VCS PCN now DCA - ticket ref comes back with nothing

[DeathByParking]

Hi all,

 

First time here so please let me know if anything in this post should be changed.

 

Backstory:

I was in Bulgaria on business in June/July and had no knowledge of my PCN before leaving (turns out my mate moved my car out of his drive into the parking area for a couple hours where I received this PCN).

 

Upon arriving home I find two letters,

one being a final reminder sent mid June by VCS

and then a debt collection notice sent by ZZPS in mid July.

 

As I was out of the country and couldn't access my mail,

I had no idea any of this was happening in my absence

and had no chance to appeal the ticket in the allotted 28 days.

 

The ticket was for £100, to be reduced to £60 if paid within two weeks and is now at £160 due to the debt collection agency add on.

 

I haven't received any other letters regarding this claim.

 

What I've tried:

I have tried to go through the various appeals process,

but when searching my ticket ref on the provided websites (namely myparkingcharge.co.uk as noted at the bottom of the VCS letter and the IPC website itself) it comes back with nothing,

meaning that I couldn't have appealed it regardless.

 

I even tried POPLA, and they can't find the ticket either.

 

After contacting an ombudsman, they suggested to complain through the companies.

VCS said that it was to go through ZZPS as they now were in charge of the debt

 

, ZZPS replied as follows:

 

"We must inform you that you have now passed the time frame in which an appeal can be made as appeals can only be made within 28 days of the Parking Charge Notice being issued, our client maintains that all correspondence received has been actioned accordingly and that the correct procedure has been followed.

 

 

The balance of £160.00 remains payable on our systems, please refer to the back of our letter for the payment options available to you. In the absence of payment this matter will be referred to solicitors to resolve and further fees may be incurred."

 

What do I do?

If none of the appeals agencies even agree that the reference number matches any ticket, has a ticket even been issued against me?

 

The collectors are refusing to provide evidence.

I am not exactly inclined to pay this "debt" until the relevant parties prove their claim.

Any advice would be appreciated as I feel like I'm about to get strong armed out of £160

 

Attached are the letters received, along with the website response when I search the reference. Personal info along with refs blacked out for obvious reasons.

[honeybee13]

Hello and welcome to CAG. The parking forum regulars should be along later with advice for you.

 

My first thought is that if ZZPS are involved, you're heading towards the end of the road. If you search the forum, there are lots of threads about ZZPS and I'm pretty sure that nobody has paid. Please wait for the guys to arrive, they can tell you more.

 

Best, HB

[dx100uk]

What date was the offence?

DCA's are not bailiffs

[dx100uk]

Can you upload as PDF please

[lookinforinfo]

Wouldn't worry about it. It will never stand up in Court because under POFA S4 [5] only the sum stated in the NTK can be claimed. So the Notice Board contains an unlawful statement when it says that their Debt collector can add £60 to the charge. That makes the whole contract void.

[DeathByParking]

Thank you for the response lookinforinfo, that's incredibly interesting and makes me feel a lot better.

The date of the offense was 11/05/17 apparently, here are pdfs

PCNpng.pdf

ZZPSpng.pdf

ParkingTicketNotFoundEDIT.pdf

Edited August 4, 2017 by DeathByParking

[DeathByParking]

Hi again,

 

Unfortunately this has once again reared it's ugly head

- I have now received a letter from the illustrious offices of Wright and Hassall, acting as solicitors in this case.

 

They are threatening court action through CCJ on behalf of ZZPS,

any advice on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

It's worth noting that although the letter is dated 18.08.17, I received it on 4.9.17 - not entirely sure why.

 

I have attached the letter with identifying information redacted, should I respond or wait for a court summons?

Many thanks

SolicitorLetter.pdf

[dx100uk]

how many times does it say MAY???

 

 

ignore

they cant do court for ZZPS

read it properly

only the PPC can take you to court not some powerless DCA or their supposed solicitor

its actually all come from the same printer in the same porta cabin.

[DeathByParking]

Thanks for that, I had noticed the use of "may" over and over but I'm not practiced enough to fully understand the ramifications here (something I am sure they are playing on). I shall ignore the threat

[Bazooka Boo]

All DCA's and their tame sols play on a debtors lack of knowledge, you're not the first, and you certainly won't be the last.

 

It's usually when those of us are backed into a corner and feeling conned, do we then research our rights and any laws surrounding our circumstances.

[ericsbrother]

it is not just a parking matter

, it is knowing a bit about the rights or lack of them when it comes to people writing letters on someone else's behalf

 

. If Sid owes you £50

I cant sue Sid to force him to pay me so I can give you the money if I feel like it.

 

I can write to Sid on your behalf but I have no interest in the debt so he doesn't have to take the slightest bit of notice to anything I say and certainly wont owe me any money.

 

That should also answer any questions about the legality of adding £60 admin fees for their letter.

 

Sid hasn't agreed to pay me anything when you lent him the £50 and the same applies here

The same is true for right hassle and ZZPS.

 

Neither of them have any interest so RH telling you to pay ZZPS is utterly stupid

, if you wished to waste your life and a good few stamps you could ask them about this contractual relationship and how their scribbles fit in with contract law as you are doing 'A' level law and don't want to fail just because you copied their twaddle.