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    • further polished WS using above suggestions and also included couple of more modifications highlighted in orange are those ok to include?   Background   1.1  The Defendant received the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) on the 06th of January 2020 following the vehicle being parked at Arla Old Dairy, South Ruislip on the 05th of December 2019.   Unfair PCN   2.1  On 19th December 2023 the Defendant sent the Claimant's solicitors a CPR request.  As shown in Exhibit 1 (pages 7-13) sent by the solicitors the signage displayed in their evidence clearly shows a £60.00 parking charge notice (which will be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days of issue).  2.2  Yet the PCN sent by the Claimant is for a £100.00 parking charge notice (reduced to £60 if paid within 30 days of issue).   2.3        The Claimant relies on signage to create a contract.  It is unlawful for the Claimant to write that the charge is £60 on their signs and then send demands for £100.    2.4        The unlawful £100 charge is also the basis for the Claimant's Particulars of Claim.  No Locus Standi  3.1  I do not believe a contract with the landowner, that is provided following the defendant’s CPR request, gives MET Parking Services a right to bring claims in their own name. Definition of “Relevant contract” from the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4,  2 [1] means a contract Including a contract arising only when the vehicle was parked on the relevant land between the driver and a person who is-   (a) the owner or occupier of the land; or   (b) Authorised, under or by virtue of arrangements made by the owner or occupier of the land, to enter into a contract with the driver requiring the payment of parking charges in respect of the parking of the vehicle on the land. According to https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/44   For a contract to be valid, it requires a director from each company to sign and then two independent witnesses must confirm those signatures.   3.2  The Defendant requested to see such a contract in the CPR request.  The fact that no contract has been produced with the witness signatures present means the contract has not been validly executed. Therefore, there can be no contract established between MET Parking Services and the motorist. Even if “Parking in Electric Bay” could form a contract (which it cannot), it is immaterial. There is no valid contract.  Illegal Conduct – No Contract Formed   4.1 At the time of writing, the Claimant has failed to provide the following, in response to the CPR request from myself.   4.2        The legal contract between the Claimant and the landowner (which in this case is Standard Life Investments UK) to provide evidence that there is an agreement in place with landowner with the necessary authority to issue parking charge notices and to pursue payment by means of litigation.   4.3 Proof of planning permission granted for signage etc under the Town and country Planning Act 1990. Lack of planning permission is a criminal offence under this Act and no contract can be formed where criminality is involved.   4.4        I also do not believe the claimant possesses these documents.   No Keeper Liability   5.1        The defendant was not the driver at the time and date mentioned in the PCN and the claimant has not established keeper liability under schedule 4 of the PoFA 2012. In this matter, the defendant puts it to the claimant to produce strict proof as to who was driving at the time.   5.2 The claimant in their Notice To Keeper also failed to comply with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4 section 9[2][f] while mentioning “the right to recover from the keeper so much of that parking charge as remains unpaid” where they did not include statement “(if all the applicable conditions under this Schedule are met)”.     5.3         The claimant did not mention parking period, times on the photographs are separate from the PCN and in any case are that arrival and departure times not the parking period since their times include driving to and from the parking space as a minimum and can include extra time to allow pedestrians and other vehicles to pass in front.    Protection of Freedoms Act 2012   The notice must -   (a) specify the vehicle, the relevant land on which it was parked and the period of parking to which the notice relates;  22. In the persuasive judgement K4GF167G - Premier Park Ltd v Mr Mathur - Horsham County Court – 5 January 2024 it was on this very point that the judge dismissed this claim.  5.4  A the PCN does not comply with the Act the Defendant as keeper is not liable.  