APPY-PPL issues scam

[Jean Oakley]

Im still getting letters from this company. Can anyone advise me? They say

I must advise you that a Claim Form has been submitted today to the County Court Business Centre.

Ive looked up this county court business centre and it also appears to be dodgy. Really spoilt my weekend (puppy-eyes) (puppy-eyes)

[David Hammond]

Never dealt with them. But personally I would ignore it.

Most of these scams rely on scremongering you into paying, and dont want the hassle of explaining their scam in front of a judge.

It’s been ongoing since May… why haven’t they issued court papers.

Some scammers will send a letter from a ‘debt recovery comapny’ which is connected to them, just another way to intimidate you into paying… solicitors on the other hand have rules to follow.

I’m no legal eagle but that’s my opinion.

Also did you actually receive the advertising?

[Kevin Flowers]

Jean, sorry think i’m going to upset your weekend some more, don’t think the court is dodgy, because it comes up on .GOV.UK site which is reserved for government bodies only

https://www.justice.gov.uk/courts/north … entre/ccbc

you will get a chance to defend it though if you think they have not provided the service you paid for

Kev

[David Hammond]

But have they actually done it? I thought there was a procedure you had to follow before issuing court papers.

You may wish to register on the Ukbusinessforums.co.uk the have a very active legal forum where someone with more experience on the legal front could advise better.

[Kevin Flowers]

David
there’s no order if someone owes you money you can file application online, court then sends out papers to the person who owes the money allowing you defend it if they do not respond a judgement will be entered against you. The County Court Business Centre has been set up to deal with this type of claim which is basically all paperwork based, it can be moved through a lot quicker although they observe time limits to respond etc

Kev

[Ewan Chrystal]

Have you actually seen your advert in the local takeaway menus?
Did the seller have a Liverpool accent by any chance? (nothing against scousers but they all had the accent)

I got caught out by this years ago, told me i was advertising on a year planner going out to local businesses. I received a year planner but no other businesses in my area knew anything about it, The following year they phoned for payment saying i had agreed to advertise. Ignored them and they went away eventually.
Occasionally get a similar call saying they are selling advertising space on year planners on behalf of the Police anti bullying campaign or kids cancer charity, when i decline they usually ask if i’m happy for kids to die of cancer or some other disgusting accusation.
I’d try citizens advice for info

[John Thomson]

quote Kevin Flowers:

David
there’s no order if someone owes you money you can file application online, court then sends out papers to the person who owes the money allowing you defend it if they do not respond a judgement will be entered against you. The County Court Business Centre has been set up to deal with this type of claim which is basically all paperwork based, it can be moved through a lot quicker although they observe time limits to respond etc

Kev

I may be wrong but believe that there is a strict timeline…..if someone does not follow it then you can ask for the case against you to be dismissed.

There has to be a final invoice issued detailing the full amount owed, then a minimum of 2 weeks later a final demand must be sent, then two weeks later a LBA ( letter before action) these would have to be signed for for a Court to accept that you had received them.

John

[Kevin Flowers]

John
I filed against a customer, never gave any more invoices other than the original sent only thing i sent them was a letter stating if the account was not settled then i would take legal action through county court, why would you send more than 1 invoice. Your terms state payment time once this as expired or the default is 30 days as set by the government and accepted by court. Interest was added on via the court papers as you do not have to issue an invoice for it but the percentage is governed by law, 8% above Bank of England base rate i believe

Kev,

[Jean Oakley]

Hi thanks for all your comments. Well claim forms have arrived today from County Court Bulk Centre. They are the same company who issue Claims for unpaid Parking fines. I think if i ignore them and don’t start any kind of dialogue then i am not entering into any kind of agreement with them. The claim form had a number on it but not sure that means much. The claimant has not signed the document it just has a typed name in the box. Kyle Bonar, looked him up seems he lives his life scamming people. Getting far too stressed about it all, but not paying for something that hasn’t even been printed yet.

