue my case, risking additional fees...

Apologies in advance for no doubt asking the same old questions, but I'd be very grateful if the "experienced regulars" mentioned on the original thread have any advice.

KeithP

A debt collector's letter. The clue is '14 days'.

The fourth post of the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with debt collector's letters, but to summarise that post - ignore them.

CFKemp

The problem is that post says "THESE ARE NOT BAILIFFS, THEY CANNOT SEND THE BOYS ROUND! THIS IS JUST A LETTER-CHAIN YOU GET IF YOU HAVE NOT APPEALED" but I have appealed.

Fruitcake

It doesn't matter. Debt collectors are powerless and can safely be ignored.

Never, ever 'phone a PPC or any of their agents, ever.

How did you get on with Plan A, a complaint to the landowner and your MP?

KeithP

CFKemp said:

The problem is that post says "THESE ARE NOT BAILIFFS, THEY CANNOT SEND THE BOYS ROUND! THIS IS JUST A LETTER-CHAIN YOU GET IF YOU HAVE NOT APPEALED" but I have appealed.

Yes, perhaps @Coupon-mad can make a slight adjustment so that the last few words read...
        "...IF YOU HAVE NOT APPEALED SUCCESSFULLY".

Coupon-mad

Good idea. 

CFKemp

Fruitcake said:

How did you get on with Plan A, a complaint to the landowner and your MP?

I complained to Gatwick directly but have had no response. Tbh I'd be embarrassed about writing to my MP to complain about a parking fine (I know it's part of their job and there are loads of Hansard references to it being a scam).

Looks like Trace are getting another £170 payment. I can't afford to mess up on one of the multiple steps covered on the newbies thread. I appreciate there's an absolute shedload of information on there and you've all put a load of effort into covering all the bases, but that just makes it more daunting; it's difficult to ascertain what applies in my specific case. Despite all of the reassurances on that thread, there are so many things that could go wrong, potential charges to appeal and so on.

Fruitcake

CFKemp said:

Fruitcake said:

How did you get on with Plan A, a complaint to the landowner and your MP?

I complained to Gatwick directly but have had no response. Tbh I'd be embarrassed about writing to my MP to complain about a parking fine (I know it's part of their job and there are loads of Hansard references to it being a scam).

Looks like Trace are getting another £170 payment. I can't afford to mess up on one of the multiple steps covered on the newbies thread. I appreciate there's an absolute shedload of information on there and you've all put a load of effort into covering all the bases, but that just makes it more daunting; it's difficult to ascertain what applies in my specific case. Despite all of the reassurances on that thread, there are so many things that could go wrong, potential charges to appeal and so on.

It is not a fine.

It is absolutely essential that motorists complain to their MPs, otherwise nothing is going to change. Twelve million PCNs are being issued per year by the unregulated private parking industry. If every single one complained, this problem would be resolved very quickly because there would be no time for the government to do anything else.

Coupon-mad

CFKemp said:

Fruitcake said:

How did you get on with Plan A, a complaint to the landowner and your MP?

I complained to Gatwick directly but have had no response. Tbh I'd be embarrassed about writing to my MP to complain about a parking fine (I know it's part of their job and there are loads of Hansard references to it being a scam).

Looks like Trace are getting another £170 payment. I can't afford to mess up on one of the multiple steps covered on the newbies thread.

Multiple steps?

There's ONE step. It's IGNORE THESE LETTERS.

There are no charges added.

Does this new RAC guide help?

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/how-to-appeal-a-parking-charge-notice-pcn/

There's a section called:

What to do if you receive a letter from a debt recovery or legal firm regarding a PCN from a private parking operator?

Nellymoser

If you want to see Parking companies practice improve then sign the petition linked in the post below. Ask family, friends and work colleagues to sign too. 

Once your signature is confirmed use the shown link to 'Contact your MP to let them know you have signed this petition'. Our MPs are the ones to make this happen. 🙏

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81195013/#Comment_81195013

CFKemp

Coupon-mad said:

CFKemp said:

Fruitcake said:

How did you get on with Plan A, a complaint to the landowner and your MP?

I complained to Gatwick directly but have had no response. Tbh I'd be embarrassed about writing to my MP to complain about a parking fine (I know it's part of their job and there are loads of Hansard references to it being a scam).

Looks like Trace are getting another £170 payment. I can't afford to mess up on one of the multiple steps covered on the newbies thread.

Multiple steps?

There's ONE step. It's IGNORE THESE LETTERS.

There are no charges added.

Does this new RAC guide help?

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/driving-advice/how-to-appeal-a-parking-charge-notice-pcn/

There's a section called:

What to do if you receive a letter from a debt recovery or legal firm regarding a PCN from a private parking operator?

There are multiple steps. Sure, ignoring the letter is one of them, but it's what comes after that concerns me. The Newbies guide gives all sorts of advice about how to make a case that additional fees are not warranted, but there are a lot of ifs and buts to ensure that happens. This phrase doesn't exactly fill me with confidence either!: "Charges are not 'illegal' but this industry is skating on thin ice". The main thread also references a 12 (twelve!) step process for defending a court summons. These letters work because for most people that's simply too daunting a prospect to consider.

Out of interest, does writing to an MP do anything to support a claim, or is it just to re-raise the issue with them?