3.5 years later…to debt collections

brigbif

Hello again all!

I’ll keep this brief.

2023 I parked in a Tesco car park which is attached to a shopping centre which I worked in. The other car parks were not open, and in my lateness for work I parked there (I am saying straight off the bat I was at fault for this).

After 3 or so hours, I moved my car during my break so that it would be in the shopping centre car park, grabbed myself a Tesco meal deal and that was me.

I had received a number of letters nearer the time to say pay pay pay, but ignored these and had never made any contact. I hadn’t heard anything for a couple of years and all of a sudden within a couple of weeks I received one from the company and another from debt collections.

My incorrect assumption was that I was safe given the amount of time that had passed without any comms and that they wouldn’t come for me.

The fine has increased to £125 (see attached). Am I just as well paying this considering I actually should not have been there? The car park was practically empty, so I know there was no loss on their part, but I have allowed too much time to pass to appeal. I only ask because my current line of work is police-adjacent, and I am unsure if this would be something I would need to declare to my employer if it were to escalate.

ta!

Gr1pr

Ignore them for now, 6 years is the statute cutoff

Its definitely not a fine, just a private parking company pcn, an invoice

The pcn never increases, it will stay at the figure on the pcn and the signage, not £125

This wont affect your employment, whatever they do

Ignore the powerless debt collectors, but do come back to this thread if or when you receive an LBC or a Money Claim

fatbelly

Do not pay. Continue with your strategy and do not be influenced by the scammers' red ink on their speculative invoice. 2.5 years to go before this is statute barred, unless you live in Scotland.

Coupon-mad

Thirded. Ignore that. Didn't you see a similar DCB threatogram in the pictures in post 4 of the NEWBIES thread when you read it first?

You'll never have to pay this because DCB Legal discontinue defended claims and it is as easy as pie. Only people with more money than sense, or no internet, pay these rogue invoices all the tome the industry remains an unregulated wild west.

Obviously, tell them if you move house and no ignoring the Claim Form.

Bazarius

It’s highly unlikely you’ll ever see a claim form if this site is owned by Tesco.

When Gladstones previously held the litigation contract, we were stunned to see a claim issued.
Before the defence was even drafted, an N279 discontinuance landed- which indicates it was issued in error - confirming what we suspected all along: they had no authority from Tesco to sue its own customers. Very similar to the Somerfield contract clause exposed in ParkingEye v Somerfield.

Coupon-mad

But we saw quite a few from Gladstones last year. All with £10 added to the £70 PCN due to the way Horizon's system does that.

brigbif

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82099941#Comment_82099941

I live in Scotland! Strangely didn’t include that important info

brigbif

thanks guys! I recognise some of you from my last encounter with a PCN. Heroes!!

brigbif

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82100033#Comment_82100033

apologies, I’ve familiarised myself now 🤦‍♀️

fatbelly

The limitation period in Scotland is 5 years, England 6. Another difference is that in Scotland the debt is 'extinguished' i.e. Ceases to exist. There have been cases where a debt collector took money for a SB debt from a person living in Scotland and was forced by the regulator to pay it back with interest.