No Breach of Contract   6.1       No breach of contract occurred because the PCN and contract provided as part of the defendant’s CPR request shows different post code, PCN shows HA4 0EY while contract shows HA4 0FY. According to PCN defendant parked on HA4 0EY which does not appear to be subject to the postcode covered by the contract.  6.2         The entrance sign does not mention anything about there being other terms inside the car park so does not offer a contract which makes it only an offer to treat,  Interest  7.1  It is unreasonable for the Claimant to delay litigation for  Double Recovery   7.2  The claim is littered with made-up charges.  7.3  As noted above, the Claimant's signs state a £60 charge yet their PCN is for £100.  7.4  As well as the £100 parking charge, the Claimant seeks recovery of an additional £70.  This is simply a poor attempt to circumvent the legal costs cap at small claims.  7.5 Since 2019, many County Courts have considered claims in excess of £100 to be an abuse of process leading to them being struck out ab initio. An example, in the Caernarfon Court in VCS v Davies, case No. FTQZ4W28 on 4th September 2019, District Judge Jones-Evans stated “Upon it being recorded that District Judge Jones- Evans has over a very significant period of time warned advocates (...) in many cases of this nature before this court that their claim for £60 is unenforceable in law and is an abuse of process and is nothing more than a poor attempt to go behind the decision of the Supreme Court v Beavis which inter alia decided that a figure of £160 as a global sum claimed in this case would be a penalty and not a genuine pre-estimate of loss and therefore unenforceable in law and if the practice continued, he would treat all cases as a claim for £160 and therefore a penalty and unenforceable in law it is hereby declared (…) the claim is struck out and declared to be wholly without merit and an abuse of process.”  7.6 In Claim Nos. F0DP806M and F0DP201T, District Judge Taylor echoed earlier General Judgment or Orders of District Judge Grand, stating ''It is ordered that the claim is struck out as an abuse of process. The claim contains a substantial charge additional to the parking charge which it is alleged the Defendant contracted to pay. This additional charge is not recoverabl15e under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 nor with reference to the judgment in Parking Eye v Beavis. It is an abuse of process from the Claimant to issue a knowingly inflated claim for an additional sum which it is not entitled to recover. This order has been made by the court of its own initiative without a hearing pursuant to CPR Rule 3.3(4)) of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998...''  7.7 In the persuasive case of G4QZ465V - Excel Parking Services Ltd v Wilkinson – Bradford County Court -2 July 2020 (Exhibit 4) the judge had decided that Excel had won. However, due to Excel adding on the £60 the Judge dismissed the case.  7.8        The addition of costs not previously specified on signage are also in breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Schedule 2, specifically paras 6, 10 and 14.   7.9        It is the Defendant’s position that the Claimant in this case has knowingly submitted inflated costs and thus the entire claim should be similarly struck out in accordance with Civil Procedure Rule 3.3(4).   In Conclusion   8.1        I invite the court to dismiss the claim.  Statement of Truth  I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.   
    • Well the difference is that in all our other cases It was Kev who was trying to entrap the motorist so sticking two fingers up to him and daring him to try court was from a position of strength. In your case, sorry, you made a mistake so you're not in the position of strength.  I've looked on Google Maps and the signs are few & far between as per Kev's MO, but there is an entrance sign saying "Pay & Display" (and you've admitted in writing that you knew you had to pay) and the signs by the payment machines do say "Sea View Car Park" (and you've admitted in writing you paid the wrong car park ... and maybe outed yourself as the driver). Something I missed in my previous post is that the LoC is only for one ticket, not two. Sorry, but it's impossible to definitively advise what to so. Personally I'd probably gamble on Kev being a serial bottler of court and reply with a snotty letter ridiculing the signage (given you mentioned the signage in your appeal) - but it is a gamble.  
    • No! What has happened is that your pix were up-to-date: 5 hours' maximum stay and £100 PCN. The lazy solicitors have sent ancient pictures: 4 hours' maximum stay and £60 PCN. Don't let on!  Let them be hoisted by their own lazy petard in the court hearing (if they don't bottle before).
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Complaining when harassed by a DCA


