A pensioner says he’s been threatened with debt collectors for making a easy typo whereas paying a £5 parking payment at Heathrow Airport.
Pravin Kotecha, 66, made the error whereas dropping his spouse off in November – mistyping a single digit whereas inputting his automobile registration.
He was positive the web fee went by means of and says he obtained an e-mail from parking agency APCOA confirming it had been accepted.
However Pravin, from Thurmaston, Leicestershire, later travelled to India for a month and got here dwelling to search out two notices from the agency telling him he hadn’t paid.
He stated the corporate finally advised him he must pay a superb to settle the debt and later revealed that the matter had been handed to a debt collector.
Explaining how he checked the paperwork instantly and noticed his typing error, Pravin stated: ‘I despatched an e-mail to them that day, after I realised my small mistake, to elucidate.
‘However they didn’t reply. I put it right down to being so near Christmas and New Years, so I waited.’
Pravin despatched one other e-mail on January 7 and bought no response once more, however he continued to obtain letters from APCOA.
The agency warned him that an inflated cost, initially of £150 however later rising to £235, was now due.
Regardless of coming into the mistaken registration plate quantity, Pravin nonetheless had proof of fee from his checking account.
He stated: ‘I attempted to ask them the place the fee had gone. 4 weeks later they despatched one other letter so I replied once more and the subsequent time I used to be despatched a debt collector’s letter.’
The £150 cost had develop into £235 and Mr Kotecha nonetheless had no luck getting in contact with the parking firm.
As an alternative, he managed to talk with the debt collector and was in a position to clarify that he had been given no alternative to enchantment the preliminary cost.
‘I needed to problem this as a result of it makes you surprise how a lot these corporations are benefiting from individuals,’ he stated.
‘They'd no system for me to enchantment or verify my particulars earlier than I paid and so they haven’t responded to me.’
Pravin is now in contact with solicitors and is contemplating taking the matter to the small claims courtroom.
He was additionally suggested to supply to pay the total payment into an escrow account – a segregated account opened by the solicitors to carry the money till the 2 events can come to a contractual settlement.
He stated he’s put this to the debt collector, which he says continues to be ready for a response from APCOA.
The parking agency stated it ‘understands that keying in an incorrect automobile registration is a straightforward error to make’ and can ‘take that into consideration’.
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