Advice needed – PCN for brief stop on private land (Gladstone Solicitors)

sssylaru

Hi everyone,

On 14 December around 7 PM I was in a nearby town. I had parked and paid at an NCP car park. On my way home, I needed to pull over briefly to check something on my phone. I saw an empty area and stopped there for about 14 minutes. I did not leave the vehicle at any point. I didn’t park properly – I simply pulled in and stopped between the marked bays in the middle of the area, as the place was almost empty.

Two months later I received a letter from Gladstone Solicitors demanding payment for an alleged unpaid parking charge. It turned out that all previous correspondence had been sent to my old address.

At first I thought the claim related to the NCP car park (I saw the payment had been processed just after midnight), so I replied with a bank screenshot and explanation. Only after their response did I realise that the claim actually concerns the short stop in that empty area, not the NCP.

I then sent them the following email offering settlement:

Dear Sir or Madam,I write in response to your Letter Before Claim Ref (TR).The vehicle was present at the location for approximately 14 minutes. I remained inside the vehicle at all times and did not park in any marked bay. This was a brief stop rather than parking. It was dark at the time and I did not see any clear or sufficiently prominent signage that would reasonably bring the terms and parking charge to my attention.I also did not receive any earlier correspondence because it was sent to an outdated address. As a result, I was deprived of the opportunity to appeal at an earlier stage.Without admission of liability, and in order to resolve this matter efficiently and avoid unnecessary escalation, I am willing to offer £100 as a full and final settlement. Please confirm if this is acceptable.Kind regards

Their reply was:

We write further to your email dated 27 March 2026. As we are instructed to act on behalf of our Client, we ask that you refrain from contacting them and direct all future correspondence to this firm only. All correspondence was sent to the address provided by the DVLA – it is your legal obligation to ensure your V5C is up to date. The attached document shows your V5C has not been updated since January 2022. Accordingly, your offer to pay £100 is rejected and the full balance is now due.

They also attached photos and signage from CPS UK (PDF titled “Requested INFO”). Here is the exact location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SFQR1Vk1hzr2yxko8

I now understand this is a private land parking charge. However, I feel the demand is unfair – I only stopped briefly without leaving the car, it was dark, I didn’t notice any signs, and I had no idea it was private land with parking restrictions.

I really don’t want to go to court because I’m in the process of buying a house and I’m worried a CCJ could affect my mortgage application.

Has anyone dealt with similar cases involving Gladstone Solicitors or CPS UK? What are my realistic chances of defending this? Should I continue negotiating, make a higher offer, or is it better to just pay to close the matter?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those familiar with private parking claims and the Pre-Action Protocol.

Thank you in advance!

I'll attach 3 pdf with pictures:

https://smallpdf.com/share-document#r=result&t=8e3b23401624c4fbb5f68b329180b5e6&i=share

https://smallpdf.com/share-document#r=result&t=fce85881c3b1d3fe9bcc065916096cf8&i=share

https://smallpdf.com/share-document#r=result&t=7b0ebff42cd318bcab148f527f2a55c8&i=share

Jame4ters

Don’t pay

Search the forum for Gladstone and CPS

Read the “Newbies” thread

Unlit signage in the dark is another common issue so there are plenty of similar cases for you to read

Nellymoser

Shows their not interested in £100 payments they're greedy, want more and will try to scare you into paying more. Don't be making any further offers.

You must get Gladstone and PPC to erase your old address and give your current address for service. This prevents any court claim 'accidentally' being sent to your old address.

Go to NEWBIES Announcement thread POST 4 - Debt Collectors Letters scroll to section on changed address? for more advice.

Also read POST 2 - Small Claim

You seem confused about CCJ the thread below gives a clear explanation:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81382407/#Comment_81382407

Search the forum to find others threads on Gladstones CPS

sssylaru

Oh my god thank you for advices, this guide is gold! Seems like I've messed up a couple of things like admitting I was the driver and that I've offered them £100 to settle this fine.

I'll send them both an email (

Dear Sirs,

I refer to your Letter Before Claim.

For the avoidance of doubt, my correct address for service is as follows:

MY ADDRESS

Please ensure that all future correspondence is sent to this address and that any previous address is erased from your records.

The alleged debt is disputed. The circumstances involve a brief stop of 14 minutes and 26 seconds at night, and I do not accept that any contract was formed, particularly given the lack of clearly visible and adequate signage.

I do not consider this claim to have reasonable prospects of success.

In the event that proceedings are issued, I will require strict proof of your client's claim, including evidence of adequate and compliant signage and contractual authority.

The alleged debt is disputed and any court proceedings will be vigorously defended.)

I know now about possible CCJ and how they might react, let's see what they say in court ;)
Thank you!

Coupon-mad

Very good!

You are not risking a CCJ. If you get a claim you'll just defend it.

Who is the parking firm?

sssylaru

CPS - Complete Parking Services;)