£5000+ PCN, 35 unpaid tickets over 2 year period from UKPC

[kyman595]

Hello Guys,

 

I'm new here and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Over the past 2 years i have received around 35 parking tickets from UKPC, the majority of which have been issued in my work place office car park. So far i have not replied and ignored any correspondence from UKPC and their debt collection agency.

 

Previously they have been sending all 'debt' letters separately but in July 2018 the debt collection agency have issued me with a letter accumulating the full amount (£5000+) and stating 35 tickets have been issued and that if i don't reply by 08/08/18 they will inform their 'client' to take legal action. It is now 23/08 and nothing has happened.

 

While most people online tell you to simple ignore them as speaking to them in any capacity makes you agree to their 'terms' and by ignoring them they have no power, i have since had a colleague in the same situation for a smaller amount £1500 had a CCJ taken out against his name and his car clamped!

 

This has now panicked me a tad bit and want to resolve the issue ASAP!

 

I can think of two options and would like to know what is best or if you guys have any other advice for me.

1). Call UKPC and negotiate to pay half the amount over the period of a year, or something. Saying i was not the driver (cannot give driver details as i don't know who was driving on the given dates) but would like to settle the issue regardless, not accepting fault but wanting to settle this none the less. Do you think it is likely they would agree to these terms? Also how on earth do i get into contact with a person at UKPC as they have no number and hard to find someone to get into contact with! I don't want to go through the number provided on the debt collector as i assume they have no power and will request the full amount.

 

2). As i said the majority of tickets were issued at my place of work, if i am able to get a email on a headed page or headed paper from the building manager/security guard who is employed by the property management company who look after our office, who i assume engage UKPC, saying that there was an issue with my permit and that i shouldn't have received the tickets (along the lines of this) then forward this to UKPC. Again i have the issue of trying to contact someone at UKPC and then i can say i will pay any other tickets issued at another location but i want may void any of the ones issued at my place of work.

 

Sorry for the lengthy post but quite a large amount of money of which i neither want to or can afford to pay. Is there any advice you guys could give me about what to do and how to get hold of a person at UKPC.

 

Many thanks,

 

Kyman595

[UKDomains]

Only advice I can give is probably to keep everything in writing if you do contact them. Never a good idea to phone.

 

Others with more knowledge will advise soon.

[mch1991]

Ignoring was a terrible idea, on what planet does "speaking to them is accepting their terms"?

 

You accepted their terms when a contract was made when you parked your vehicle on private land, the contract was entered into by way of your performance (parking and remaining on the land in question), the terms of this agreement were set out and communicated via the signage.

 

UKPC are litigious, and for the amount you claim is owed, will almost certainly issue a claim against you shortly, the fact that you've ignored 35 tickets will go down like a lead balloon in court.

 

In response to your numbered points, having actively fought parking companies;

 

1. I cannot see them accepting half, and I certainly cannot see them allowing you to pay it off over a year. The drivers identity in cases like this isn't relevant, when you have 35 tickets, a court will most likely find on the balance of probability that you were driving on all occasions (as per a case in Scotland where a lady found herself with a £25k judgment). Assuming UKPC are using Debt Recovery Plus, then you are correct in that DRP have no power.

 

2. If you had consent to park, then you need to get this in writing and be ready to send UKPC a letter outlining this asap.

[kyman595]

Hello mch1991,

 

Thanks for your response and yes can see now this was a bad idea.

 

Point 2 i can do and am getting a letter tomorrow from the building secuirty desk guy along the lines of ' Vehicle reg:XXXXXXX had permission to park on property: X from X to X period' Would this suffice and or would you recommend i get any more info? Also my issue is who to speak to, is it best just to email UKPC with this information or speak to the debt recovery people regarding this?

 

Many thanks

 

Kyman 595

[dx100uk]

read the letter properly

 

it doesn't say inform it says may and instruct.

 

I can instruct my dog to sit

if it does is a totally diff matter

 

getting that letter off to UKPCM [NOT EMAIL]

 

ignore the DCA

they are NOT BAILIFFS

and have

ZERO legal powers to anything

[mch1991]

Communicate to UKPC by post, so everything is in writing.

