Claim form received, advice needed please!

doughboy2000

Hi, Guys,

(Sorry, the Newbies guide said to start a new thread)

In December 2017 someone parked in a Lidl car park then nipped into town for 20 mins then came back intending to call into Lidl after putting what they bought from town into my vehicle first. As they opened the van they saw a PCN on the windscreen and a parking guy approached and said you can't leave the premises whilst parked here. A few weeks later they got a fine telling them to pay up, but they binned it after reading somewhere that they couldn't enforce it.

Fast forward to Nov 18 and they just had a claim form from Euro Parking Services asking for £245.

Is all lost now? Is there anything they can do now it's got to this stage?

Thanks

Quentin

You say you read the newbies faq


Then ask if all is lost now you have a court claim???


Reread the FAQ


#2 covers court claims right through to the hearing


Throughout here you are advised never to reveal who was driving


Edit your post to remove details of the driver

System

Preston or Newcastle-u-L.

There are a couple of threads about concerning the way they operate on Lidl sites e.g. there is a guy sits in a car with a camera waiting for people to leave.

The_Deep

£245 is way way too much, they are tryoing to defraud you. Even if this went to court and they won, the most a judge is like to award then would be c@ £175 - £200.

Is there a solicitor involved, if so they will know that the amount demanded is more than the law allows and you should therefore complain to their regulatory body, the SRA.

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

Also complain to your MP, read this

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

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week, hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. It has even been suggested that some of these companies have links with organised ccrime.

Watch the video of the Second Reading and committee stage in the House of Commons recently. MPs have a very low opinion of this industry.

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

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-19/debates/2b90805c-bff8-4707-8bdc-b0bfae5a7ad5/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Bill(FirstSitting)

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind they will be out of business by early in the New Year.

doughboy2000

Thank you for the rapid replies and advice guys. Maybe I misunderstood about starting a new thread, sorry.

Some details: The incident was at Newcastle U Lyme and the solicitors are Gladstones. They are claiming £170 but the court fee and costs brings it to £245.

I confess I'm completely new to this legal stuff, is the Claim Form a court summons? In the newbie guide #2 it says only 1% of cases go to court but I'm already at that stage am I not?

The_Deep

Gladstones should know better, they are trying to scam you, imo bringing their profession into disrepute, make sure that you bring this to the attention of the SRA.

Quentin

If you have a Claim it should be obvious!


Is the claim from the Court or a letter from Gladstones?

beamerguy

doughboy2000 wrote: »

Thank you for the rapid replies and advice guys. Maybe I misunderstood about starting a new thread, sorry.

Some details: The incident was at Newcastle U Lyme and the solicitors are Gladstones. They are claiming £170 but the court fee and costs brings it to £245.

I confess I'm completely new to this legal stuff, is the Claim Form a court summons? In the newbie guide #2 it says only 1% of cases go to court but I'm already at that stage am I not?

Gladstones are trying the fake charge on with everyone.

I imagine the ticket was £100 ?

THE TICKET CANNOT INCREASE

Their fake add-on is normally £60 so nobody knows what the £70 extra is for, just more scamming by Gladstones

LEARN ABOUT THIS FAKERY AND EXTORTION
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/74439905#Comment_74439905

System

The issue with N-u-L is that the signs are unclear and don't actually form a contract. EPS have lost at this site before so they are trying to get you to wobble.

Search for EPS/Lidl to see the other threads related to this. You should also get a pic of the signs and the layout. AFAIK there is more than one PPC at that site.

KeithP

What is the Date of Issue on your Claim Form?

Can you please post the exact contents of the Particulars of Claim box on your Claim Form - masking personal details of course.

doughboy2000

Thanks everyone.

Issue date is 02/12/2017

Particulars of claim:
The driver of the vehicle registration (the 'Vehicle') incurred the parking charge(s) on **/12/2017 for breaching the terms of parking on the land at Lidl & Travelodge The Defendant was driving the Vehicle and/or is the Keeper of the Vehicle. AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS £160 for Parking Charges/Damages and Indemnity costs if applicable, together with interest of £10.74 pursuant to s69 of the County Courts Act 1984 at 8% pa, continuing to Judgment at £0.04 per day.