Court summons for residential parking - Over £1000!

Jobe12

Hi,

I posted on this forum under a different account a while back regarding a similar issue and ended up winning a POPLA appeal. I'm hoping someone can help me again.

The driver recently received a small claims court summons in the post. The claim is with regards to multiple tickets (well over 10) that were issued whilst the driver's vehicle was parked in a parking spot outside of the apartment he was renting. The parking spot was allocated to the driver's apartment (each apartment had one allocated spot and were numbered clearly.) UKPC are claiming that since no permit was displayed, the driver is liable for charges totaling at well over £1000.

The permit was lost by the driver and a replacement permit has since been ordered and paid for. The driver no longer lives at the property in question but still has the tenancy agreement which proves the driver was a resident during the time the tickets were issued. The driver has sent an "Acknowledgement of service" to the court to give time to prepare the defense.

More information:

• The driver didn't make a POPLA appeal for any of the tickets
• The driver has attempted to contact the estate agents and managing agents but this has been unhelpful
• A friend of the driver recently won a POPLA appeal against UKPC for the same parking spot in question. This forum provided really helpful advice that allowed the driver's friend to prepare a POPLA appeal so strong that UKPC decided to give up!

I've never been taken to court before and don't really know what to expect, any advice would be really appreciated.

Are my odds of winning decent? It seems outrageous that I can be fined so much for parking in my own spot by a company that I have nothing to do with!

Thank you for your help!

Redx

its not a "summons"

its an MCOL from Northampton (google it)

if the PPC can prove keeper liability under POFA2012 then if you are the keeper they can try a court case , UNLESS they actually know the drivers details, in which case POFA does not apply

nobody can tell you the odds on winning a court case, anyone that does is a fool

you (or the driver) stand a good chance IF you follow the recent forum advice , start by reading post #2 of the NEWBIES sticky thread , then find and read about 10 to 20 recent court case defences for CEL , UKPC and PE etc (possibly EXCEL and VCS too)

do not read anything older than about 12 months , so only 2016/2017 threads , especially ongoing ones or ones that have just concluded

especially read the lamilad court case threads, so you get the gist of what is going on, plus it may not even get into a court before a judge, they may discontinue once they see a robust defence

so do your research , draft your dummy defence (no names , no pack drill , no reference numbers , no identifiers , no VRM details) and post it on here for critique , like the one lower down by member BarryStanyer)

make sure you read the resident parking ones , plus parking pranksters blogs on these lease issues and residents issues , the wording on the LEASE is a key factor in this court case

if your name is on the MCOL, you must defend it, if the driver is named on the MCOL, then THEY must defend it , but can be assisted

your post doesnt make it clear if you are the driver (dont tell us) , or if you are named on the paperwork , hence why I hedged my bets in my answer

the point is that the person named on the MCOL defends themselves, possibly with help from others, but it is they who sign the papers, they who go to court etc (if it gets to a personal hearing)

so if they are pusuing "the driver" and know who "the driver" is, then if that is not you then YOU are NOT being taken to court, the driver is

beamerguy

If you have not read the antics of UKPC on the Parking Prankster, please do so

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=ukpc

SmellyMog

What, if anything, does the tenancy agreement have to say about resident parking?

Half_way

Three tenancy agreement is absolutely critical here.
Lynzer on pepipoo has created this which may be of use fyi you http://www.thebridesmother.co.uk/Media/residential-parking.pdf
Again the tenancy/lease is critical, if you will not look at it, and say on here what if anything it says about parking spaces then the amount of help you can get will be severely limited.

Umkomaas

Here are a number of very recent and very relevant cases involving residential parking. The tide has started to turn considerably in favour of the owner/leaseholder/tenant and away from the PPCs who have jumped in with both feet into private residential estates, seduced by the whiff of easy money.

Very important reading in your research work to rid yourself of the issue you now have.

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/residential-parking.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/link-parking-and-overstone-court.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/new-generation-parking-management-youve.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/test-cases-scheduled-for-overstone.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/ukpc-hit-for-352-for-discontinuing.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/link-parking-lose-in-wrexham-flat-owner_2.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/tenancy-agreement-not-overruled-by.html

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/pace-pulverised-in-croyden.html

Read the final court case transcript on this list 'Jopson v Homeguard' (2016) - linked below.

http://www.parking-prankster.com/case-law.html

From regular PePiPoo poster 'Lynnzer':

http://www.thebridesmother.co.uk/Media/residential-parking.pdf

Loadsofchildren123

There are many recent threads on here about how the tenant should pressure the managing agents, and also the landlord, because their rights to peaceful enjoyment and the specific right to park in that specific spot (assuming that's what the tenancy says) have been interfered with and the landlord/managing agents have allowed this to happen.




