What if I leave the country? Also, can I go on the offensive for harassment?

StuChainz

Hey,

As some background, in my street in Bristol where I own a leasehold flat, unfortunately Link  Parking were brought in to patrol our street, where it seems they exclusively target residents and never ticket the people who park here for football games without a permit...

Anyway, I received 3 tickets in 2024. 2 for parking on the right hand side of the street where I am 100% allowed to park, I even have a map highlighting this from the property management company, and I also got one for parking in a visitors space without displaying my permit (although you can see it next to my gearstick in the photos taken by the scumbag who gives us tickets) - so they may have a case on this third one.

The property owners/managers claim there is "nothing they can do", and "link parking are an excellent and very reputable company", I then started getting harassed by BW legal for £160 per ticket.

They ignored all of my emails when following the newbie guide, except from one of the email addresses I contacted which gave me an auto response to say I can't email them and need to fill out a form or call them. Then in may 2025, I got an email From them to say that the claim had been dropped and I would not be contacted again. Assumed this meant I had won.

However, last week I got another letter & email with the same "PCNS reference" as my email in may, but a different "BW Legal reference" (unsure what this means), saying I owe them £640 (not sure if they've increased fees or have decided I now owe them 4x£160 tickets!)

So, firstly, I am concerned this has started again when I am going on sabbatical for 6 months in january, then coming back to get married, then moving to Australia. I don't want to get a CCJ while I am abroad. Do you have any advice on how to avoid this, and what my rights are here?

Secondly, considering I have an email stating "you will not be contacted about this again", then 4 months later get an email trying to extort £640 from me, what do I do here? Not sure whether to use this if/when they take me to court as an easy way to have it dismissed? Should/can I go on the offensive here?

la531983

When are you moving to Australia? Summer next year?

Car1980

Email them with an updated address every time you move for the next 6 years.

Then you have your evidence and are covered.

But, before any of that, what does your lease actually say about parking. If you are a tenant get hod of a copy from your landlord or another owner-occupier in the building.

If it demonstrates they have no rights then you can then go on the offensive.

Coupon-mad

Then in may 2025, I got an email From them to say that the claim had been dropped and I would not be contacted again. Assumed this meant I had won.

However, last week I got another letter & email with the same "PCNS reference" as my email in may, but a different "BW Legal reference" (unsure what this means), saying I owe them £640 (not sure if they've increased fees or have decided I now owe them 4x£160 tickets!)

The secret here is to stretch this out until you have an address abroad to give them.

So:

WAIT UNTIL VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE DEADLINE ON THAT NEW LETTER (is it a LBC? 14 days? 30 days?) THEN email or use the BW Legal Portal to remind them about their email from May (attach it) and ask what the heck they are playing at?

And tell them you are leaving the UK and were an authorised resident so not only is your 'propensity to pay' score a big fat zero but there was never a cause of action against a resident anyway, which is no doubt why the case was dropped in May.

Finish by telling them to ERASE the old address because you are now about to travel abroad on sabbatical and will then be relocating to Australia.

Don't give them an address yet.

Do not use the LBC template.

Do not ask for a 30 day hold yet.

See how they reply. Show us. By then it will be October and you can then wait 30 days if the reply allows that, THEN you reply in November-ish, saying you are seeking debt advice and require a '30 day hold' for that.

THEN at Christmas - BEFORE THE EXTRA 30 DAYS RUNS OUT - you give them your sabbatical address or Aussie address if you have it by then. And you tell them again to ERASE the UK address for good.

And you email Link's DPO to tell them exactly the same. ERASE the UK address, I am emigrating, here's my new address, so go swivel!

DO NOT MENTION COMING BACK HERE TO GET MARRIED. YOU ARE EMIGRATING.

StuChainz

Sorry on holiday so just checking this
 la531983 said:

When are you moving to Australia? Summer next year?

After the wedding, so probably October / November 2026. I will be on sabbatical travelling through south America from late Jan - August though.

Car1980 said:

Email them with an updated address every time you move for the next 6 years.

Then you have your evidence and are covered.

But, before any of that, what does your lease actually say about parking. If you are a tenant get hod of a copy from your landlord or another owner-occupier in the building.

If it demonstrates they have no rights then you can then go on the offensive.

I looked into this last year when I got the tickets and didn't see any mention either way, but will have another look when I'm back home next week.Coupon-mad said:

Then in may 2025, I got an email From them to say that the claim had been dropped and I would not be contacted again. Assumed this meant I had won.

However, last week I got another letter & email with the same "PCNS reference" as my email in may, but a different "BW Legal reference" (unsure what this means), saying I owe them £640 (not sure if they've increased fees or have decided I now owe them 4x£160 tickets!)

The secret here is to stretch this out until you have an address abroad to give them.

So:

WAIT UNTIL VERY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE DEADLINE ON THAT NEW LETTER (is it a LBC? 14 days? 30 days?) THEN email or use the BW Legal Portal to remind them about their email from May (attach it) and ask what the heck they are playing at?

And tell them you are leaving the UK and were an authorised resident so not only is your 'propensity to pay' score a big fat zero but there was never a cause of action against a resident anyway, which is no doubt why the case was dropped in May.

Finish by telling them to ERASE the old address because you are now about to travel abroad on sabbatical and will then be relocating to Australia.

Don't give them an address yet.

Do not use the LBC template.

Do not ask for a 30 day hold yet.

See how they reply. Show us. By then it will be October and you can then wait 30 days if the reply allows that, THEN you reply in November-ish, saying you are seeking debt advice and require a '30 day hold' for that.

THEN at Christmas - BEFORE THE EXTRA 30 DAYS RUNS OUT - you give them your sabbatical address or Aussie address if you have it by then. And you tell them again to ERASE the UK address for good.

And you email Link's DPO to tell them exactly the same. ERASE the UK address, I am emigrating, here's my new address, so go swivel!

DO NOT MENTION COMING BACK HERE TO GET MARRIED. YOU ARE EMIGRATING.

Thank you. It's an LoC which expires September 22nd, the day I get back from holiday - attached. I will follow your advice when I get home and send the response on their portal.

Coupon-mad

Yep do that on that day or the day after. It's not like a door closes but it is vital to time it urgently to stop them just issuing a claim.