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I am being harassed by Town and City Parking over a car that I don't own - what should I do?
You say that Parking Eye is the company about whom you receive the most complaints.
How about TCP (Town and City) Parking? These people are based in Perth and they bombard me on a daily basis. Today, only two envelopes. Yesterday, I had nine, one of which was the rejection of my telling them I do not own a Mercedes-Benz G113GGW. I am not sure how many demands letters there are for this vehicle, but there are also two from their solicitors Messrs. Whyte & Co.
I have written twice to TCP telling them I have never owned a Mercedes, but they state the DVLA confirm I do. I wrote to the DVLA, Sensitive Care Work Dept., Swansea SA99 1ZZ, but to date have not had a reply. My wife phoned them Thursday last, and spoke with a helpful lady there who said they had my letter and would reply by post in a "few days", stating that I am not the registered owner of the vehicle concerned. Of course they do not say who is, as I have not paid the fee. TCP insist I am the owner and state that DVLA have said I am and continue to bombard me with allegations.
The only contact I have ever had with this company is a parking ticket on my wife's Fiat Punto, which I parked in an unmarked area at the local Coop store on 30 April for 20 minutes. I told TCP there were no notices anywhere in the car park that cars had to be parked in the designated marked out spaces. After a few days TCP sent a short note stating they would cancel the penalty. The next thing was the commencement of the deluge of allegations about the Mercedes G113 GGW. I now have a pile of papers from them and Whyte & Co. solicitors, people, well over half an inch thick.
I am not sure whether to go to the police or involve a solicitor, whose fees I would have to pay of course. Have you any suggestions how to stop these people who are saying I have committed at least five offences at the same supermarket in Brighton, on different days, which I have never been to? Their phone is automated reply and one can't speak with a human being, as is their solicitors.
How about TCP (Town and City) Parking? These people are based in Perth and they bombard me on a daily basis. Today, only two envelopes. Yesterday, I had nine, one of which was the rejection of my telling them I do not own a Mercedes-Benz G113GGW. I am not sure how many demands letters there are for this vehicle, but there are also two from their solicitors Messrs. Whyte & Co.
I have written twice to TCP telling them I have never owned a Mercedes, but they state the DVLA confirm I do. I wrote to the DVLA, Sensitive Care Work Dept., Swansea SA99 1ZZ, but to date have not had a reply. My wife phoned them Thursday last, and spoke with a helpful lady there who said they had my letter and would reply by post in a "few days", stating that I am not the registered owner of the vehicle concerned. Of course they do not say who is, as I have not paid the fee. TCP insist I am the owner and state that DVLA have said I am and continue to bombard me with allegations.
The only contact I have ever had with this company is a parking ticket on my wife's Fiat Punto, which I parked in an unmarked area at the local Coop store on 30 April for 20 minutes. I told TCP there were no notices anywhere in the car park that cars had to be parked in the designated marked out spaces. After a few days TCP sent a short note stating they would cancel the penalty. The next thing was the commencement of the deluge of allegations about the Mercedes G113 GGW. I now have a pile of papers from them and Whyte & Co. solicitors, people, well over half an inch thick.
I am not sure whether to go to the police or involve a solicitor, whose fees I would have to pay of course. Have you any suggestions how to stop these people who are saying I have committed at least five offences at the same supermarket in Brighton, on different days, which I have never been to? Their phone is automated reply and one can't speak with a human being, as is their solicitors.
Asked on 18 August 2012 by DO, Shoreham by Sea
Answered by
Honest John
Threaten to sue them for the damages this is causing you, citing the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and also report them to the Crown Prosecution Service for attempted fraud. From 1 October these disgracefully negligent and inefficient bullies will have new powers to sue registered keepers of vehicles for any breaches of parking contracts they may choose to cook up. There will be an independent appeals process that does not involve the courts system but it remains to be seen how effective or how useless this will be.
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