A/covert Security Services Ltd

[Mr Worried]

Hi To All

 

I got a tkt on new years eve, basically it was within a shopping centre car park area.

 

As you can imagine it was very busy and cars were all over the place, mine was'nt though, the council or centre owners had put metal barriers around the can bins/recycle area thus reducing the area to park, I parked as did 7 others, ok it was not within the bays but it was not obstructing anything nor anybody, certainly not any other motorists.

 

I called Covert and asked who'm I write to re complaint, the fella introduced himself as the director but stuttered a bit as I had caught him ' on the hop ' I asked him why he had clamped etc, and why the fee is £100.00 but you will give me a discount if paid within 14 days of £50.00.

 

He got irate and said, well dont pay then, and I will send a bailiff.

 

Any advice on this please as to what I should do next.

 

Cheers

 

Mr W

Edited January 7, 2010 by Mr Worried
spelling

[Al27]

I don't understand. Were you clamped or just given a ticket by 'Covert'?

[My Real Name]

Ignore them and do nothing else. As per the sticky posts, these tickets are nothing but unenforceable invoices.

[Mr Worried]

I don't understand. Were you clamped or just given a ticket by 'Covert'?

 

Hi, It was just a tkt.

 

Cheers

 

Mr W

[crem]

He got irate and said, well dont pay then, and I will send a bailiff.

 

:lol:

[Mr Worried]

Ignore them and do nothing else. As per the sticky posts, these tickets are nothing but unenforceable invoices.

 

Hi Real

 

Ignore them???? Mmmm I'd rather not? it says CIVIL PARKING CHARGE NOTICE.

 

And I have never defended a charge for parking before, so I am a bit nervous.

 

Mr W

[Al27]

All you have is an unenforceable invoice from an ordinary private company.

 

It's a [problem].

 

• do not pay

• do not contact them again

• ignore their threatening junkmail

• ignore any rubbish from powerless debt collectors (don't confuse them with bailiffs)

• they will not take you to court (where they'd lose)

• they will give up and go away

 

It's a mail [problem]. Buy addresses from the DVLA, send out threatening crap and wait for the cheques to come in from mugs.

 

They can call it whatever crap they like - it's just an invoice for alleged breach of contract. The remedy in law for contract breach is actual losses. You have not caused them any losses.

 

Putting up a sign saying "if you park outside a bay you agree to pay £70" is as enforceable as one saying "if you are wearing a red jumper you agree to pay £10,000"

[Huff&Puff]

It is just a [problem], read through the posts here and you'll soon see how it all works. You are quite safe ignoring anything that they send. You will get some threatograms of increasing nastiness is all that will happen, then they'll go away.

[Mr Worried]

Hi To All

 

Thanks so much for the advice, however the tkt was placed on the car and it says offence section 10 = Parked in an unorthourised or restricted area?.

 

My OH is giving me grief as the car is registered in her name...

 

The letters that are to follow, who will they be from??? and will the B turn up, obviously I know the situation with debt, but not Parking scams etc..

 

Can I not write to them and tell them bogg off and if so then who has a letter?

 

Mr W

[lamma]

Its not an offence. PPCs [problematic] lie all the time to get you you to pay. His threat of the bailiffs is illegal, if you recorded the call that would be useful. Stop worrying, ignore the PPC. Have a proper read on here.

[My Real Name]

Hi Real

 

Ignore them???? Mmmm I'd rather not? it says CIVIL PARKING CHARGE NOTICE.

 

And I have never defended a charge for parking before, so I am a bit nervous.

 

Mr W

There's nothing to defend. There is no such thing in law as a "civil parking charge notice".

[My Real Name]

Hi To All

 

Thanks so much for the advice, however the tkt was placed on the car and it says offence section 10 = Parked in an unorthourised or restricted area?.

It doesn't matter. The wording is arbitrary nonsense.

 

My OH is giving me grief as the car is registered in her name...

Point your OH in this direction, and she will be told exactly the same thing.

 

The letters that are to follow, who will they be from??? and will the B turn up, obviously I know the situation with debt, but not Parking scams etc..

 

Can I not write to them and tell them bogg off and if so then who has a letter?

All that writing to them achieves is to encourage them to send even more letters, with further demands.

 

And read the stickied posts - they explain why these unsolicited invoices should be ignored.

[Mr Worried]

Hi and thanks for your replies, and I will ignore the demand.

 

Well how do these companies exist? and cant the law prevent them from 'plying their trade ', do they just tkt people hoping that they pay?.

 

However I would rather write to him and let him know that it is a [problem] etc etc? bit of a contradiction from above?

