Is my county court business centre letter fake?

Beagles313

Hi, I have had an ongoing letter from receiving parking tickets from a work car park after parking in a visitors space. The car park was run by UKPC and the fine were then sold onto a third party debt collector. I have ignored all correspondence regarding said parking tickets.

The debt collecting company sent me a letter from a “lawyer” (SCS law) which looked like it was a photocopied original with a fake letterhead. I ignored this.

Yesterday I receive a county court business centre claims form letter which is on white and grey paper, a blury court logo and a printed court stamp... is this official? Under the particulars of claim it does not state any details other than the amount owed. It states “I will provide the defendant with separate detailed particular within 14days after service of the claim form”. All the phone numbers on the letter are correct for the Northampton CCBC and it does have a claim number and asking for money through money claim.

Is this a real letter or a letter to scare?

Thanks!

bargepole

Easy to find out, phone the CCBC and check that the claim number is valid.

But it's extremely likely that this is a real Claim Form (not a "letter"), especially if it includes the Response Pack.

Time to take your head out of the sand and stop ignoring.

Umkomaas

I have had an ongoing letter from receiving parking tickets

'Tickets' plural is always an indicator that UKPC will instigate court proceedings. Short of actually seeing your letter, I'm pretty sure it's for real and needs your attention.

As I understand it, you are not required to respond until such time as UKPC (or SCS) does this:

I will provide the defendant with separate detailed particular within 14days after service of the claim form

If bargepole is still around perhaps he can confirm this please?

The forum has very comprehensive guidance for dealing with court cases - from the issue of the LBC, right through to the actual court hearing - contained in the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #2. I recommend you study that very carefully (it's not a skim-read) and use it as your guide, alongside forum advice, right through to whatever conclusion your case reaches.

waamo

You need to acknowledge it and start working on a defence. At the top of this board is a thread that tells Newbies to read it first. You need to read it. There is a section of court defences in it.

Umkomaas

waamo wrote: »

You need to acknowledge it and start working on a defence. At the top of this board is a thread that tells Newbies to read it first. You need to read it. There is a section of court defences in it.

@waamo - I don't think it has to be acknowledged until such time as the full POC are received.** But once acknowledged, the clock starts ticking for the defence to be produced. Without full POC, the OP will be defending a case somewhat 'blind'.

** I'm sure I read this advice from Johnersh (lawyer) some months ago. As bargepole was around, I was asking him to confirm. No response as yet.

[Deleted User]

.

It states I will provide the defendant with separate detailed particular within 14days after service of the claim form

If it contains the above wording, you have not yet been served (until you do receive the detailed Particulars) so an acknowledgement is not required (yet). See court rules below.

The period for filing a defence
15.4

(1) The general rule is that the period for filing a defence;

(a) 14 days after service of the particulars of claim; or

(b) if the defendant files an acknowledgment of service under Part 10, 28 days after service of the particulars of claim.

If you acknowledge now, you may lose the extension of time it otherwise confers. Do keep an eye out for the particulars when they do arrive.

Umkomaas

Thanks for clarifying, Johnersh.

madoldbat

Hi can anyone please help?
Daughter has had a letter from CCBC dated 13.08.18 on behalf of Civil Enforcement Ltd.
They are requesting a payment of £356.16.
The letter was sent to her old address (she left 10 months ago) and only had it given to her yesterday.
There are no other documents with this letter.
How do we proceed ?

waamo

madoldbat wrote: »

Hi can anyone please help?
Daughter has had a letter from CCBC dated 13.08.18 on behalf of Civil Enforcement Ltd.
They are requesting a payment of £356.16.
The letter was sent to her old address (she left 10 months ago) and only had it given to her yesterday.
There are no other documents with this letter.
How do we proceed ?

You need to do 2 things. Firstly read the thread at the top of this board that tells Newbies to read it first. Post 2 in that thread contains a walk through guide to the court process.

Secondly start your own thread for your own advice.

ant555_2

This advice is WRONG, this is little more than a scam
The bulk centre at Northampton is NOT a court. It is not a County/Magistrates/Crown Court. Any judgement made was not made by a Magistrate or anyone even legally trained and there was no hearing. The BULK centre only process the info, they will not contact you or take any action (they are not authorised to do so they merely process the information).
Correspondence from the debt collectors/Ballifs/Enforcement Officer/Solicitors, you can safely IGNORE. DO NOT communicate with them. Keep the letters but don't reply. If the debt collectors/Ballifs/Enforcement Officer/Solicitors (whatever they call themselves) call you, you are NOT legally obligated to provide any information whatsoever as they are not Public Servants, they are a private debt collection agency and they have no warrants or orders from an actual court. DO NOT even confirm your name. Tell them that there call is causing you distress and tell them it is unlawful and they should desist. Trust me, I have a dozen or so parking tickets from private companies spanning years, I have never paid a penny. Once they realise you know the law they will soon leave you alone. The whole system operates on the assumption that people do not know this. If the worst happens and they actually visit you, call the police (the police may be there already to prevent a breach of the peace). Ask to see a warrant or enforcement notice with a court stamp, signed by a magistrate (THIS IS REQUIRED BY LAW FOR ANY WARRANT). They will not have this. When they can't provide this then ask them to leave the premises. If you are REALLY UNLUCKY you may get an police officer that doesn't understand the law properly and he might try to persuade you that the order is legitimate. IT ISNT! Always be polite, but make it clear that you are refusing to allow anyone to enter your property, tell the officer that the order/warrant is not a legal document and that if anyone tries to enter your property it will be unlawful and you will hold the officer personally responsible. Tell the Debt Collector that you will not answer any questions that you refute their claim that you owe money and you will not be paying them. Believe me, they will leave and your case will be filed away. They are in it for the money and when they realise you are not going to pay they will move on to someone who might.

ant555_2

Just to clarify, the letter you received from CCBC on behalf of Civil Enforcement Ltd (they may have changed the procedure) but it remains essentially the same. It is a letter from Civil Enforcement Ltd (a private debt collectors) trying to extort money from you. It is NOT a legally binding document from a real court and it cannot be legally enforced. This should not be confused with letters from an actual court (County/Magistrates), that is entirely different. This IS legally enforceable and would be actioned by a County Court Baliff who would have legal authority, but this isn't the case here.