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.