2 identical court claims from Civil Enforcement Ltd and very unclear Letter Before Court

cobes

My daughter has received a court claim from CEL for just over £250, for an alleged breach of parking T + Cs. The date of the alleged breach was in December 2017. She received numerous letters from them, demanding increasing sums of money, all of which were ignored. She's only just 19 and this has completely stressed her out.

She has now received 2 identical copies of the claim form, arriving a day apart. Is this usual?

We (well I) have read up on this forum about taking action and defending the claim, however she has decided that the anxiety of doing this (even with my help) is way too much for her and she is going to pay.
I wanted to alert others that the "Letter before claim" sent by CEL is in no way clear that it is a letter before claim. Had I been aware that the letter she received was a letter before claim I/we would have taken action at this point, however it looks and reads very similarly to all the other demand letters sent. I would hate for others to end in the same, quite unprepared, situation as my daughter by missing that they have received a letter before court, mistaking it for just another demand. I will attempt to scan and remove identifying details and post hers as an example for others in the hope it will help others fight against these awful companies.

onlyfoolsandparking

Without seeing the letter its difficult to tell whether it is a genuine LBC, have you been given 30 days to respond? that's a 'correct' one, if not its probably just another debt begging letter.


Its a shame your daughter feels anxious and wants to pay, that's exactly what the rat scammers prey on, making their letters look all legal with scary red writing like people have committed a heinous crime and must be punished (by paying obviously)


She actually wouldn't pay £250 even if she lost in court, at most it would be circa £200 so no need to feel anxious and it COSTS!!!!! the scammers to take her to court, the people on here can help and it doesn't have to be hard, up to her (and you) though.

Coupon-mad

She has now received 2 identical copies of the claim form, arriving a day apart. Is this usual?

Someone else reported that, and others have had no claim form despite KNOWING one was allegedly in the system. Other people are getting a judgement in default saying they haven't defended, when they have, and have had to sort it out. Not actually CEL's fault.

Sounds like the CCBC at Northampton are having a mare at the moment.

however she has decided that the anxiety of doing this (even with my help) is way too much for her and she is going to pay.

What, £350 instead of NOTHING? No way is that a good start to adult life, it's being a mug and not the way to overcome her anxiety and become more confident through life experience!

She does realise that CEL usually still discontinue, so it's just an admin exercise in paperwork? No hearing likely with a £350 'claim'.