Civil Enforcement Ltd and POC

Baby737

Hi there,

I'm looking for some advice please. I've already had a read of the Newbies section, but I'm still a bit confused.

Civil Enforcement Ltd started to come after me January last year when the driver had parked up at 7.17pm. The driver saw no signs about having to pay. There was a pay station, but it was that dark that the driver couldn't read it. Normally around here, in town, parking is free after 6pm, so poorly, the driver assumed it to be the same here. The next thing I got a letter issuing me a fine through the door. I asked for proof and they sent me ANPR photos of a car that was the same model as mine but weren't dated or timed and I couldn't read the registration, and I certainly couldn't see the driver. I disputed it on this fact and they said I couldn't do that, I must pay. Even though I said that they couldn't prove the driver hadn't just driven in and out, or that it was even my car. I have had many dodgy looking letters through the post since, with the claim amount gradually increasing but I've since ignored them all. This morning I've got another dodgy looking letter from the County Court Business Centre with the Particular of Claims on and a response pack. I never got the one that gives me 14 days notice. I didn't have to sign for the letter and the envelope it came in has no date or anything on. It's just on the letter saying the 13th March. Having searched the letter on here, I see it probably is real, so what do I do next? I certainly don't think I owe the £333 that they are asking for. Help me please.

Fruitcake

I hope you didn't reveal the driver's identity when you contacted the parking scammers. If you didn't then edit your post to remove information about who did what. Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper.

There is a guide to court by bargepole in the NEWBIES thread. This is your starting point.

Acknowledge the claim and state you will be defending. Nothing goes in the defence box, absolutely nothing.

Baby737

Hi Fruitcake,

Thank you for the quick reply. I’ll do that.

I’m trying to edit it now, but it’s not letting me. I’ll keep trying.

The_Deep

£333 for one charge is outrageous. You should report them to the SRA

http://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page

Even if they won, (far from certain|), the judge is unlikely to award more that £200, including court fees. They are trying to scam you.

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for alleged breaches of contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and another company have already been named and shamed, as has Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each year). They nearly always lose, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P.

Hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned.

The problem has become so rampant that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. Watch the video of the Second Reading in the HofC recently.

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind most of these companies may well be put out of business by Christmas.

nosferatu1001

Exactly as above

You wil lbe able to find 2017 april onwards CEL defences by the dozen
Theyve never made it to a hearing yet, when assisted here.

nosferatu1001

Use a real laptop to edit, not a phone or tablet. They sometimes have issues.

Baby737

Ok, I'm ready to send the POC response pack back. I've ticked that I dispute the whole amount and I've signed it. I didn't write anything in the defence box. When I read the small print it says-

'Set out your defence in section 3....... In your defence you must state which allegations in the particulars of claim you deny and your reasons for doing so. (Then in bold it says) If you fail to deny an allegation it may be taken that you admit it.'

Am I definitely leaving this box blank? Thank you again for any advice.

Coupon-mad

I'm sorry what? Have you missed the section in the NEWBIES thread post #2 that walks you through doing the AOS (acknowledgement of service) of the claim on MCOL, with pictures any newbies can follow?

If you are trying to fill in forms at this easy stage when the forum tells you not to, I worry you are going to also miss important info in the DQ, and later, when the case is allocated to your local court.

Baby737

Wow. Just wow. I'm sorry I'm new to this and this forum.

Coupon-mad

You said at the start:

I've already had a read of the Newbies section, but I'm still a bit confused.

At no point does it say to fill forms in and post them. We want you to win and these CEL ones are as easy as can be, no hearing, nothing.

But do re-read the sticky thread and follow what everyone else does on all the other CEL threads.

Baby737

Thank you. I found it. I've done the MCOL via the step by step guide and I'll work on the defence now.