 

Mr W

[My Real Name]

They exist because enough people pay up to make it worthwhile, and because it is not illegal to do what they do.

 

Landowners have every right to manage and control parking on their property, but they seem to go about it in a half-arsed, lazy manner.

 

Writing to them is your prerogative, but experience dictates it will get you nowhere.

[lamma]

"Well how do these companies exist? and cant the law prevent them from 'plying their trade ', do they just tkt people hoping that they pay?" yes they do. the authorities don't care and have a vested interest in not informing motorists of their rights. Next thing you know people would be fighting more council PCNS "However I would rather write to him and let him know that it is a [problem] etc etc? bit of a contradiction from above?" DON'T. The [problematic] already know they are [problematic], thats why they are in this business !! If you write they will just look at you as 'hooked' and send even more rubbish in the hope that you fold. They prey on the unknowing and weak and responding to them makes them believe you may fold under the weight of all the rubbish they send.

[crem]

My OH is giving me grief as the car is registered in her name...

 

 

Even better!

 

The scamsters can only obtain the RKs details from the DVLA and as the your OH wasn't even driving, then they wil be writing (pointlessly) to the wrong person. Only the driver could ever possibly have entered into the "contract" when they parked, and therefore only the driver can be taken to court for this "breech". As they don't even know who was driving, and the RK is under no obligation to tell them, then they will be trying to take the wrong person to court and will fail.

 

They would fail for lots of other reasons too but this one is pretty cast iron.

[Mr Worried]

Even better!

 

The scamsters can only obtain the RKs details from the DVLA and as the your OH wasn't even driving, then they wil be writing (pointlessly) to the wrong person. Only the driver could ever possibly have entered into the "contract" when they parked, and therefore only the driver can be taken to court for this "breech". As they don't even know who was driving, and the RK is under no obligation to tell them, then they will be trying to take the wrong person to court and will fail.

 

They would fail for lots of other reasons too but this one is pretty cast iron.

 

Hey Crem they got me in the galleries shopping centre.All of the replys are very informative, nevertheless confusing, but I shall heed your advice and await their onslaught.

 

Cheers

 

Mr W

[crem]

I got my one and only PPC scamvoice in the Galleries also about June '08. It was Hadrian operating at the time I think. I didn't even get a 1st letter off them following their useless "PCN" so haven't had the fun of collecting their rubbish. Not that I ever intended giving them any money.

[letshelp]

.All of the replys are very informative, nevertheless confusing, but I shall heed your advice and await their onslaught.

Cheers

Mr W

What is confusing about 'ignore everything'?

Don't take them too seriously they rely on people panicking and paying, don't fall for it.

No chance of a bailiff turning up whatsoever.

regards

[pin1onu]

All of the replys are very informative, nevertheless confusing, but I shall heed your advice and await their onslaught.

Its simples really. This useful guide does a nice job of explaining some of the basic legalities:

 

FAQs - Private Parking Companies/Charges (everything you need to know)

 

All that said ignoring is the best policy.

[asmodeus]

They cannot send baliffs until they have taken it to court and won and neither can they touch your credit file and PPC's in general do not do court as it is not cost effective to lose.

 

PPC's specialise in deception, lying and mugging and nothing else so do not believe anything they send and do not reply to any of it.

 

Only thing that would need attention are properly served court documents complete with claim number and court seal. They are known to send out fake ones to try and hoodwink the unwary.

 

You will receive around three maybe four from the ppc gradually increasing in amount, followed by one or two from their Debt Collectors (PPC in disguise) followed by a couple from their solicitors warning of impending court action (also the PPC) followed by maybe a phone call or two. All are designed to look official and frighten you into paying.

 

Ignore all is the best appraoch and works well - read through the forum - and also from personal experience. Even when invited to take the matter to court they still refuse.

[68904]

Hi Real

 

Ignore them???? Mmmm I'd rather not? it says CIVIL PARKING CHARGE NOTICE.

 

And I have never defended a charge for parking before, so I am a bit nervous.

 

Mr W

 

It also says OXO on buses but you dont buy them from a bus.

Just listen to what you are being told, and ger on with your life.

These comics have got you where they want you, and you are falling for it big style.

Do not contact, do not pay, and do not fall for thier letters as they are just words on a bit of paper, which have no standing in law......

[DontPayPPCs]

[68904]

Ar recon thas dun a reight gud wi thi mug ol lad, ar bet thad see that ibarnsla markit ifin it wor up fer sale tha noz?

[lamma]

try this as well http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences/164651-problems-ppcs-face.html?highlight=problems+ppc+face