I thought it was fake, it wasn't :(

Ishouldknowbetterbynow

Hi *waves*
I've had a look on a few other threads for guidance but there's only so much woe I can read without feeling utterly hopeless!

I received a PCN from VCS for staying too long in a carpark they manage. I was attending an osteopath appointment and they ran over, as I have a blue badge (parked in disabled bay) I thought I had the standard 3 hours. The signs are tiny and weren't near where I parked (no pay machine, free parking for 2 hours). I contacted the company via their website to appeal the PCN saying that I have a blue badge but also in severe financial difficulties and wouldn't be able to pay it. I received an email back with a letter attached basically saying tough luck, appeal declined.

I got the usual demand letters, which I ignored. I got a Claim form with what I thought was fake court stamps. Issue date 23 July 2019. There was no court date on it and because of the rubbish court seal print quality, I thought it was a fake one made up by VCS to scare me. A judgement for claimant in default arrived, it had gone to court on the 14th August and as I hadn't filled in the forms (cos I thought they were fake) and I have a CCJ. A Notice of recovery dated 15th August arrived 2nd class post, on the 20th August.

So many questions! Can they take you to court without providing a date of the hearing? Or did they not do this because I hadn't submitted a defence?
I am in the process of getting a DRO because I am in severe financial difficulties, I cannot afford to pay them a penny. The DRO will affect my credit rating anyway, so a CCJ isn't really a concern - not having bailiffs attend my property to take the meagre possessions I have left (had to sell stuff to be able to pay rent - yay for universal credit). Why aren't these things sent out via recorded post? I've looked on the gov website and seen there are forms to complete. I cannot afford to pay fees, I really am on my !!!!! here!
I honestly thought it was fake. My mistake.... but what DO I do now? Do I just add this to the DRO? How do I stop the bailiffs? How soon do they typically act? This is the last thing I need to be dealing with. Links, advice etc would be greatly appreciated - thank you.

The_Deep

but what DO I do now?

Have you contacted CAB?

Ishouldknowbetterbynow

Not yet, it is on my priority list.

waamo

If you've had court papers and ignored them you need to pay ASAP. Either that or wait and see if they enforce it. The latter option is only really viable if you don't need credit in the next 6 years which seems to be an option for you.

Ishouldknowbetterbynow

They took it to court, so I have little doubt they will enforce it. If I get the DRO rolling and send them proof of them being added to the list, will that prevent further action do you think?

KeithP

Your questions now are beyond anything to do with parking.

Half_way

Who's car park was this?
was it an Nhs car park+
does your disability (for which you have a blue badge) cause you mobility issues, ie things take a little longer ?

If there is an equality act dimension to this, add depending upon who the car park owner is you could try and put a claim in under the EA against the owner to the sunm of the court judgement against you

Ishouldknowbetterbynow

KeithP wrote: »

Your questions now are beyond anything to do with parking.

Well no because I still need to respond to the notice and life is complicated and things do mesh into each other. I still need advice on how to deal with VCS and their notice.

waamo

I've not ever heard of VCS bothering to enforce. I don't know if anyone else has.

Ishouldknowbetterbynow

Half_way wrote: »

Who's car park was this?
was it an Nhs car park+
does your disability (for which you have a blue badge) cause you mobility issues, ie things take a little longer ?

If there is an equality act dimension to this, add depending upon who the car park owner is you could try and put a claim in under the EA against the owner to the sunm of the court judgement against you

The osteopath was in town, it's a carpark that customers of several stores can use in the town. I do have mobility issues and cognitive dysfunction.. which is why I'm being such a dullard about how to deal with this. The email came from Excel parking, Notice letter head says Vehicle Control Services. I did explain this in my initial appeal to the company. Blue badge is usually 3 hours, the signage wasn't near the bay I parked in. All little errors of judgement that if my brain wasn't fogged up at the time, I'd have spotted and avoided.

Half_way

Ishouldknowbetterbynow wrote: »

Well no because I still need to respond to the notice and life is complicated and things do mesh into each other. I still need advice on how to deal with VCS and their notice.

You can start by answering the previous questions