 

That's a start, send UKPC a copy showing that the landowner/leaseholder granted you the authorisation to park,

 

UKPC signage will be forbidding in that it doesn't offer a genuine service to those who park without a permit, essentially bringing the contract into question as per PCM UK Ltd vs Christopher Bull and 2 others 2016 and UKPC vs Sean Masterson 2016.

[kyman595]

that is helpful to know.

 

But how do i resolve the issue, you guys seem to know your stuff.

 

How would you start this process?

 

Write a letter to UKPC stating i did in fact have authorisation to park my vehicle and that any PCN's should be dropped that were issued in that property and that any other PCN's i would be happy to settle immediately?

 

Could anyone offer a helping hand with a letter template of some sorts to start this process off, how to word ect?

 

I really don't want to go to court....

Edited August 23, 2018 by kyman595

[dx100uk]

takeout the works ones for now, I think they can be sorted by the letter

 

what others do you have?

[kyman595]

Okay just to clarify i am send a letter to UKPC stating i had in fact permission by the landlord of the property to park please find attached document from a representative and employee of the property management company that speak on the landlords behalf?

Something along those lines?

 

(sorry i'm very bad with legal things! only 20 years of age and my first run in with this sort of thing!)

From what you saying your confident they will drop these? (my main concern as this amounts to around 75%+ of the tickets)

 

With the other PCN's were when i parked in an half abandoned office block opposite, ran but UKPC as well.

I don't know if i have any defence with these as i just parked there.

To be fair the signs are very old and the back side of the building abandoned (broken glass ect).

 

I know a 'ticket issuer' (if thats what they're called lol) that works for UKPC (brought him a few coffee's in the winter months when i saw him, so he likes me). Would he be of any help, i assume the foot soldiers have no power but is it worth an ask?

Edited August 23, 2018 by kyman595

[dx100uk]

sounds like the others aren't enforceable either then.

there's probably no contract with whom OWNS the land anyway if its derelict.

were these windscreen tickets too?

 

yes a simple letter from the employers of UKPC that you have and have always had permission to park there is all you need

[kyman595]

I say half abandoned as some of the office is still in use. it is a busy office street so i would assume all the land is owned in some way or the other.

 

Is there anyway to check this at all?

 

These are all windscreen tickets yes.

If there is a way out of these also i would be grateful to know.

 

Sorry just so i understand the last part..... do you mean an employee of UKPC (ie ticket issuer/warden)?? or do you mean a letter from the property management of my office building?

 

Essentially there is a building at the front and another at the back, the back one is abandoned and boarded up.

Debris and glass in the car park.

 

Is there anyway to check this at all or request from UKPC who they hold the contract for the land with?

 

I would assume (probably wrongly it looks) that UKPC wouldn't just chuck signs on random walls and in force parking charges where no one has asked them to.

[dx100uk]

I would assume (probably wrongly it looks) that UKPC wouldn't just chuck signs on random walls and in force parking charges where no one has asked them to.

 

 

now that does show how green you are ...yes 1000's of places still have signs up whereby there is no current contract with the LAND OWNER for UKPC [and alike] to manage carparking!!

 

 

local council website planning debt will tell you who owns the land.

 

 

as for the letter

if you works/whomever issue the permits to park to their workers then they can equally get any tickets cancelled so get a letter from them

[kyman595]

Oh okay, ill have a look into that then.

 

So if i can get a letter from the property management and even better a letter from their worker as well and send this then i should be golden.

 

Again i ask, please tell me if there is not or you cannot, but i have seen some posts with letter templates you can send to these pirates, would you have such a template?

 

Really appreciate all your help.

[dx100uk]

it wouldn't fit to your situation even if there was one.

[ericsbrother]

letter from DCA is meaningless and worthless so ignore them.

 

Now, you say MOST of the tickets are from work so my question is where are the others from?

They would be best dealt with as separate threads if they can be isolated easily.

 

Now, do you still have the tikcets ans NTK's that UKPC issued?

If you have then telling us about them in chronological order would be helpful along with the dates the NTK's were issued.

 

The person who got a CCJ and car clamped clearly igniored the court forms and then did nothing after judgement was granted, a position that you arent going to leave yourself in.

