County Court Claim from CEL

Coupon-mad

We regulars laugh that we are really pedantic about reading signs and we would never collect a PCN ourselves as we would never fall foul of PPC scammers' tricks! I read every word and check out which scammer it is, and choose to just boycott the retailers and leave sometimes.

I also warn other car park users (saved someone from UKCPS the other week). The elderly driver had parked VERY badly in an almost empty car park and I explained why that's not a good idea and would cost them £100 penalty - they had no idea, the signs are woeful. They re-parked and thanked me.

I've taught my adult kids how to read/understand even the most complicated parking signs, including Council on-street ones, and they know all the rules & exemptions and how to appeal a scam private one.

A useful skill, given the pariah of this industry.

Dartforddad

OK, defence was sent and has been acknowledge by the court via a letter.


The letter states that the defence has been sent to the claimant and they have 28 days to respond on how they want to proceed.


This all makes sense though reading the various threads I thought directions questionnaire (Form N180) would be sent to both parties.


I ask this as the MCOL site says DQ was sent on the 29th October though all we have is the acknowledgement letter mentioned above.


Sorry if I’m asking silly questions but this is my first experience of this process.

KeithP

Dartforddad wrote: »

Sorry if I’m asking silly questions...

Not there are no silly questions there.
If fact, I can't see any questions in your latest post.

If you want to, you can download a blank DQ from the court forms finder webpages - stick those bold words into google to find it.

Dartforddad

Thought I might as well post the full letter from the court:


I acknowledge receipt of your defence. A copy is being served on the claimant (or the claimant's solicitors).The claimant may contact you direct to attempt to resolve any dispute. If the dispute cannot be resolved informally, the claimant will inform the court that he wishes to proceed. The court will then inform you of what will happen.


Where he wishes to proceed, the claimant must contact the court within 28 days after receiving a copy of your defence. After that period has elapsed, the claim will be stayed. The only action the claimant can then take will be to apply to a judge for an order lifting the stay.


I read this as sit and wait (though obviously with an eye to the potential next stage)

Quentin

Correct .

KeithP

Yes, that's a bog standard letter. Everyone gets that.

Still you have asked no questions.

My previous post continues to apply.

Dartforddad

KeithP wrote: »

Yes, that's a bog standard letter. Everyone gets that.

Still you have asked no questions.

My previous post continues to apply.

Sorry, put another way, should I contact the court and ask about the DQ, or sit and wait.


I would gather from one of the responses the correct action is to wait.

Dartforddad

By my calculations and allowing 5 days grace for postage CEL should of responded by now, but we have heard nothing and the MCOL website has not changed. Given the last item we received was the letter from the court advising they were waiting 28 days for a response from the claimant should we not expect to hear something soon ?
We tried calling the court but they were little help as they only confirmed the letter we have already received.
Given they decided to take this to claim it would seem strange to miss a simple deadline (though reading other threads nothing should surprise me )