1. The PPC is acting as agent of the managing agents who brought them in to control parking.
2. The landlord contracted with the tenant to give exclusive occupation of the flat and the parking space in return for the payment of rent. You could argue that because he has done nothing to ensure that the PPC/managing agents did not interfere with the parking space then he is in breach of his obligations.


No. 2 is slightly more tenuous than 1 and will depend on whether the tenant complained to the landlord at the time etc.


You could try to get these cancelled by pressurising the managing agent (and landlord) - write them a letter before claim telling them that as the PPC was acting as their agent and was interfering with the tenants rights then they are liable for trespass to the tenant's space and the tenant's car and all losses incurred in relation to dealing with the PCNs, including not only direct losses but inconvenience and distress and all the time you will have to devote to dealing with the claim (at the allowed Litigant in Person rate of £19 per hour). And tell them that you intend on joining them to the claim as Second Defendants.


Whether or not you actually apply to join them is a separate issue - you could do that and would be entitled to, but you have to make a formal application (form N244) asking the court and explaining why (all good so far) and the court fee for an application is £255 (not so good there).

Jobe12

Thanks for the advice everyone.


The links above are extremely helpful and I will begin to construct my draft defense, I will post it here when it's ready for feedback.


I have tried to get the parking tickets cancelled by talking to the estate's managing agent but they are extremely reluctant to help and are adamant that UKPC are in the right as the permit was not displayed. I have emailed the estate agents in the hope that they are more willing to help.


I have looked at the tenancy agreement and the only information around parking spaces that it has is as follows:


To park private vehicle(s) only at the Property/Premises. 



To park in the space allocated to the Property/Premises, if the Tenant is allocated a car parking space. 



To park in the garage or the driveway to the Property/Premises if applicable. 



To keep any garage, driveway, or parking space free of oil and to pay for the removal and cleaning of any spillage caused by a vehicle of the Tenant, his family, contractors or visitors. 



To remove all vehicles belonging to the Tenant, his family or visitors at the end of the Tenancy. 

Not to park any vehicle at the Property/Premises that is not in road worthy condition and fully taxed.


Should I consider getting legal advice or is this something I can deal with on my own with the generous support of this forum?


Thanks again.

Jobe12

Also, if I lose the MCOL will the effect on my credit rating be more severe compared to if I pay it now?

Coupon-mad

Nope, there is no effect if you lose, nada, zilch, as long as you pay within 30 days. No CCJ.

Why else do you think so many people are defending? Because they win and pay nothing but even if an odd one loses, they'd finally pay about £175, on average, and it would be all over. And still worth the fight, on matter of principle.

Fruitcake

Jobe12 wrote: »

Thanks for the advice everyone.


The links above are extremely helpful and I will begin to construct my draft defense, I will post it here when it's ready for feedback.


I have tried to get the parking tickets cancelled by talking to the estate's managing agent but they are extremely reluctant to help and are adamant that UKPC are in the right as the permit was not displayed. I have emailed the estate agents in the hope that they are more willing to help.


I have looked at the tenancy agreement and the only information around parking spaces that it has is as follows:


To park private vehicle(s) only at the Property/Premises. 



To park in the space allocated to the Property/Premises, if the Tenant is allocated a car parking space. 



To park in the garage or the driveway to the Property/Premises if applicable. 



To keep any garage, driveway, or parking space free of oil and to pay for the removal and cleaning of any spillage caused by a vehicle of the Tenant, his family, contractors or visitors. 



To remove all vehicles belonging to the Tenant, his family or visitors at the end of the Tenancy. 

Not to park any vehicle at the Property/Premises that is not in road worthy condition and fully taxed.


Should I consider getting legal advice or is this something I can deal with on my own with the generous support of this forum?


Thanks again.

Since there is nothing in that tenancy agreement about permits, you were never required to display one, let alone pay for one.
A third party, the parking scammers, cannot add on terms to an existing contract, the tenancy agreement. The MA should know this and should be able to kill this now. If not, you need to ask them when they will be free to attend court as they are jointly and severally liable for this fiasco.