NHS and Trethowans FINE

[jaycc85]

Morning All,

 

I work for the NHS, i dont have a permanent parking permit for the hospital im currently based at (i move aorund different trusts) so i pay £2 every day on the Pay&Display meter.

 

One day i returned to my car to find a Penalty Notice. I had purchased a P&D ticket, but it may have blown off the dashboard when i shut my door. I still have this P&D ticket, as well as all other days tickets (over 40+).

I emailed Trethowans to say what happend, and two weeks later i get the following reply.

 

Dear Sir

*********Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust v YOURSELF

AMOUNT OUTSTANDING: £50.00

We refer to the above matter. We confirm that our client has now considered your appeal. We regret to advise you that your Appeal was unsuccessful. In the circumstances, please let us have your remittance in the sum of £25.00 made payable to Trethowans.

In the event that your remittance is not received within 7 days of the date of this letter, the full amount will become payable i.e. £50.00. In the absence of a response, proceedings will be prepared and issued without further reference to you.

Yours faithfully.

 

 

Now i replied back with this:

 

Dear xxxxx ,

 

 

I have the pay and display ticket in my possesion and can send u a photocopy via recorded delivery or fax, please tell me which method of proof you prefer.

 

 

Regards

 

----------------------------------------------------------

And they reply with this:

 

I'm afraid there is no second right of appeal. My client has rejected your appeal and I'm afraid I cannot comment any further on the matter.

Regards,

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

 

Any idea's what next step i should take?

 

Many Thanks

 

[pin1onu]

Follow these steps

 

1. Ignore them.

2. Ignore them

3. Goto 1

 

The appeal failed because they are not interested in being just or reasonable. They want your money.

 

You've kept to your end of the bargain, you bought a ticket and displayed it. They have lost nothing. If parking costs £2 a day the most they could claim in damages is £2/day.

 

In the remote event that this went to court, a Judge would rule that £25.00 for a breach of contract is a penalty and therefore invalid. There are are other legal issues that their case would fail on but that's the main one.

 

Essentially this is a [problem] that relies on social conditioning and ignorance of the situation. You will no doubt receive a few threat-o-grams with things like bailiffs, court, credit record all being mentioned. These can be safely ignored.

[jaycc85]

Many thanks for your quick response. I will keep the thread updated if anything occurs.

[the_freedom_trail]

Trethowans have a large office outside Salisbury in Wiltshire. Very smart, must be doing well out of the PPC industry. Did you know these are just template letters that are sent out. Did you also know that there are no solicitors sending out these letters in this department?

 

Think about it, if you actually started paying a real solicitor it would cost far more than £25 or even £50. At the end of the day you paid for the period you were parked so you have not caused any loss to anyone. Therefore, please forward the amount of £0.00 you owe to nobody:-D

 

Here they are

 

Debt Recovery | Trethowans | Solicitors & Lawyers in Southampton & Salisbury

 

Ignore them, flash website and all that but solicitors don't chase small beer.

 

Regards,

 

TFT

[Al27]

Usually we say don't contact them, but since you already have, I'd have the last word and email:

 

I'm afraid there is no second right of appeal. My client has rejected your appeal and I'm afraid I cannot comment any further on the matter.

 

Regards,

 

You seem to be under the false impression that I am 'appealing', as if the amount you are demanding is a legitimate parking fine.

 

As you and I both know, I have received nothing more than an unenforceable invoice. As a gesture of goodwill I offered to send you proof of my receipt to save you the bother and expense of sending the usual Trethowans threatening junkmail.

 

But if you wish to continue with your [problem], that's your decision. Take note that said junkmail will be taking a short trip from the doormat to the bin, unopened.

 

I shall let you get on with emailing your 'appeal unsuccessful' templates.

 

Regards

[the_freedom_trail]

Take note that said junkmail will be taking a short trip from the doormat to the bin

 

Not so fast, it's bonfire night soon - you'll need something to burn.

 

TFT

[jaycc85]

Thanks for reponses guys, feel more at ease now. I hate being taken for a mug. I cant begin to imagine how much money this guys are making/stealing from hundreds of people per day.

[the_freedom_trail]

I hate being taken for a mug

 

Don't be too hard on yourself, at least you haven't paid them. I think that you have done well challenging it. Now you know the ropes with PPC's you will never have to worry about their [problem] invoices again.

 

Using Trethowans is a clever tactic because it allows them to send letters that appear to come a solicitors (which they do) but in actual fact it is just a department full of administrators. People are taken in because of their own assumptions about what a solicitor is. Anyone can appoint a solicitor for anything, it adds no validity to the strength of a case.

 

No doubt, Trethowans being a commercial operation have picked up on the PPC [problem] and have found a way to make money for themselves.

 

Regards,

 

TFT

Edited October 27, 2009 by the_freedom_trail

[jaycc85]

I've just found this thread.

 

FightBack Forums > Court papers received!

 

Mine is for the same Hospital, Aintree NHS. Should i be concerned now?

[Al27]

No, because you have a voucher.

 

Your case would be like Tesco taking you to court because you bought a tin of beans and then couldn't produce the receipt next time you went shopping because it was at home.

 

And then trying to fine you because of it!