County Court Claim Regarding Parking Tickets

SamSteel89

Firstly, I dropped the ball with the defence. Upon speaking to a lady on the court phone number, she gave off the impression I just write a short statement stating why I feel I shouldn't have to pay. So unfortunately my defence essentially consisted of 3 short bullet points as I did not realise this was supposed to be in depth. I think I basically mentioned the fact the spaces were for visitor parking and it was incorrectly sign posted, the company had not followed DVLA guidelines and they had not sent any payment reminders to my adress

Coupon-mad

OK so you will have to write a decent WS and evidence, and hope the Court allows it.

SamSteel89

Enterprise_1701C wrote: »

Just one question - is the claim form stamped by the court?

They have been known to send these out without putting them through the court as a way of scaring people into paying.

I received a claim form that appears to be stamped but photocopied. I did call the court to check if it is legit and it is

SamSteel89

Well what i don't want to do at this stage is go to court, lose the case because my evidence holds no value, and then pay a whole load of court fees and expense fees that the parking company ask for. At least at this stage I can fold, pay up and not incur any extra costs.

SamSteel89

The DVLA time constraints state that the claimant must request the information between something like 28 and 56 days. The company did not request any information for the first ticket but they did for the second. I don't know if that then means I'm still chargeable for both tickets as I was still the owner of the vehicle during the time of the first ticket

Coupon-mad

SamSteel89 wrote: »

Well what i don't want to do at this stage is go to court, lose the case because my evidence holds no value, and then pay a whole load of court fees and expense fees that the parking company ask for. At least at this stage I can fold, pay up and not incur any extra costs.

Luckily, this is the small claims track and unless you conduct yourself unreasonably, then that cannot happen. At any stage you can fold & pay up, but why would you, when the inflated, unjustified sum they are claiming is likely to be more than they would get at a hearing, if they even won?

The DVLA time constraints state that the claimant must request the information between something like 28 and 56 days. The company did not request any information for the first ticket but they did for the second. I don't know if that then means I'm still chargeable for both tickets as I was still the owner of the vehicle during the time of the first ticket

The KADOE rules require a separate request for each and every parking event.

SamSteel89

So if they are already asking for £257 for 2 fines (100 each, 20 for court fees and remainder for unknown costs), what is the maximum I'm likely to pay if I lose?

Sorry what is KADOE? If the rules do indeed state the DVLA must be contacted for each event, would it be worth while me contacting the parking company and offering to pay £100 for the last ticket but nothing else, avoiding the hassle of court?

KeithP

SamSteel89 wrote: »

...would it be worth while me contacting the parking company and offering to pay £100 for the last ticket but nothing else, avoiding the hassle of court?

Please don't do that.

All that would do is indicate to them that you are on the back foot.

With that signal, they will refuse your offer and continue the threat of court.
They will sense that you are not keen on 'the hassle', and will continue the push.

Coupon-mad

So if they are already asking for £257 for 2 fines (100 each, 20 for court fees and remainder for unknown costs), what is the maximum I'm likely to pay if I lose?

Just another £25 for a hearing fee that they'll have to pay. If you lost, then that would be added. Not quite what you envisaged, I assume? No large costs.

And we win 99% of cases - I keep records and have only seen two losses in 2017 (counting ONLY those posters who came here for advice on a defence, stuck around, got advice again on a WS/evidence and were coached right up to their hearing). There are hundreds of winners.

Which PPC, and are they using a legal firm? If so, who?

would it be worth while me contacting the parking company and offering to pay £100 for the last ticket but nothing else, avoiding the hassle of court?

No. Believe us, no.


KADOE - Google it...!

SamSteel89

Ok I guess I'll stick with defending against this but I am panicking a bit. I'm not sure my defence is enough for a parking firm that clearly do this on a regular basis.

The parking company is Devere Parking Services Ltd. I believe they only operate around the Dorset area and they are registered with the IPC