Unauthorised Bay Use - Brighton

Did you receive this by post or e-mail?

The 'letter'says

Quote

Pay ... within three working days of the date of this e-mail.

If it came by post one would expect it to say 'of this letter'.
If it came by post was there a date on the post mark? Or was it delivered by hand?

I didn't spot that

It came by post, unsure whether hand delivered or not as I didn't keep the envelope. Foolishly, in hindsight

Legit, just managed badly?

Somebody who was very curious could use a PC they have no connection with in any way, definitely have no payment information in any "wallet" or auto fill and scan it.

I hadn't registered the point about "this email". That leaves an obvious question of how an email address was both obtained and picked.

Incompetence seems most likely.

If it's kosher, there will be a record on their website, so have a look, quoting your PCN Number and car reg. number

Quote from: Simon321456 on May 13, 2024, 12:33:23 pm

Legit, just managed badly?

Somebody who was very curious could use a PC they have no connection with in any way, definitely have no payment information in any "wallet" or auto fill and scan it.

I hadn't registered the point about "this email". That leaves an obvious question of how an email address was both obtained and picked.

Incompetence seems most likely.

And the fact that its a letter and not an email 

I'll give the scanning thing a whirl

If it's kosher, there will be a record on their website, so have a look, quoting your PCN Number and car reg. number

There is no PCN number, nor reference of a 'Penalty Charge Notice' anywhere and I'm damned if I'm giving them my car reg for something that has nothing to do with my poor car. They're already trying to charge my house, they're not bullying any more of my inanimate objects!

It states "if payment not received, an invoice will be raised" so I'm just gonna see if that happens and take it from there

I wonder if the council may be really trying it on by sending the letter to other adjacent properties as well, more in the hope that someone will fess up, enabling them to pursue it?

Interesting but their request for money is complete balls.

They have to take action under the TMA 2004 which leads to a fixed penalty notice after a request to clear the highway is ignored.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/part/5/crossheading/skips-scaffolding-building-materials-and-excavations-charges-for-occupation-of-highway-etc

Mike

Thinking about the way PCNs work (the council only get one go, and they have to serve it promptly), is there similarly a time limit for this legislation after which the council can no longer issue a FPN?

True, but it's merely a piece of correspondencec to a non legal person saying "hand over some cash or we'll send a random invoice to this address".

I think it would be useful to the OP to know when they are 'in the clear' because the council are too late to issue an FPN, partly for their peace of mind, and partly because anything the council tries after that can be countered with a request for a copy of a non-existent FPN.

UPDATE!!

I mentioned that I actually got TWO letters, one addressed to me but referencing a completely different address where the contravention occurred

I got a letter thru this morning, again not addressed to anyone but 'Whom it may concern' stating that the previous letter was sent in error and that there is no outstanding balance

So! A somewhat boring, if happy resolution. Apologies this kinda fizzled out 😁😁

I shall of course update it I get anything else, but this has to be the end of it, right? RIGHT?! 😅

OP---this Council watches these sites religiously. We have been faced with downloads of complete threads from Pepipoo when attending adjudication in the hope that the Council can sway the adjudicator.

They tried it on with that letter and got caught wanting.

I wonder how much money they have pocketed with that little scam?

Mike

OP---this Council watches these sites religiously. We have been faced with downloads of complete threads from Pepipoo when attending adjudication in the hope that the Council can sway the adjudicator.

They tried it on with that letter and got caught wanting.

I wonder how much money they have pocketed with that little scam?

Mike

That's absolutely disgusting

Half tempted to raise this with our local council rep, she's extremely responsive

But obviously, probably doesn't make sense to poke any bears

I'm just glad its not something I need to continue to worry about



Thanks again to all for your ultra helpful contributions in this thread, it certainly went a long way to putting my mind at ease. Much appreciated

I got a letter thru this morning, again not addressed to anyone but 'Whom it may concern' stating that the previous letter was sent in error and that there is no outstanding balance

Just checking..

A letter was received "to whom ...".

A further letter has been received, in effect cancelling that.

However, a further letter had previously heen received elsewhere (and passed on) which was addressed to "Mr Bloggs, some nearby address".  This seems to remain potentially outstanding.

Was this also requesting a payment and if so was it the same etc.