2011 VCS Private parking charge - now BW letter

[Emz87]

Hi,

Would really appreciate some advise before my next step.

 

A few months go I started receiving letters about parking charge i received from VCS from 2011 I had long ago forgotten about.

 

 

I ignored the first few until I received one from BW Legal.

 

 

After looking through threads on this forum I sent them a one line letter claiming I didn't know who the driver was at the time.

 

 

Today I have received another letter from BW acknowledging my letter but also saying

" we confirm that in the absence of driver details we are instructed to pursue you for payment of the outstanding balance"

 

From reading through this forum am I right in thinking they are very wrong with it being before the 2012?

 

I am thinking my next step should be to reply to BW stating this ?

 

Any advice on what to do next would be great.

 

Thank you in advance.

 

Emz

[dx100uk]

quite correct

you now ignore them.

 

 

unless or until you get a claim form

[silverfox1961]

Hi

Agree with DX. What you do need to be aware of is that around the time of the event, VCS (and sister company Excel) were members of the BPA. In early 2015, they moved to the IPC and will base any claim on who they are with now. They shouldn't be doing this.

 

At the date of the event (2011) PoFA was not in place meaning that ONLY the driver could be pursued, not the keeper. With them stating that they are going after the keeper will not wash.

 

If they think this will scare you into paying, they are sadly wrong.

 

If court papers do arrive, I would mention that this case could be seen as vexatious as they knew they couldn't take any action. If the judge agreed, he may allow LiP costs against VCS which could cost them dear.

[Emz87]

Thank you so much silver and DX. Not a chance are they gonna scare me into paying. I will sit tight.

 

Emz

[ericsbrother]

agree with the above comments,

it all smacks of desperation and greed,

they know that they have no chance of winning a defended claim

so hope that you are scared into paying them.

 

As a decent percentage of people either pay up or ignore it to the point they geta default CCJ then it is worth them trying it on.

 

Now you have made them aware that you are not burying your head in the sand they know that chasing you will cost them money so they will probably now go quiet again.

 

Also, note the wording of their response

- they say instructed to pursue you, not take legal action on behalf of their client

so you may read this as they are for some reason going to harass you and then blame their customer if you complain.

 

Well, I would keep that letter safe for the moment and use it a evidence to the SRA should they continue to write to you.

 

They are not ignorant of the law, they are solicitors for god's sake.

[Emz87]

Thanks erics. Yes I will keep the letter safe and wait for what rubbish scare tactics they are going to try next !!

 

Emz

 

Do you think I should reply to BW just to stress that I am aware of PoFA and that I will be defending any claim if made ? I am just thinking this would shut them up and stop them from even trying to claim.

 

Thanks Emz

[ericsbrother]

no, any further correspondence will look like weakness and may come back to bite you. They know what is waht, at the moment they dont know what you know and they will have to risk their money to find out. Continue playing letter tennis and they get to know your limitations for free.

[Emz87]

Ok thanks

 

Emz