 

As already said UKPC probably signed a 1 year deal with someone at the site, you mention a property management co so most likely them.

this means there is no direct link to the landowner so the parking co cant actually claim a right to do anything in their own name.

 

This is called performamce of a contract and the textbook example is I offer to sell you London Bridge and that is perfectly legal to do so.

I then sue you for not buying it when you say you will and that is perfectly legal.

It only goes wrong when you ask for the deeds to the bridge and as I dont actually own it I cant perform my side of the contract and you can sue me.

 

Now this may sound odd that I can offer you somehting i dont own but it happens all the time in the city with short selling of shares where a person borrows shares and sells them to buy them back again at a lower price and then gives the shares back to the original owner.

 

Now there are risks involved in this and the same goes for UKPC,

they can carry on as they are but if you challenge them they are doomed to lose their claim because they dont have the right to be there.

As long as people pay up or dont challenge court claims these bandits will carry on making money when they have no right to ask for a penny.

 

So, things you can do in the meanwhile.

get pictures of the carpark where you work and ask your bosses to tell you what arrangements they have with landowner for parking

(if not with landowner then ask who with)

 

Also, is a permit scheme in place and if so who actually issues the permits?

employer, land agent or parking co.

That will all tell us a great deal of what we need to know to help you.

Edited August 24, 2018 by dx100uk
spacing

[kyman595]

to be honest i want to scare them off this so they don't send a court notice.

From what i know, the property management company contract UKPC to enforce parking,

so my idea of getting a letter from the property management giving me authorisation to park will hopefully get them to drop these.

 

This would me not to require them to provide deeds of the property ect?

Also how would i even go about this.

 

I have NO letters from UKPC (binned, silly me) when they send in a picture of the car with the date of 'offence' ect so i don't know which ones will have been issued at work or across the road.

 

All PCN's where issued from 02/16-01/18

 

I was thinking of sending a letter just saying:

'I have received PCN's from your company for parking 'offences' at the property X for vehicle reg X.

However these have been issued in error as i had authorisation to park here from X company who mangers the property X of which is my place of work.

 

Please can you confirm any and all PCN's issued at this property have been dropped/made void by writing.

If there are any other PCN's outstanding against vehicle reg X please send me a list of dates and the location of the supposed 'offence' so these can also be resolved quickly.

 

Then attach the letter from the property management company.

Edited August 24, 2018 by dx100uk
spacing

[kyman595]

i have received a letter this morning from SCS Law with each ticket and date shown and the location (in a table).

instead of £5000+ showing they are now telling me the total is £2500?

Below half what the Debt Recovery plus are asking for?

 

they are still directing me to the debt recovery stating i need to pay their CLIENT in full.

Debt recovery isn't their client???

and there is no number for the solicitors or UKPC on this letter.

Edited August 24, 2018 by dx100uk
spacing

[ericsbrother]

So the DCS has paid a lawyer to send you a threatogram.

That can be ignored the same way as the DCA letters.

 

Now concentarte on what you have been asked and tell us what you still have regarding these tickets and get us pictures of the signage and answer the questions about the landowner, your employer and any managing agents.

[kyman595]

Bank holiday weekend so i will find out more on Tuesday from work. Will catch up then.

 

Thanks guys speak Tuesday!

[mch1991]

i have received a letter this morning from SCS Law with each ticket and date shown and the location (in a table).

instead of £5000+ showing they are now telling me the total is £2500?

Below half what the Debt Recovery plus are asking for?

 

they are still directing me to the debt recovery stating i need to pay their CLIENT in full.

Debt recovery isn't their client???

and there is no number for the solicitors or UKPC on this letter.

 

SCS Law do regularly issue claims on behalf of UKPC, however if they're stating to pay DRP, then as above, ignore and focus on communication with UKPC.

 

I hate to say it, but for 35 tickets, I guarantee you that UKPC will issue a claim, it's a shame that you didn't respond to each one and obtain a POPLA code, it would've cost them £27 plus VAT per code.

 

You should also write to the DVLA requesting the dates of when UKPC requested your data, they must make a separate application each time.