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I started receiving letters from a DCA, saying I hadn't kept up with my agreed repayment plan and that I had to phone them, etc.

 

I replied, saying that on the contrary, I HAD kept to the plan and that I viewed their correspondence as personally distressing and invoiced them for distress caused, plus costs.

 

They refused to pay the invoice and still denied I had a repayment plan. As luck would have it, their printer monkeys (just the next day) wrote, saying,

 

"Dear Halibutt,

 

Thank you for maintaining payments in accordance with your agreed arrangement. The arrangement period is due to expire within 30 days (of xx/xx/xx) and we require new proposals from you to repay the balance remaining on your account.”

 

 

So, the reason I'm posting this is to show that it is possible to get results and give an example of the way I went about it - for anyone else wishing to take action in similar circumstances, the following is the last letter I wrote to them:

 

 

By Royal Mail Recorded Delivery

 

 

Dear Mr xxxxxxx,

 

Account Number: 123456789

 

I refer to your letter, dated xx/xx/xx and your erroneous assertion that I currently have no current agreed repayment plan with your company regarding the above account.

I quote directly from the letter received from Mr. xxxxxxx, Manager, (DCA), dated xx/xx/xx (copy enclosed for your convenience) which very clearly states:

 

“Thank you for maintaining payments in accordance with your agreed arrangement.

The arrangement period is due to expire within 30 days (of xx/xx/xx) and we require new proposals from you to repay the balance remaining on your account.”

 

Accordingly, I reiterate my assertion that either your company has failed in your written commitment to adequately monitor the above account as assured by Mr. xxxxxx in his letter of xx/xx/xx, or that you are following a deliberately vexatious course of action, disregarding my best and honest attempts to maintain my repayment plan as agreed, in direct contravention of OFT and FSO guidelines. Your letter of xx/xx/xx suggests the latter.

 

I also note your current reluctance to reconcile the invoice included in my letter of xx/xx/xx, detailing my genuine claim for undue personal distress, plus expenses incurred due to formulating and sending responses to your erroneous and unnecessarily distressing correspondence.

 

I trust that in light of your company’s previous correspondence and Mr. xxxxxx’s subsequent letter, that you will acknowledge that you have failed in your duty to fulfil your obligations in this matter under current regulation and regulatory bodies’ guidelines.

 

As a result of this, the amount outstanding from my previous invoice, in addition to charges for this letter and the enclosed documents is now £xx.xx

 

A full breakdown of the above amount is clearly set out in the enclosed invoice and accordingly, I will expect your remittance by cheque(s) to the above address within the time limits outlined.

 

As previously advised, any further correspondence necessitated in this matter that is not directly in relation to reasonable repayment arrangement requests or agreements, excepting any request(s) for a receipt for your remittance(s) for the enclosed invoice(s), will be charged at similar rates.

 

As a gesture of goodwill, no interest will be charged on the amount(s) outstanding, however, I reserve the right to add charges for late payments at a rate of £12 per invoice per 28 day period, in the unfortunate event that this should become necessary due to non-payment.

 

I would, of course, prefer to settle this situation amicably, but reserve the right to take this matter further with the OFT, Trading Standards, FOS and possible Small Claims Court action, submitting all relevant correspondence and proof of expenses, as may be necessary in the prosecution of a claim.

 

I will be responding appropriately to Mr. xxxxxx within the timescale he outlines in his letter of xx/xx/xx, to agree the continuance of a mutually satisfactory repayment plan.

 

Yours sincerely,

Halibutt

 

 

Invoice For Amounts Owed

 

RE: Account Number 123456789

 

 

xx/xx/xx - Remittance due by xx/xx/xx

 

Compensation for undue distress/time taken to formulate response/compose reply

@ £25 per hour - 1 hour, xx/xx/xx

 

£25.00

 

 

Postage cost - Royal Mail Recorded Delivery x 1

£01.35

 

 

Printing cost per A4 sheet x 2 @ 15p per sheet

£00.30

 

 

Photocopying costs per A4 sheet x 2 @ 10p per sheet

£00.20

 

 

Total:

£26.85

 

 

 

xx/xx/xx - Remittance due by xx/xx/xx

 

Compensation for undue distress/time taken to formulate response/compose reply

@ £25 per hour - 2 hours, xx/xx/xx

 

£50.00

 

 

Postage cost - Royal Mail Recorded Delivery x 1

£01.35

 

 

Printing cost per A4 sheet x 3 @ 15p per sheet

£00.45

 

 

Photocopying costs per A4 sheet x 2 @ 10p per sheet

£00.20

 

 

Total:

£52.00

 

 

 

 

 

Current Amount Owed:

 

 

£78.85

 

 

Your remittance(s) should be forwarded by cheque(s) made payable to Halibutt at the above address, by the “due by” dates stated.

