Hi all, We rented out house out for the last 15 months and have had to move back as we want to now sell. We went through an estate agency and paid then £60 per month to manage the letting for us. The tenant moved out and the letting company gave them their deposit back after doing an inspection. I use the term loosely. We went in and there is a catalogue of issues that we have raised with the letting company but they aren't interested now they have given the tenant back the full deposit and we aren't paying them anymore. E.g: 1. Before we let it we took all the internal doors and got them dipped which cost us £180. The tenant - without permission - has dark stained them all. 2. They have put up 2 shelves in the kitchen attaching them to a kitchen cupboard panel. Again without permission and if we take them down there will be 4 big holes in the side of a kitchen cupboard. 3. They took the fence panels that separate some sections of the garden and took them to the bottom of the garden and nailed them to the fencing at the bottom of the garden. They also removed shrubs and trees from the bottom of the garden. All of this again without permission. 4. There is a kitchen floor tile cracked. 5. I allowed them to smoke in the conservatory, however on entering the property I was overcome by the smell of stale smoke. They have been smoking throughout the house and not attempted to get rid of it. 6. The dishwasher handle is broken and no longer able to use. This was raised with the tenant and they told the lettings agent that the handle was brittle and never used. If it was never used for 15 months there would be mildew and stale smell in the dishwasher. However it was clean and smelled fine. 7. Bathroom tiles had come loose and this was never mentioned so the tenant was using the shower and water was dripping down the side of the bath causing damp on the downstairs wall. 8. Fridge stopped working – they didn’t tell us, the simply removed the plug and wired an extention cable to the live end complete with sellotape wrapped round to make sure it was well and truly together – just to make the cable longer!! Left in a dangerous state with bare wires showing and no earth wire fitted. The fridge was working when we left it, again not notified. The photos that the letting agent showed us of the check out inspection were actually 18 months old from before we decorated the house to get ready for letting it!! So they never did a full check out. They have sided all the way with the tenant and not done anything to earn their £60 per month we have paid them for. I’ve called them, spoke to them, but I might as well be talking to a wall. What can I do to recover some, if not all of the costs I have incurred on getting the house fixed..?

Many, many thanks people - my sister was all ready to pay to get the slimes off her back but now she has read through she is a converted CAGGER!! She will igniore the letters *IF* any more come through but she had a final, final, final one 2months ago and nothing since. Fingers crossed. VJohn82 - Should we need your expertise I'll get in touch - thank you for the offer Once again, thanks for all your support and help.

Thank you all so much for the advice and support. I've spoken to my sister and she is coming round tonight to have a look at the forum and your messages. She is bringing her letters and will post up the last one she had as requested. I can understand them wanting to try to prevent it happening but i dont see what they are wanting compensation for - they recovered the goods and my sister mentioned that part of the fine she had was detailed out to cover costs and compensation to the store. Again, will post details later. Thanks for that MJ, what a cheek they have! I know the crime shouldnt happen in the first place but they are the pot calling the kettle black!! At least she isnt the only one, and also I noticed them trying to get people who haven't actually done anything... insanity. Anyway, once again a massive thank you for all the advice so far

Hi, Not quite sure how to put this as its a bit delicate so I'll go from the top.... My sister lost her job, and then her partner died leaving her to raise their daughter. Debts mounted up she struggled on but ended up having a breakdown and was caught shoplifting. The first, last and only time in her life. The store recovered the goods off her and she ended up in court. She really was in a state and the judge plainly saw this and although issued a heavy fine, he could see she was genuinly a good person having a very bad time. She was so ashamed and cant even bring herself to tell her parents - im the only one that knows. That said I'm not condoning what she did, just trying to explain the extenuating circumstances. She paid the fine at the court and we thought that was the end of it. She found out yesterday that a debt recovery firm have been sending letters to an old address saying that she owes them £250 for damages and are taking out a civil suit against her to get the money. She hasne replied due to them sending the letters to her old address. On 12th Novemeber they gave her 14 days or they would start court proceedings. There have been no further letters but as she only got the letters passed on yesterday, she is now beside herself again and very upset and stressed. I readlly cant see her go through all this again in court she is so distressed. I have said I think it seems to be excessive at best that they are claiming for 'costs'. She was held at the store for 1 hour before the police arrived and I dont know how much a security guard earns an hour but I'm guessing its not £250. She has paid a heavy fine for the offence, and has expressed her shame and apologies to the judge. Is this right that she has to pay again? Any advice is greatfully received.

advice is right

This letter is from a 'Solicitor' - and I use the term loosley - dx100uk: you are right... I did some digging and the email address for the solicitor is the same for the DCA that contacted me. They are a 'sister company'.

Hi Guys, So far I've stuck by my guns and although sent in 2 appeals (before I found this site) since then I have ignore letters from the PPC and from the DCA. I now have a solicitors letter for a Notice of Intended Legal Action. Next step is County Court. I can only hold my nerve for so long!! Should I write to the Solicitors detailing that I have asked twice for proof of the offence and been ignored by the PPC so stop bothering me for money when there is a) no proof that it was me and also b) there is no evidence of an obstruction (The vehicle was ticketed for obstruction) Please advise - I'm really in need of some help here. Has anyone else ever got this far - or further and succeeded..? Cheers people

Ok, just found a post a bit further down asking the same!! No worries - ignore, ignore, ignore...... Although if it does go to Solicitor, and thats my next letter, what happens then..?

