County Court Papers for parking in own business car park

Clairns

It is still going on!!!!

I went to court and the VCS representative claimed she hadn't received my witness statement or skeleton argument even though I had posted it and e-mailed it to them the same day as I sent it to the court- but I imagine VCS postman is very busy! Unfortunately I didn't have proof of postage (a mistake I know) and the judge wouldn't accept e-mail proof .

Also the evidence I was relying on (a photo showing building works in my usual space) was actually taken by the lovely VCS numpty on the day.

So it has been adjourned for 21 days...... and I am awaiting a new date (hopefully not when I am on holiday for two weeks!)

I am putting lots of pressure on the landowner who have asked VCS to drop the charges- but this is falling on deaf ears.

I received another supplementary witness statement from VCS yesterday which doesn't say much apart from that they didn't receive the witness statement. On the date of my court hearing I gave the witness statement and skeleton argument to the VCS rep- and the judge made a note of that- so they have everything now.

So it looks like another day in court!!!! It all seems rather unnecessary and I will be writing to the MP when the process has been completed.

Quentin

Contact the Court now and tell them your holiday dates

Clairns

I think the holiday dates were in the original Directions Questionnaire- but I completed that so long ago I can't quite remember................ but I will contact them again to make sure. thanks for the advice Quentin.

Clairns

So this has taken an unexpected twist.

I took the first piece of advice I read on this forum (and perhaps among the most important) to put pressure on the landowner to avoid the lottery of going to court.

I have been e-mailing the landowner on an almost daily basis, and they were supportive and said they would do everything they can to get VCS to cancel the charge.. however VCS were not very responsive and seemed to ignore them.

I kept e-mailing the landowner and copied in everyone I could find at the company, including the regional manager and Chief Executive.

Rather out of the blue today I received an e-mail from the landowner confirming that they have paid the fine to VCS and copied me into an e-mail from VCS confirming they have received payment and the matter is now closed.

This wouldn't be my preferred option- but the landowner also told me that they have cancelled ALL contracts they had with VCS across the north of England, which includes about a dozen sites- one alone rakes in £30,000 a year in fines! So for the sake of a hundred quid or so VCS look set to lose tens of thousands!!!

Now my court hearing is TOMORROW morning at 10am........... the fine was paid this afternoon at 4.40pm...... I am going to the court as I don't trust the communication channels at VCS and think they will continue the claim as normal.

I will, of course, take the e-mail from VCS that states the matter is now closed.

Any predictions of what might happen if the hearing goes ahead? Am I still in a position to claim for my considerable time and expenses from them? Or have the management company paying the fine admitted liability.

Anyway, I think this is a win win situation whatever happens- I am delighted that a large landowner has seen sense and cost one of the worst parking companies in the UK lots of money......I hope more follow suit.....

I will be writing to my MP about the matter too.

Redx

Turn up and if it goes ahead get your costs order agreed , like that barrister did over parking eye and the MSA he slept at, he obtained in excess of a grand

Umkomaas

This wouldn't be my preferred option- but the landowner also told me that they have cancelled ALL contracts they had with VCS across the north of England, which includes about a dozen sites- one alone rakes in £30,000 a year in fines! So for the sake of a hundred quid or so VCS look set to lose tens of thousands!!!

What a stunning outcome. The more pressure exerted on a landowner, who in turn gets little response from the PPC (who believe in their own omnipotence), the greater the potential result.

Hopefully the court will crush them too, tomorrow. Please update us on that, but for now, I think we can all bask in a warm afterglow.

It's a pity Parking Prankster wasn't still active, because I'm sure he'd have loved to have blogged this.

Fantastic. :T

ffacoffipawb

Umkomaas wrote: »

What a stunning outcome. The more pressure exerted on a landowner, who in turn gets little response from the PPC (who believe in their own omnipotence), the greater the potential result.

Hopefully the court will crush them too, tomorrow. Please update us on that, but for now, I think we can all bask in a warm afterglow.

It's a pity Parking Prankster wasn't still active, because I'm sure he'd have loved to have blogged this.

Fantastic. :T

Sadly one set of scum will just be replaced by another.

Clairns

They are all scum, but some less scummy than others...... in my experience on the forum VCS are among the VERY worst. They take everyone and anyone to court........ whatever the circumstances.. They have the economies of scale to play the numbers game and people end of paying before it reaches the court room or they lose by default by not meeting the numerous court deadlines.

I am going to recommend some less scummy parking companies to the management agency- any suggestions?

Umkomaas

I am going to recommend some less scummy parking companies to the management agency- any suggestions?

Yes, please see the list below:

1.
2.
3.
4.
..
..

:cool:

Clairns

So I turned up to court yesterday and the hearing had been removed from the Usher's list......... the court office informed me VCS has discontinued the claim at 4.40pm the day before. (the only efficient thing they have done in my dealings with them)

So I didn't get my hearing (which I was confident of winning) and therefore it will be difficult to claim costs............... the court office suggested I could write to 'A District Judge' with my costs schedule but it is likely I will have to put in my own claim against VCS in a new case. It is worth the price of a stamp so I might write to the judge!!! But I don't have the desire to bring a new claim against them for costs.........

I will have to satisfy myself with the fact that VCS will no longer be operating in about a dozen sites as the management company, so appalled at their behaviour, have cancelled all contracts with them- potentially tens of thousands of pounds not going into Simon's bank account.

I have though written to my MP expressing my disgust at the way VCS operate................. the more people who put pressure on these cowboys the better.