Euro Parking Services Gladstones

Cleo26

Hi, looking for some advice please. I parked in a free car park, but not in a parking bay (I thought it was) and received a PCN. I ignored it in the hopes it would go away...it didn't! The registered keeper received a letter from Gladstones saying if he didn't pay then it would go to court, we ignored that too. Yesterday he received a county court claim form, obviously can't ignore that! I really don't want to pay £238.37 to park in a free car park 😩. I've read a lot on other forums, but I'm still not sure on a few things:
1. I've read that you shouldn't identify the driver but not sure why? He wasn't driving so don't really want to unfairly burden him.
2. I didn't park in a bay, there are clear signs displayed, do I even have a defence, or is the fact that Gladstones don't really follow the correct procedures enough? Thank you in advance for any help!

Coupon-mad

The registered keeper is burdened with the defence, you can't spare him as he is the defendant and it's too late to name the driver. But as long as he is prepared to turn up to a hearing and give it his best shot with our advice, this can be winnable. Certainly don't pay, nor ignore court papers.

Acknowledge then defend (the keeper must do this) the NEWBIES thread post #2 tells you how. MUST be in his name.

do I even have a defence

Yes, but it's based on lots of matters. The signs are NOT clear (I know, and I've never been there). Think about it, you said:

I parked in a free car park, but not in a parking bay (I thought it was)

Signs & lines can't have been clear enough then?! Put together a Gladstones defence like you see all over this forum and pepipoo, loads of examples so stop thinking you have no case!

We've never seen a Gladstones cases lost here after a poster here got advice and followed it confidently to court. You can even win merely on challenging the right of Audience of the other side at the hearing:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=113246&st=0

All sorts of ways to win these.