Hi all, My debt collection letter arrived this morning - was expecting it sometime soon as I have totally ignored the PPC letters since being on here. Now, is it advisable to use a template from here to write to the DC and say that this is in dispute with the PPC. After 2 attempts to request details on what exactly I was obstructing (written before I found you guys!) they have ignored my requests, therefore refer the DC back to the PPC. Does it work to ignore the DC as they have stated that in the absence of payment or any valid dispute they will pursue the matter - with or without my cooperation. If they havent heard after 7 days then it will go to the solicitors who will review the case for potential legal action. What do you reckon?

Thanks guys..... I stood my ground and they have changed them. They argued that they asked me if i wanted the expensive ones or the cheap ones. I (wrongly) assumed that either cheap or expensive - they would look like the ones they went in with... with the protective bead. But no. They werent a like for like. So, once again thank you

Latest is, that the tyre people have said that they will change the tyres but i would have to pay as they cant exchange as the no good tyres have had a day's use. They said the garage never told them that the tyres had to have the lip on them so its their fault and they will have to pay for them. The garage say they wont pay for them as they dont get cars in needing that size wheel. Grrrrrrrrrrrr

Ok, checked. They are the right size but they havent got the protectors on to protect the alloys. Thats why the alloys stick out. I know its only a little thing but i just feel they should come out of the garage fitted the same as when it went in! He just said that 'you asked me to get 2 tyres'. I said 'yes, but i would expect the same as what they came in with!'

Hi all, Just need to some confirmation before I go to the Garage about this. I had 2 new tyres fitted on Monday but only noticed last night that they are not sitting flush with the alloys - the alloys stick out beyond the tyre. I'm not happy about it they are the wrong spec. Now, I've gone back to the garage who got them fitted by a third party specialist tyre person. The garage say they will let the tyre person see if he will change them but he said he doesnt think he will change them as they are legal. The garage wont refund as they say I have no right as the items are tyres. Now i'm thinking thats a load of tosh. The thing I need clarification on before i go there is can i say as well that they are not fit for purpose as they are not a like for like? Is it worth mentioning OFT to them? Any advice gratefully received guys

You say the reason you are doing this is because you are sick of people parking in disabled bays who aren't disabled. I've had similar issues with people parking in parent/ child spaces - I dont put up with it -i tell them, I dont go running off to join the clampers! I'm not proud of this but I have also had to have words with a disabled person for parking in parent/ child - there were plenty of disabled spaces available and I pointed out that I would never dream of parking in a disabled space if there were no parent child spaces available let alone if there were. There are ways and means of dealing with situations and what you are doing for your reasons is rediculous

Angel88 - Your friend is more likely to cause an accident if he's worrying too much about what other cars are doing behind him. He has nothing to worry about as long as he is driving safely and legally! If someone hit him in the rear then they are at fault anyway. But that aside, the more he worries, the more of a nervous driver he becomes and more likely he is to have an accident!

I was under the impression that the bailiffs could only turn up after the debt had gone to court?

No worries Nem - Just be prepared though for some more letters though before they give up - this isnt the end but the end will come quick enough if you dont respond. Just keep in your mind that they want your hard earned paper round money so they will push it to see if you will crack.

Hi Nem, Listen to these guys! They know what they are talking about. I only found this site after I had appealed twice - and *surprise* lost twice - now I'm getting increasingly threatening letters as PIN1ONU mentioned - the hooked fish list - I'm on it! Although ignoring now, but they are still trying - They see people as an easy target if you appeal. But I'm also very stubborn! I also asked for the pics and evidence but they just ignored the requests - so now i'm ignoring them. Do not contact them. Its a waste of time. Believe me.

Oh and also, Jogs is right - a letter to the local press would go down a treat!

Diny, just a suggestion but to aleviate any worry on your dad, tell him you'll deal with it and any letters he gets to pass to you. You have got the support of people on here who know what they are talking about and you will be taking the worry off your dad. There will be more letters to come as you have already appealed and they think you are worried so they bully you into paying. Dont write any more to them, you're trying to appeal to the very people who want to take your money and make a profit! What do you think will be the outcome of another appeal..?!

Yes, definately ignore. Dont contact them or like me, you'll be getting the threat letters through. I appealed before I found this site though, if i'd have found these guys sooner there's no way I would have wasted my time on the PPC. So yes, ignore, ignore, ignore. The peeps on here are worth their weight in gold where advice and support are needed.

I'm no expert but as G&M has said - surely if the location is wrong on the PCN, it's invalid anyway?

Ok, I'll re-phrase.... Have there been a lot of people go to court and mainly win or mainly loose..?

Just out of interest, has anyone ever gone to court for not paying a PPC..?

TFT - And thats without a judge seeing the 'evidence' which shows the nearest obstruction - another car - 4m away. I think what shook me up was the fact they have gone to the DVLA to get my new address. I didnt think that was legal. But anyway like you say, chances are thinner than a coat of paint.