Please help- Please help !! PCN from Vehicle control services ltd

Fruitcake

Your credit score is meaningless. It's your ability to obtain credit that is the crucial factor.

We deal with parking matters, so your question is outside our remit.

You have to decide if you want to go for a set aside straight away or pay it off by the required date then go for a set aside, ideally with consent because the claim was not properly served, or not pay it at all and risk the consequences of not being able to get credit for things such as a mortgage, credit card, mobile 'phone contract, property rental etcetera.

If you were to move abroad for a long time, then that may influence your decision, otherwise you have to base your decision on what will happen over the next six years if you do not pay.

SoJacob

@Fruitcake

so can I pay the full amount before I set aside to avoid any future consequences? 

Fruitcake

I believe you can, but I have never had a PCN let alone a court claim, so I am not 100% certain.
Beware that if you decide to pay then apply for a set aside, it should be done before the court mandated deadline. That way, nothing gets recorded against you. It will be as if the CCJ never existed. If you pay after the deadline, then the CCJ will be marked as satisfied, but remain on file for six years.

I do not know if you can apply for a set aside before the payment deadline, nor do I know the consequences should you decide to do that.

I believe there is information in the second post of the NEWBIES about set asides that may help you make your decision.

SoJacob

Thank you. I’m so stressed about this. And I really appreciate everyone who keeps advising me…

is there any legal advisers I can contact via telephone ? 

Le_Kirk

SoJacob said:

Thank you. I’m so stressed about this. And I really appreciate everyone who keeps advising me…

is there any legal advisers I can contact via telephone ? 

Yes, they are called solicitors but often they do not know much about parking issues (reported on the forum many times).  They should though be able to advise you about set-asides and the process.  You could look at the CPRs particularly 6.9(3) defective service and CPR 13, which deals with mandatory set-aside.  Problem is your case was not strictly defective service because the claim form was served at your correct address, it's just that you were not there.  A judge might say you should take steps to conduct normal business whilst you were out of the country.  Did you check out any replies by @henrik777 or any other discussion started by other posters in your situation?

Jenni_D

Try Legal Beagles? I believe they may do free email support for relatively simply queries. (And you have plenty of time before you need to have made payment of the judgment - 18-Mar is 3 weeks come Friday, so over 3.5 weeks left in which to gather support and information).

SoJacob

Thank you all. I didn’t realise that I have free legal advice service with my home insurance. I spoke to them. They told me if I request for set aside whatever and and whenever the judgement may be I would still get some time to pay the amount without being in my records for 6 year if the judgement is not in my wishes. Which I feel better about.

However I felt the legal advisor I spoke to seems not very keen me going for setting aside as she was saying about the clear signs of no parking zone. I did mention about the code of conduct, by law of Southend airport etc. I also told her the success cases I’ve read on the forums.  But she still sounds discouraging me. 

I have been always following your advices and any support from you is very much appreciated. Thank you 

Le_Kirk

Have you read about set-aside by consent £108 court fee and contested set-aside £275 court fee?  Which will you choose?  Have you considered asking the PPC for set-aside by consent?

Jenni_D

Whilst they may be right ref. the set-aside process and the impact (or otherwise) on a CCJ being registered, I wouldn't put too much trust in what someone on a legal helpline (who will have little to no knowledge of the parking arena) says regarding your chances of winning the underlying claim.  

Try Legal Beagles for a second view ref. the set-aside.

Fruitcake

You may also find that some solicitors offer a free half hour or even an hour, so it would be worth looking around to see if you can find such a service near you.