Hi,
The only time I have faced something like this was when I mistakenly parked in a contract space at Fort Dunlop, Birmingham. I wrote a letter explaining my mistake and the fine was cancelled.
I now find myself being threatened with Court action and ultimately a CCJ if I don't pay a PCN charge for "stopping" at Calder Park Estate in Wakefield on the 10th August 2017, somewhere I had never been before.
I was sent 3 photographs of me stopping for a total of 29 seconds opposite the turning into my client's car park where I had a reserved space for a meeting.
I wrote back and explained that the lid of my coffee (which I had just bought from Starbucks on the edge of the estate) had come off and covered me in scalding coffee.
It was unsafe at that time to drive on so I swung the car to the left to pull the hot clothes from my body.
If it hadn't been an emergency I had no reason to stop because I had a reserved space in my client's car park.
As you can imagine my appeal was rejected.
I then did a quick search on the internet and read that I should ignore any correspondence, which I did.
After reading more I believe that this has changed.
I have now received a Letter of Claim from BW Legal explaining that if I don't pay they have been instructed to take me to the County Court with an estimated claim fee:
Principal Debt + Initial Legal Costs £160.00
Estimated Interest £4.36
Estimated Court Fees £25.00
Estimated Solicitors Fees £50.00
Estimated Total £239.36
I need to either pay £160 or explain why I am not paying by the 5th April.
Apparently, the client is willing to enter into a payment arrangement which is affordable for my financial circumstances.
The £160 is made up of the principal balance - £100 plus £60 debt recovery costs.
If payment or a response is not received they will issue a County Court Claim.
In the envelope they have enclosed a reply form giving me several options/tick boxes:
I agree I owe the debt
I owe some of the debt but not all of it
I don't know whether I owe the debt
I dispute the debt (I can explain why in a separate document)
I will pay what I owe now
I will pay but need time to pay
I am getting or intend to get legal advice
And then another section where I can request documents from them e.g. a copy of the written contract for the debt.
As with everyone else on this site, I don't agree with the charge and it feels more like extortion.
Can anyone advise/help on what I should do next?
Thanks,