County Court Summons from Private Car Park Management company

MagnusJ

Hi there guys, I have had a good read of some of the sections and threads here on the website in regards to the situation i have found myself in. Something that I will continue to do. I just thought maybe to start a thread and see what peoples opinions are on my particular case.

It started out about 5 months ago, when I came to park outside an apartment block in which my friend lived, I was helping her move in. All of the spaces outside were taken, and a parking attendant was doing his rounds, as I pulled up on the road he said that I could not park on the road, however if I park on the property of the appartment blocks then I am fine as it is private land and he cant take action and proceeded to tell me people park there all the time and are fine. I thanked him and parked my car.

I came out to my car to find a ticket on it a couple of days later.
This was from a private company and not from the council. My vehicle wasn't causing any obstruction to anything at all it was parked up against a wall and a bush. I thought ok well fair enough, I will try to appeal this one. I parked my car somewhere else on the complex, this time against a pavement on the other side of the building where 2 other vehicles had parked, i checked to see any signs of a pass of sorts in their windows and they had none, so i also parked there. Wo and behold I come back to not one but now two tickets, although the other two vehicles had none?! I sent an appeal letter as soon as possible, detailing that I had been told it was ok to park there, and that numerous vehicles are parked there over sporadic times of the week and don't seem to accumulate any tickets or hold any pass visible in the screen? I waited their response.
Nothing... Weeks going in to months pass, no response. Then I get a letter, its not a response, its a debt recovery company who they have passed the fines on to threatening me to pay or receive action! Well wow ok, thanks for letting me know you received my letter and where I stand? Not very professional at all. Now the money they want is an extortionate figure and I can in no way afford to pay so I start to worry. I am a student and I have no job as I have just enough time to tend to my studies let alone work. So money is tight.
Now a county court judgement notice has come through my letter box asking me to respond.
I have asked for 28 days to prepare my defense because I do feel a little bullied and misled here.

Any opinions on what I should do now?

ManxRed

Which Parking Company are we talking about?

Marktheshark

You have two choices, pay the crooks or file a defence, go to the county court "just a table" armed with a defence and convince the judge by not getting bullied in to silence by the judge and goon from the parking firm .

peter_the_piper

Is this a county court claim form or a judgement as ion op?

Redx

which private parking company ?

download the free parking pranksters court guide (even though it majors on PE)

read the NEWBIES sticky thread, the small claims section

make sure this court claim is valid by checking with northampton (or salford)

MagnusJ

Thanks for the replies guys. Here's my answers to your questions:

Its called Car Park Management Services, the PPC in question.

It's a claim form, asking me to admit to the outstanding money and pay, or to ask to defend and attend court if possible.

I will read both of those articles now and see what I can soak up

How do I make sure if it is valid or not? I will do some Google research now. Be absolutely ecstatic if I can beat the crooks on this one, I literally have just been bullied into inflated amounts.

ManxRed

Phone the court and ask them to check if this is a genuine claim.

Also, this lot have form for not using the correct company name on their signs and paperwork.

It would help if you could get pictures of the signs on site.

Then list out the EXACT company names used (including brackets, 'Ltd's, etc.) on:

1. The sign
2. The paperwork you received from them
3. The court claim form

This is a one man band, and he hides behind trading names.

Also, you need to complain to the BPA Ltd (Steve Clark) that this company has engaged debt collectors, and now issued a claim, without ever responding to your initial appeal. This is a clear breach of the BPA Code of Practice that states that they have to respond to your appeal and either cancel, or offer you the opportunity to appeal to an independent appeals body. They must also stop processing a ticket while an appeal is in progress. You want them to take action.

If it's a genuine court claim then you need to acknowledge it and state you will be defending in full.

Half_way

more information needed.

bpa? ipc? have you had any other letters from them?
what is the exact wording on the latest letter?
you say it's a claim form, is it from a court?

The_Deep

If they persist, warn them that you will counter claim for your time. Warn them that this will be at the court rate of £18 an hour plus a fixed sum of £5 per letter received, and £10 per letter sent.

Marktheshark

We are still confused what they have sent you ?
Type it our minus personal; details if necessary.

ademrob

Hi, I was fined for parking in a disabled parking space on a shopping retail car park. I am disabled and hold a blue badge, which I did place on the dashboard as normal. Unfortunately, the badge must have slid off the dashboard unbeknown to me. I have a Toyota Yaris which has a 'bevelled' dashboard, not a flat one. This has not happened before. I appealed stating that the badge had slipped off and was in the passenger footwell. The reply I've received basically says "tough,you should make sure the badge is secure". Obviously it is now past the 14 days, so I will have to pay £100. Am I right in thinking this is totally unfair? They agreed I do hold a blue badge, but it was not on the dashboard, so pay up! I can't even afford tge £60, never mind £100. I feel this is unjust and want to take it further on principle. What's your thoughts please?