 

Please note that I reserve the right to add a late payment fee of £12 per 28 day period per invoice at my discretion.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

 

I look forward to your timely settlement of this invoice.

 

 

Halibutt

 

 

The response was an apology and a cheque for £50 as a "good will gesture".

 

 

So, a reasonably worded complaint, backed up with irrefutable evidence can sometimes get results, even from DCAs.

I've not identified the DCA involved - simply because they actually did resolve the matter to my satisfaction, especially considering that I'm paying £1 a month, so they've covered my next four years' payments - should I still find myself in difficulties (I hope not).

 

Anyway, I hope this post might help anyone dealing with less scrupulous DCAs.

 

H. x

Edited by Halibutt

 

 

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Cheers guys. I think it's worth highlighting that I claimed for "Undue distress" as advised in a previous CAG thread, where the judge suggested that it would be the best way forward in a compensation claim, rather than emphasising costs.

 

So thanks to the original CAG poster (sorry, can't remember who that was now).

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Could do Sillygirl, put I didn't want to push it. However, just had another printer-monkey letter from them saying "No agreement, blah blah" though they signed for my letter proposing repayments over a month ago and still haven't replied.

I feel another letter and invoice coming on.

 

If they don't get this sorted out as they've promised (in writing) on two occasions now, then I WILL be taking them to Small Claims Court.

 

 

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  • 2 months later...

It's a DCA working under the umbrella of iDem Servicing - a company that a few of us highlighted earlier this year when they took over Arden Credit Management.

 

They don't seem to be particularly organised and, as with many DCAs that I've had dealings with, they tend to send out computer generated letters as a matter of course, rather than examining the current state of the account/alleged debt owed.

 

As many advise here, if you DO wish to contact them by letter to resolve any problems, it's best to address the letter to a specific person. In these cases, I always send correspondence by Recorded Delivery, though you can simply request proof of posting from the post office.

 

 

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Hi everyone, I'm new to this site but registered after googling Arden to find out if other people had been having trouble with them, and to share my story and what I'm doing.

 

I had an arrangement with them (originally Mint loans) to make affordable repayments of £40 per month for 6 months. As soon as six months passed, I was contacted by phone demanding a review of my circumstances to see if the payments could be increased. I said everything was the same and I would continue to make the payments as before, and send out an updated (but very similar) income/expenditure statement because I didnt have all those details in my head, naturally.

 

From then on every day for about 10 days I got inundated wit phone calls asking for the same information, an average of 10 calls per day. I kept saying the information had been posted, but the calls still came. One staff member asked for a £10 'Holding Fee' which would stop the calls for a time, until my information was processed, and stupidly I paid this fee. I was told later this would not stop the calls.

 

Eventually the calls did stop, but only after telling them I was going to report them to the police for harrassment. I complained to Arden in writing about my treatment, and the holding fee - and had no reply at all.

 

After no reply to my written complaints after 8 weeks had passed, (and researching using internet!) I wrote to both the FSA and the OFT to complain about Arden. The FSA have just wrote back saying there is an approx. wait of 8 weeks till I hear from them again due to a large number of complaints. The office of fair trading do not investigate individual complaints, but do look into whether companies are fit an proper to hold a credit licence. So my complaint is now on their files and if there are several complaints they may investigate further.

 

That's basically my story so far. I would urge others in the same boat as me to complain in writing and hopefully get this disgraceful company closed down.

 

please start a new thread

 

see below

 

dx

please don't hit Quote...just type we know what we said earlier..

