Gladstones letter of claim: reading it line by line, and how to reply

What a Gladstones letter of claim is

Gladstones Solicitors is the name on Letters of Claim sent for some private parking companies. You can check any solicitors' firm on the Solicitors Regulation Authority's register. The letter is the last formal step the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims expects before a court claim.

Reading the letter line by line

Your 30-day deadline

How to reply

1. 1

   Step 1: Check the details

   Compare the date, place, vehicle and amount in the Gladstones letter with your earlier letters. Note anything that doesn't match.

2. 2

   Step 2: Say where you stand

   If you dispute the claim, say so clearly near the start. Keep it short and factual.

3. 3

   Step 3: Ask for their evidence

   List the documents you want to see before anything goes further (see below).

4. 4

   Step 4: Send it in writing

   Use the email address or postal address printed on the letter. Keep a copy and proof of sending.

5. 5

   Step 5: Watch your post

   If a court claim form arrives, it has strict dates. Respond by the date printed on it.

What to ask for

• Copies of every notice they say was sent, with the dates of posting.
• Dated photos of the signs as they were on the day.
• The exact term they say was broken.
• A breakdown of the amount, including anything added to the original charge.
• If you have more than one charge from them, a list of every charge they intend to pursue.

If you've already paid or appealed

If you paid the parking company, or your appeal was accepted, say so and attach proof. If you appealed to POPLA or the IAS and lost, that doesn't stop you disputing the claim now — an independent appeal decision doesn't bind you.

Points worth checking before you reply

• Was the first letter delivered in time? See the notice to keeper 14-day rule.
• Did the parking happen in Scotland or Northern Ireland, where the keeper rules don't apply?
• Were you a genuine customer, a resident with a permit, or a visitor who was allowed to park?
• Is the amount higher than on the original notice? Under PoFA Schedule 4 paragraph 4(5), the most that can be recovered from a keeper is the amount on the notice to keeper.

If any of these apply, mention them briefly in your reply. You don't need to set out your full case now, but raising the main points early shows you dispute the claim for real reasons.

What may happen next

The firm may send the evidence you asked for, repeat its demand, or advise the parking company to start a claim. If a claim form arrives, respond by the date on it — see the county court claim parking charge guide. If you have several charges, read Civil Enforcement letter before claim for how to deal with them together.

Many claims are discontinued when they are properly defended, but not all. Don't rely on general AI chatbots to write a court defence without checking it — they often leave out important points or add wrong ones.

You don't have to say who was driving, but never say anything untrue. Parking Help is independent and not connected to Gladstones Solicitors. Examples on this page are illustrative and based on typical situations, not real cases.

This is a free self-help guide, not legal advice. Check your own letters and dates. If you're unsure, get free advice from Citizens Advice. Written by the Parking Help team.