Gladstones court papers

shush_ya_mush

Ive just had court papers from gladstones on behalf of euro parking services ltd and im stuck as to the next stage, ive read through the sticky but need to re read it to digest it properly.
I got a ntk which I did not respond to as it seemed euro are a small player, don’t do court and use the IAS which is a waste of time appealing to.
Then gladstones wrote to me headed ‘letter before claim’ which does not comply with the pre direction protocols (common practise according to the sticky), this was responded to with something I got from the parking pranksters site which basically said I dispute the charge as keeper and they had not complied with the pofa so they cannot pursue me, next I got court papers.
So far as a defence they have not complied with the pofa 2012 as their ntk was dated 60 days after the event, the signs do not offer a contract as they are ‘an offer to treat’ and refer you to other signs in the car park. They are claiming ‘parking without a permit but the driver has a permit, also they don’t know who the driver is and they are holding me responsible as keeper.
Now I know I have to respond to the court claim within 14 days but on the back of the form it asks for my defence, do I submit that now or later? That’s the part I cant get my head around. I intend to fight them all the way to court if necessary. Ive found more reasons to add having read around the forum but the box isn’t big enough for them all so do I submit a skeleton defenceat this stage?????

Fruitcake

There is a court guide in post 1 of the NEWBIES thread and also you can buy the Parkin-Prankster's court guide for a few quid from his blog site.

I'm no expert but I believe you leave the defence section blank and just state that you will be contesting the charge in full. I believe that if you put anything in the defence box, that is all you can use in court which is why you don't submit your defence at this stage.

The_Slithy_Tove

shush_ya_mush wrote: »

I have to respond to the court claim within 14 days but on the back of the form it asks for my defence, do I submit that now or later?

You acknowledge the claim on-line NOW. That gives you an additional 14 days to submit your outline (not full) defence. At this stage DO NOT PUT ANYTHING in the defence box. If you do, it'll be treated as your outline defence and it'll cost you dear to change it.

Coupon-mad

Now I know I have to respond to the court claim within 14 days

Yes but - as the Slithy Tove typed quicker than me - you can acknowledge to buy another 14 days to work on your defence. Read other threads like yours by searching the forum board for 'Gladstones defence'. You need to read twenty or so 'Gladstones claim' threads and you will know where you are at and will have an idea of what to put in a defence too. Gladstones are pretty weak on detail and these cases can be won.

Show us your draft like everyone else does and we'll help.

Be aware that there are greedy idiots who trawl this forum for their own ends and might send a private message to posters offering to 'help'. Such posters will never have over 1000 posts to their name and you never know who the idiots are because on t'internet, people can say they are someone they are not, say the opposite of what they mean and generally hide a pretty nasty personality/background/agenda.

So don't reply to any private message about this. We help on the open forum with appeals and defences and you can't get a better success rate than here or on pepipoo forum, IMHO. The BMPA can also offer free advice.

shush_ya_mush

Thank you all for the prompt advice.

Ill be sure not to respond to personal messages, I'm determined to beat this.
So I acknowledge online, leave the defence box empty and defend in full?
Sorry to sound thick I just want to ensure I have it straight in my head.

Coupon-mad

Yes.

That's already posted in one of the links in the NEWBIES thread under 'Small Claim?'. You should read Bargepole's linked thread there.

shush_ya_mush

Thanks again.
I'll get reading and draft up a defence!

Redx

shush_ya_mush wrote: »

Thanks again.
I'll get reading and draft up a defence!

a HOLDING defence (skeleton defence)

not a full defence , that comes much later in the process

shush_ya_mush

One question that maybe a nightmare.... I moved out in Feb my car is still registered at my parents however they also more at end of month.... It's asking for my address which do I put all letters have gone to my parents

Redx

put your current address, get your parents to pay for mail redirection to their new address and ensure your V5C and your driving license are registered to your new address too , otherwise you could be fined up to £1000 for each transgression (so 2 grand)

and remember, this defence is a bullet point precis , a simple draft of the points that will be in the full defence , so read holding defences first

shush_ya_mush

Many thanks.

I'll get reading and come back when I've assembled something.

I take it this is submitted online within the 28 days?