Author Topic: G24 parking ticket - Argos Burnley 2020  (Read 565 times)

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G24 parking ticket - Argos Burnley 2020
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Hi,

My wife received a parking ticket at the Argos store car park back in lockdown, May 2020. She stopped on the car park to take a phone call for 16 mins, the Argos store was closed due to lockdown, G24 sent her a PCN in May 2020.

We appealed the charge as the store was closed but the IPA rejected it, no surprise there. We have then had Debt Recovery Plus and Zenith collections chasing us for payment all through 2020 and then in October 2020 the letters stopped and we thought that was the end of it. However December 2024 DCBL have started chasing us for payment.

The signage in the car park says that you can park for 60 mins and is for the exclusive use of customers whilst shopping at this site. The Argos store was closed for lockdown so she was unable to shop! The car park has steps at the rear leading to a higher level car park where there is an Asda and numerous other stores, Asda was open during this period of lockdown.

My defence was that the sign should have stated for the use of Argos only due to the access to other stores and that it should have been closed if there was a zero minute allowance?

Any thoughts on next steps as we've now received a Letter of Claim?

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Re: G24 parking ticket - Argos Burnley 2020
« Reply #1 on: »
Show us the letter of claim with personal information redacted.

Re: G24 parking ticket - Argos Burnley 2020
« Reply #2 on: »
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Re: G24 parking ticket - Argos Burnley 2020
« Reply #3 on: »
The good news is this will likely never go to a hearing.

For now, respond to the LoC as follows:

Quote
Dear Sirs,

Re: Letter of Claim dated [Date]

I refer to your Letter of Claim.

I confirm that my address for service at this time is as follows:

[YOUR ADDRESS]

Please note that the alleged debt is disputed, and any court proceedings will be robustly defended.

I note that the sum claimed has been increased by an excessive and unjustifiable amount, which appears contrary to the principles established by the Government, who described such practices as “extorting money from motorists.” Please refrain from sending boilerplate responses or justifications regarding this issue.

Under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims, I require specific answers to the following questions:

1. Does the additional £70 represent what you describe as a “Debt Recovery” fee? If so, is this figure net of or inclusive of VAT? If inclusive, I trust you will explain why I, as the alleged debtor, am being asked to cover your client’s VAT liability.

2. Regarding the principal sum of the alleged Parking Charge Notice (PCN): Is this being claimed as damages for breach of contract, or will it be pleaded as consideration for a purported parking contract?

I would caution you against simply dismissing these questions with vague or boilerplate responses, as I am fully aware of the implications. By claiming that PCNs are exempt from VAT while simultaneously inflating the debt recovery element, your client – with your assistance – appears to be evading VAT obligations due to HMRC. Such mendacious conduct raises serious questions about the legality and ethics of your practices.

I strongly advise your client to cease and desist. Should this matter proceed to court, you can be assured that these issues will be brought to the court’s attention, alongside a robust defence and potentially a counterclaim for unreasonable conduct.

Yours faithfully,


[YOUR NAME]

Send it to info@dcblegal.co.uk and CC in yourself.

If/when you receive a claim form, come back and the good folks around here will help you file your AoS and defence.

Re: G24 parking ticket - Argos Burnley 2020
« Reply #4 on: »
Thank you, I'll let you know how I get on