[Gary Birch]

Hi
If it is bothering you why not consider joining the Federation of Small Businesses. One of the benefits is that of free legal advice, have never used it but you also qualify for free business banking with the Co-op. Costs about £125 a year from memory which I saved straight away switching from TSB banking. You also get a loyalty bonus of £25 a year back from the Co-op too.

May be worth a consideration.

Cheers

Gary

[Jean Oakley]

Hi Gary, thank you and yes i did consider this but wasn’t sure if i would be eligible for help as its an ongoing dispute which has been going on now for 3-4 months. Thought it a bit cheeky to join and then ask them to help with a problem that is not new to me.

[David Hammond]

I think with the small claims centre you can file a defense online etc.

I would check that, and make sure the papers are genuine. Don’t use any links or phone numbers on the paper work they sent.

Also are you sole trader of Limited company? I am not sure if consumer rights apply for sole traders, and the unfair contract etc.

I would seek legal advise, to validate the claim is genuine, and advise on whether it is worth perusing through court of paying up.

[Jean Oakley]

I have been to a solicitor, they fired a few letters off citing sharp practice and disputing the claim. Their final letter said they would reduce the amount if i paid within 14 days. Solicitor said they were scrapping the barrel. All went quiet then a few weeks ago i had another letter threatening me with court. I ignored it and then this email came on friday evening.

Dear Mrs Oakley

I must advise you that a Claim Form has been submitted today to the County Court Business Centre.

You will receive a summons from the County Court in due course.
Please follow the directions set out in the summons.

Any questions should be directed to the County Court quoting Claim No. B2QZ2H4F.

Regards

I didn’t receive a summons i received a claim form to be filled in. Like i say pretty sure its a fake, but might pop to solicitors again to check, just hate paying out money to save paying out money.

[Ewan Chrystal]

My advice is as you’ve said do not under any circumstances enter into dialogue with them. If you acknowledge receipt of a summons you are effectively authorising them to chase you.

[Kevin Flowers]

I would seriously not ignore these papers but check them out with a solicitor if this is a court summons then it will be found in their favor if you do not put in a defense. From that point you will end up with bailiffs on your door and a bigger bill. County Court Business Centre was set up to speed this process up use to take approx 3 months its a lot faster now, get a phone number for the CCBC and phone them, give them the number on your paper and they will confirm if it is fake or not and will not contact or share information with the company.

If they are using the law to their advantage ignoring them is playing into their hands.

Quote "If you acknowledge receipt of a summons you are effectively authorising them to chase you."

Bad advice i’m sorry to say if they are serious about taking you to court the only way to beat them is to put in a defense

Kev

[David Rogers]

It’s bad enough feeling like you get scammed by Yellow pages never mind an overpriced, under performing local advert.

I’ve read about them too (and we always decline advertising calls for anything), unless they breach the contract (take payments early, take larger payments, don’t supply the bare minimum of evidence that they have done the work) then a business to business contract however unfair / sharp was just that, a contract and on that point they have you.

Open threats of court appearances, baliffs via often their own ‘solicitors’ show that they are uncertain of a clear win / staying clear of the courts and hope to frighten you into either full or part payment.

Anyway, until such time as you get a letter – probably recorded delivery, from the courts with a summons to appear with place, date & time and reference number it’s all B.S…but there is a contract which both parties must uphold.

As said – have a defence in place…or if you feel brave, counter sue if they have breaches their terms.

My mate bought a C1 on a personal hire contract and after a short time he hated it…had to stick it out for 3 years regardless of how much it was loathed or got him around.

I think you’ve done the right thing by seeking proper legal advice – stick by what they say…we’re all just ‘voices of experience / opinions’!

Dave

[Phill Fenton]

This is a variation of a common theme. It used to be wall planners, then books for schools, directories for hospitals, policeman’s diaries etc.

Most likely the claim is also a scam hoping to scare you into paying up. I would play them at their own game and raise a genuine counter claim against them for failing to meet the terms of the contract. In Scotland this can be done on line at low cost (Not sure what the situation is in England) :-
https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/taking-ac … all-claims

If you raise this genuine action and they don’t turn up, the court will automatically rule against them