UKPCM Gladstones - Claim Form Received - Parking in visitors bay

granth1974

Hi everyone, 
I'm sure my case is probably similar to some on here but I can't find one that matches and I'm hoping for some advice.
I've been in correspondence with Gladstones on behalf of UK PCM over a PCN issued to me as registered keeper of a vehicle in August 2018.
I've now received a Claim Form with an issue date of 12th Feb 2020 for County Court Business Centre , Northampton. The claim is for £250 on a £60 ticket.
The claim is that the vehicle in question was parked in a visitors bay without a permit. 
The background is that the driver of vehicle was visiting a family member and was unaware of the scheme which had been set up between the time of their last visit and the current visit. The person being visited has not signed anything or had their lease changed to indicate that parking in the visitors bay without a permit would result in a fine.
The lease states that the resident has a parking space and usage of the visitors bay. The resident has no qualms with the vehicle being parked in the visitors bay for the purposes of being visited. It is also not uncommon for the resident to make use of the vehicle in question on occasion with the keepers permission.
As keeper of the vehicle, I have received a bundle of documents (photos of the vehicle parked in the bay / signage etc).
I would like to mount a defence but don't know where to start. The resident has expressed desire to assist by writing to either Gladstones or speaking with the property management company.
In the meantime, I need to be sure of my next steps so I'm hoping someone on here can give advice as to a) Whether to mount a defence and b) how to go about doing so.
Any help much appreciated.

Thanks.

beamerguy

Should be talking to the property management company to get this cancelled
Gladstones are scamming you by adding a fake £60.  This is called ABUSE OF PROCESS and Gladstones have been told they cannot add fake amounts.   It is the Gladstones scam mentality that gets them spanked in court. 

Read about ABUSE OF PROCESS
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6014081/abuse-of-process-district-judge-tells-bwlegal/p1

Recent Gladstones cases where the courts have spanked them.
Gladstones told by Judge .... added £60 NOT LAWFUL
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76692888#Comment_76692888"nofollow" href="https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76756261#Comment_76756261">https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/76756261#Comment_76756261

nosferatu1001

Beamer - its at court.  A little late now. The MOST important thing for the OP to do is get a defence sorted. 
OP tell us the DATE OF ISSUE. 
Go to the NEWBIES thread -> 2nd post. This will tell you *exactly* what to do. Your first step is to ACKNOWLEDGE the claim. 

granth1974

nosferatu1001 said:

Beamer - its at court.  A little late now. The MOST important thing for the OP to do is get a defence sorted. 
OP tell us the DATE OF ISSUE. 
Go to the NEWBIES thread -> 2nd post. This will tell you *exactly* what to do. Your first step is to ACKNOWLEDGE the claim. 

Thanks for replying. Date of issue per my OP is 12th Feb 2020.

1505grandad

"UK PCM"

Can you post the full name of the claimant?

granth1974

1505grandad said:

"UK PCM"

Can you post the full name of the claimant?

UK CAR PARK MANAGEMENT LIMITED
19 NEW ROAD, BRIGHTON, BN1 1UF
Being represented by Gladstones Solicitors Limited

nosferatu1001

OK so you acknowledge on day 5
That gives you the full 33 days. Do it before, and you do not. 
Have you gone to the Newbies thread and read it as yet? 

granth1974

nosferatu1001 said:

Beamer - its at court.  A little late now. The MOST important thing for the OP to do is get a defence sorted. 
OP tell us the DATE OF ISSUE. 
Go to the NEWBIES thread -> 2nd post. This will tell you *exactly* what to do. Your first step is to ACKNOWLEDGE the claim. 

Thanks Nosferatu. I plan to acknowledge the claim as instructed in the newbies post tonight or first thing tomorrow am. Having read through a few of the linked threads, I'm a little worried in that there was signage present etc so I'm worried about how to present the defence. I'll read further and put something together as an initial try over the coming days.

nosferatu1001

No, as told above - wait 5 days, because if you ack. before the 5 days you only get 28 days plus 5-n, where n is number of days since date of issue. 
Of course youre worried. EVeryone is when they get a court claim form. You just cannot allow this to overwhelm you. YOU HAVE TIME. Not weeks, but time, to get your head round thsi. 

Send the parking operator a SAR. Dont ask what that is. 

granth1974

nosferatu1001 said:

No, as told above - wait 5 days, because if you ack. before the 5 days you only get 28 days plus 5-n, where n is number of days since date of issue. 
Of course youre worried. EVeryone is when they get a court claim form. You just cannot allow this to overwhelm you. YOU HAVE TIME. Not weeks, but time, to get your head round thsi. 

Send the parking operator a SAR. Dont ask what that is. 

I think our replies crossed - I didn't see your post after my last one until just now - I'll wait until 16th to file the response.
I had previously sent a SAR to Gladstones July 2019 and got back a letter of refusal from them. I subsequently (read, 5 months later in December)  received a bundle of documents comprising of their evidence (photos and the like) saying " 

We write further to your request for our Client’s evidence in regards to the above mentioned outstanding parking charge  

To confirm, the charge was issued to the vehicle <reg of car> due to not displaying a valid permit

In view of the above it is our Client's position that the sum of £160.00 remains outstanding within 30 days from the date of this letter. In the event that neither a substantive response nor payment is made within this time-frame our Client may elect to issue legal proceedings without further notice"

Thanks again for your help.

nosferatu1001

Send one to the PPC, as Gladstones should only return the documents IT has.