Gladstone Solicitors - Court threat

redpanda2

Hi all 

We received a parking charge June 2023 for an M&S carpark which we ignored (we're in Scotland).

This morning I received an email saying if we do not pay £160 fee then court proceedings are imminent. They say we have 30 days to pay or appeal by contacting them. 

The thing is, we visited the car park twice in one day and they're just taking the first and last times to look like we overstayed the amount. They have 2 photos, one of us entering and leaving but it's not clear who's driving from either photo. 

What do we do? I've never had this happen before and worried I'll end up in court. I really don't want to pay the fine as we haven't actually done anything wrong. I don't know what our next steps should be, I thought it would go away when we ignored it 2 years ago. 

Thanks. 

Gr1pr

6 years is the deadline if its in England or Wales,  but as this is Scotland   ignore it again,  for another 3 years,  the deadline is 5 years in Scotland 

It was not a fine,  it was an invoice for the alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property 

So as this is in Scotland,  Ignore them

Coupon-mad

redpanda2 said:

The thing is, we visited the car park twice in one day and they're just taking the first and last times to look like we overstayed the amount. 

It's a typical scam ANPR 'double dip' case.

Have you not read on the forum about these yet? It's caused by the PPC not bothering to carry out human checks of ANPR data to exclude two visits being read as one.

We've had threads about this for YEARS:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5550336/double-dip-parking-list-of-cases/p1

Even after 2 years of (correctly for Scotland) refusing to engage with the series of daft threatogram-senders, if they are now really bothering you, just complain to the retail park managing agents. Get them to cancel it.

You can still insist the retail park cancel it. Get angry about it. This is a DATA BREACH. 

You aren't contacting Gladstones ... although you could (if you want) email them and tell them it's a typical 2 visit 'double dip' scam PCN, so crawl back under their stone.

Or send them the tried & tested Specsavers Scotland get lost reply (search the forum!).

You were cheerfully ignoring it and you know from NEWBIES PLEASE READ THESE FAQS FIRST that this isn't a 'fine' and (in Scotland) you will not be taken to court by Gladstones so you could carry on simply ignoring this trash.

redpanda2 said:

 I thought it would go away when we ignored it 2 years ago. 

It has gone away... this is nothing.

It's only Gladstones! Is the letter misleading you about suing you in the 'county court' that doesn't exist in Scotland?! If yes, I'd like that as evidence for the Government, please.