Resident Parking

KeithP wrote: »

Your first link doesn't work.

There is no Annex A in the Practice Direction and it hasn't been there for several years.

I would be using Dear Sirs rather than To Whom It May Concern.

Many thanks for your reply, is the template in Newbies out of date?

Gladstones Solicitors Limited

Dear Sirs,
PCN:
I refer to your letter of

---

, and earlier correspondence.

Firstly, I have no intention of paying the money demanded by your client, and any court proceedings will be vigorously defended.

Second, should it be your client's intention to start court proceedings, they must provide a Letter Before Claim which complies with the requirements of the Practice Direction on Pre-action Conduct:
Thirdly, You need them to comply with the PAP on debt claims, not least with respect to the deadline needing to be 30 days

https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/procedure-rules/civil/pdf/protocols/pre-action-protocol-for-debt-claims.pdf

Please also note that a failure and/or refusal to comply with the Practice Direction will result in a complaint being made to the court and an application for a stay of the action and costs pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 4 of the Practice Direction on non-compliance and sanctions.

I trust that I have made myself clear.

Yours faithfully

The_Deep wrote: »

Have you complained to the SRA about Gladstones, if not, perhaps you should. An MP has already done so ln connection with their complicity in these scams. It is time these firms behaved like proper solicitors.

Yes this was the reply

03 January 2018
Dear Mr

---

Your report about Gladstones Solicitors Limited
Thank you for your email dated 20 December 2017.
From the information you sent us, we understand you are concerned about parking hearings dealt with by the above firm. You say that Will Hurley and John Davies at the firm also run the International Parking Community and an appeals service. You believe they have set themselves up as “judge, jury and executioner”.

What we have done

We received a number of reports about the way Gladstones Solicitors Limited were dealing with the recovery of debts. We have carried out an investigation into whether these debts were legitimately owed. We also considered whether the firm’s practices were taking unfair advantage of those people who the firm deal with.

Some reports have highlighted a conflict of interest in that employees of Gladstones are also
Directors of the independent appeals committee for those willing to appeal their car parking debts.

The firm have confirmed that whenever an appeal is/was lodged in relation to a debt being pursued by Gladstones, they would not adjudicate on this. Therefore, not entering into a conflicted situation.

We have spoken to the firm on a number of occasions about its practices. We have also requested various documents, including copies of letters sent by the firm and the car parking company regarding the recovery of car parking charges.

Our decision

We have decided to take no disciplinary or regulatory action.
We are satisfied that the firm is acting on its client’s (car parking company) instructions.
The firm is instructed on legitimate claims where the car parking companies have been unsuccessful in recovering parking charges after a number of attempts.
When a case is subject to investigation, we will, if appropriate, seek to engage constructively with the firm to achieve compliance. In instances where there is an open, co-operative and constructive approach, we may decide to take no formal action.
Our engagement has resulted in the firm asking its client to add further information to its letters to make details such as legal fees more transparent to the public.
We are satisfied the firm are committed to working within the requirements of our Code of Conduct.
Your report, and details of our investigation work will be retained on our records and can be revisited should we have cause to do so. Thank you for taking the time to contact us. Yours sincerely,
Assessment Team
Solicitors Regulation Authority
Enc: Information Sheet - Making a complaint to the SRA - What you need to know
Direct line 0121 329 6824
Direct fax 0121 616 1299
report@sra.org.uk

Castle wrote: »

But the Director(s) of Gladstones run the IPC/IAS and simply change "hats" to adjudicate.

I think it's auto-respond reject, reject if the SRA will not do anything about them who can?