DCA's view debtors as suckers, marks and mugs

NO DCA has ANY legal powers whatsoever on ANY debt no matter what it's Type

and they

are NOT and can NEVER  be BAILIFFS. even if a debt has been to court..

If everyone stopped blindly paying DCA's Tomorrow, their industry would collapse overnight... 

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tvd has his own thread now. For anyone able to assist, please click on the link below.

 

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?358710-tvd-v-Arden

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Uploading documents to CAG ** Instructions **

Looking for a draft letter? Use the CAG Library

Dealing with Customer Service Departments? - read the CAG Guide first

1: Making a PPI claim ? - Q & A's and spreadsheets for single premium policy - HERE

2: Take back control of your finances - Debt Diaries

3: Feel Bullied by Creditors or Debt Collectors? Read Here

4: Staying Calm About Debt  Read Here

5: Forum rules - These have been updated - Please Read

BCOBS

1: How can BCOBS protect you from your Banks unfair treatment

2: Does your Bank play fair - You can force your Bank to play Fair with you

3: Banking Conduct of Business Regulations - The Hidden Rules

4: BCOBS and Unfair Treatment - Common Examples of Banks Behaving Badly

5: Fair Treatment for Credit Card Holders and Borrowers - COBS

Advice & opinions given by citizenb are personal, are not endorsed by Consumer Action Group or Bank Action Group, and are offered informally, without prejudice & without liability. Your decisions and actions are your own, and should you be in any doubt, you are advised to seek the opinion of a qualified professional.

PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO GIVE ADVICE BY PM - IF YOU PROVIDE A LINK TO YOUR THREAD THEN I WILL BE HAPPY TO OFFER ADVICE THERE:D

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I didnt think the FSA investigated individual complaints either ?

Have we helped you ...?         Please Donate button to the Consumer Action Group

Uploading documents to CAG ** Instructions **

Looking for a draft letter? Use the CAG Library

Dealing with Customer Service Departments? - read the CAG Guide first

1: Making a PPI claim ? - Q & A's and spreadsheets for single premium policy - HERE

2: Take back control of your finances - Debt Diaries

3: Feel Bullied by Creditors or Debt Collectors? Read Here

4: Staying Calm About Debt  Read Here

5: Forum rules - These have been updated - Please Read

BCOBS

1: How can BCOBS protect you from your Banks unfair treatment

2: Does your Bank play fair - You can force your Bank to play Fair with you

3: Banking Conduct of Business Regulations - The Hidden Rules

4: BCOBS and Unfair Treatment - Common Examples of Banks Behaving Badly

5: Fair Treatment for Credit Card Holders and Borrowers - COBS

Advice & opinions given by citizenb are personal, are not endorsed by Consumer Action Group or Bank Action Group, and are offered informally, without prejudice & without liability. Your decisions and actions are your own, and should you be in any doubt, you are advised to seek the opinion of a qualified professional.

PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME TO GIVE ADVICE BY PM - IF YOU PROVIDE A LINK TO YOUR THREAD THEN I WILL BE HAPPY TO OFFER ADVICE THERE:D

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I didnt think the FSA investigated individual complaints either ?

 

The meant the FOS. The FSA will not in 99.9% of cases investigate any individual complaints. But I believe that there are instances where they will, if the complaint is of a very serious nature. I presume that there will be cases where the FSA would have no choice, if they are supplied with evidence of serious breaches of regulatory rules.

We could do with some help from you.

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If you want advice on your thread please PM me a link to your thread

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I have been doing that Halibut with all mine for any correspondence needed. Only had one payment from Fred's/Argoose when they sent me someone else's CCA / Application form...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! At least it keep's them on there toes. Oh and as Sandanter would not refund me PPI for me Debenhams card I did the calculation and deducted it from me total, paid the balance off. They write now and again threatening all sorts but as I say, see you in court oh and £12. + the bit's and peices for paper stamp etc.... Might increase mine though to £25 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at the moment they owe me.

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]Happyhippy1959

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Well done but the next letter will probably state that they understand that your financial situation has improved so they are cancelling the agreed payment plan and could you please phone to arrange a new one :evil:

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