GXS chasing payment despite buying ticket

cevixy

Hello, my elderly aunt parked in a GXS car park in Worthing and bought a ticket. However, she received a parking charge letter in the post a few days later.

By the time she spoke to me she'd already attempted to appeal directly to the company, but they rejected it.

I've successfully appealed tickets before with the help of this forum, so knew she'd soon get letters chasing the debt and told her to ignore them.

Today she received her first. It scared her so she called the company up. They told her she'd received the fine because the ticket she'd bought only showed the second half of her registration number.

She had obviously keyed in the whole number but the machine did not print it out on her ticket. She also paid for two hours of parking (as shown on the ticket) but the machine only gave her one hour - so that is two faults.

I have told her to ignore all the many letters she receives, unless it's a letter before action, but she is very scared and wants to pay, just to make it go away.

I have reassured her that if it DID ever get to court, she would probably win, but she says she can't risk it. Is there anything anyone can say that I can show her that will reassure her I am correct, and to ignore debt collection letters, and brave it out.

These companies really are scum.

Jame4ters

There are numerous other threads on the forum with incorrect registration number input issues especially ones where the system doesn’t record it. One might think that it is deliberate.

Also read them”Newbies” thread.

Don’t contact them. Don’t pay the invoice (it’s not a fine)

Nellymoser

I have reassured her that if it DID ever get to court, she would probably win, but she says she can't risk it. Is there anything anyone can say that I can show her that will reassure her I am correct, and to ignore debt collection letters, and brave it out.

Show her NEWBIES POST 4 - Debt Collectors Letters.

DCB LEGAL RECORD OF PRIVATE PARKING COURT CLAIM DISCONTINUATIONS thread may help too.

Search for news articles online re faulty payment machines not printing full car reg.

Coupon-mad

GXS aren't litigious. Nothing happens.

I'm also from West Sussex and have helped several locals with these PCNs over the years and NONE have been sued. GXS cases just fizzle out after the letters.

Tell her to stop ringing them. Or get her to change her address with GXS to your postal address. Then you handle the letters and she hears no more.

🙂

cevixy

Thanks for all the responses. I have just had a teary call from my aunt who says she hasn't been able to sleep and is paying the £170 'fine' today as she just wants this to end. They have successfully bullied a pensioner into paying even though she has done nothing wrong.

I am so angry. I have just called a local journalist and sent them all the paperwork from GXS and BW Legal, including proof she had bought a ticket, and her appeal. She's speaking to her editor so hopefully this will get some coverage .

Nellymoser

That's so sad. You should also make sure your aunt's MP knows how she's been treated and intends to pay because she's scared. MPs often get emails from their constituents about unfair pcns and bullying practices, they are the people to push Govt to eradicate private parking firms poor practices.

cevixy

Thank you - I will.