Ignored PCN - now received claim form from Northampton County Court. Please help!!

charliebarleyboo

Hi, I received a PCN for slightly overstaying in a (free) Co-Op car park about a year ago, as well as subsequent letters which I have ignored and binned.

However I have now received a claim form from Northampton County Court and I'm panicking. Considering just paying the £200 odd quid just to be rid of the worry, but I know this is what they're probably banking on so thought I'd ask for some help here first. Can anyone offer any advice? Would I have to go to court in Northampton? It also confusingly says something about Barnet court. Thanks in advance!

Stroma

Is this claim from Civil Enforcement Ltd?

bazster

You will get the opportunity to have it re-located to your nearest court.

The mention of Barnet suggests CEL.

You must reply to the court and indicate that you will be defending all of the claim.

CEL use court claims as a bullying tactic and invariably back down shortly before a hearing when faced with a strong defence. However, you must also complain to the Co-Op (CEO's office) as they have recently (and somewhat stupidly) been paying these on behalf of CEL victims such as yourself.

The Prankster is collecting CEL court claims and may be interested in hearing from you: http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/

In any case, download both of his books (yes, including the one for which you have to pay a nominal sum). Pretty much all of what he says about defending ParkingEye claims applies to CEL also.

waamo

Complain to the Co Op. They will pay it for you.
Read this http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/have-you-received-court-claim-from.html

charliebarleyboo

Sorry meant to say, yes it's CEL. Have to go out now but I'll have a proper read of the links later, thanks.

Coupon-mad

I hope you will also read the NEWBIES thread at the top of the forum, as it has a whole post about small claims (post #5 of the NEWBIES sticky).

You have to acknowledge to the courts by post within 14 days and defend the claim - the links in the NEWBIES thread explain what to do when and show you what to include in any defence. DO NOT just write about what happened or that the charge is unfair; this is NOT an appeal it's a court defence. You must do this even if you are also writing to the Co-op to get them to cancel & pay it.

charliebarleyboo

Just wanted to say thanks for the help and reassurance. I emailed the coop and they are paying if off. To be honest I'm not sure they even read the complaint before agreeing, I had their response back in half an hour. I am also defending the claim just in case.

Johno100

Oh dear, no wonder the Co-op are losing £2.5bn a year.

ColliesCarer

Congratulations
Good news for you that the Co-op are paying these off.

The fact that they are paying them off may also be the reason CEL issued the claim against you in the first place as CEL seem to resurrecting as many cases as possible to cash in on the Co-ops stupidity.

You also did the right thing in submitting that you intend to defend the claim as without a response a default judgement could have been made against you.
You should hear back that the claim has been cancelled