Sandie Hornby

Review of Gladstone Solicitors

Most definitely my one star would actually be way ...

Most definitely my one star would actually be way down in the minuses if that facility existed.

One of our engineers received a parking charge notice for overstaying the' time limit' by 33 mins.

When I looked on line, I discovered there was no parking time limit for the area in which he'd parked - the only stipulation being that he had to be a customer of the retailer, which he was. The pictures sent were almost completely black and totally illegible. I wrote to the Car Park company, disputing the charge and included all the details of why we were appealing and also screen shots of the parking notices in the area and beyond (the area beyond allowed 4 hours free parking - he had stayed just over two hours) Nothing received back, no acknowledgement or anything.

A few months later Gladstones sent us a letter. We sent a copy of the letter sent to the car park company originally and said we disputed the charge.

Nothing.

We then received a letter before claim last month and court papers last week.

We reluctantly paid the "fine +charges" today as we did not want our company name bought into disrepute.

And that good people is what this scam is all about. Worrying honest people that they will get dragged through the courts and end up with a CCJ.

We feel absolutely incensed about the whole scam - which it blatantly is. Apparently the solicitors and car parking company are in cahoots, and I'm sure that must pose a conflict of interest somewhere down the line, or in the very least is an unethical way to conduct business.

Who am I kidding? Unethical? Ethical is a word that would not appear in their vocabulary, and most definitely not in their work practices when it comes to this scam.

Just received an email receipt from them recommending that we make "a further payment...to protect (our) position (and prevent further enforcement). "

We will be writing to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, but I won't be holding my breath...