HELP - Court letter Received from VCS - Advice needed

Nsmila07

Thanks for coming back to me.

I sent a SAR Request back in June and received a screen shot of my data held. This didn’t include letters or photographic evidence. It came in a ZIP folder.

So what do I need to say in my new email?

Can I send my witness statement anytime? My hearing isn’t until next year. Can I also send a skeleton statement?

Thanks again

Nsmila07

Hello All,

Thank you for all your advice with this so far.

To give you an update - court hearing is in April - havent heard anything else since receiving the Notice of Allocation to the small claims track (Hearing)

I shall now start preparing my WS and Skeleton statement - i know these have to be received no less than 14 days before the hearing but am i ok to send these when ever or would you advice to leave it until beginning of March?

Thanks again

Le_Kirk

On your notice from the court giving the date, did it state a date by which they required the WS etc.? Sometimes it states 14* days before the hearing.


*Insert number here

Nsmila07

Hello, thanks for coming back to me. It doesnt confirm a date - just that all documents that are going to be used need to be submitted 14 days before the hearing which I was aware of.

My question is, is there a best time to do this? Is earlier the better?

Ive started pulling everything together

Redx

lets say 16 days before that hearing date, just to be sure the post arrives in time at 2 days later, plus hand deliver to your local court

the claimant will try to deliver as late as possible , or possibly late

Umkomaas

If you submit too early you never know whether it might get lost slopping around the system somewhere for months on end.

Nsmila07

Ok, thanks all - i shall be in touch once I have everything ready for some critiquing

Thanks again

KeithP

As well as the points above...

If you leave it as late as possible you may have the opportunity to challenge points in the Claimant's WS in yours.

Conversely, by filing your WS early you give the Claimant the opportunity to tear apart your WS in theirs.

As in all good games... don't show your hand too early.

Coupon-mad

in the meantime, you may have missed a trick due to your absence, hope I am wrong.

You've not been here since August, so unless you've been keeping up with the forum (I hope you have) you maybe missed what happened at Southampton court, that you can use in your own case (read the thread by CEC16) and you may have also missed that we always now tell people to file & serve their costs schedule in advance, too.

Also read wins, by keyword search: ANOTHER VCS ONE BITES THE DUST

Nsmila07

Hello All,
I have been reading some other threads, particularly on Newbies and I've noticed less is more to be successful -  Does the below witness statement look ok?

 (Claimant)

v

******** (defendant)

 

Claim no:

 

Witness statement of Mr *******, defendant

I am the Defendant in this matter, I am unrepresented, with no experience of Court procedures. If I do not set out documents in the way that the Claimant may do, I trust the Court will excuse my inexperience.

In this Witness statement, the facts and matters stated are true and within my own knowledge, except where indicated otherwise.

 

1. Whilst I was the Registered Keeper of the vehicle concerned, there is no evidence of the driver.

2. The Defendant denies being the driver at the time of the supposed event, and therefore puts VCS to strict proof that any contract can exist between the Claimant and themselves.

3. At the time of the incident, the insurance covered more than one family member, who I have no obligation to name to a private parking firm. It remains the burden of the Claimant to prove their case.

4. There was no requirement upon me as keeper to respond to what appeared to be junk mail, and in any event was not a matter where a registered keeper could be in any way legally liable. No adverse inference can be drawn from my lawful decision to ignore the colourful letter, impersonating a parking ticket yet with no basis in law.

I believe that the facts stated in this Witness Statement are true.

Signed xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Dated xxxxxxxxxxx

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.