Help please with County Court letter for Moto Parking fine

rxbfm

Hi all,
I've read the guidance on the forums and other testimonials and hopefully am now in a position to ask for your help.

Sometime in 2016 I received a parking ticket at my home address.  The driver of my vehicle had fallen asleep at a MOTO service station and therefore overstayed for a short period - estimate less than an hour.  It was dark at the time and the driver didn't see any signs and was following the instructions on the overhead gantry not to drive tired.  A quick internet search later and I mistakenly came to the conclusion that the fine was not enforceable and to be honest I forgot about it.  I moved house shortly after.

Fast forward to 2019 and I began receiving letters from DCBL legal saying that I owed £170 for the fine.  I saw on here some people had some success appealing to MOTO and so emailed their customer services department.  Unfortunately they forwarded my email onto CP Plus for a decision who then had my description of what the driver had encountered and the circumstances CC'd to them.

On the 14th Jan 2021 I received a letter from the usual County Court saying I owed £170 x 8% per annum, plus legal fees, plus court costs and now owe around £300.  I don't want to pay it as I think it is wildly inflated and also don't trust the company to prevent a CCJ.

I filed my acknowledgement of service after 5 days had passed and am now preparing my defence, which I can post a draft of shortly below.

If I can please ask for assistance with the dates I need to bear in mind and a critique of my defence I would be really grateful.

Thanks in advance

rxbfm

IN THE COUNTY COURT
Claim No.: XXXXXXX
Between
CP Plus LTD T/A GROUPNEXUS
(Claimant) 
- and -  
XXXXXX
(Defendant)
____________________
DEFENCE
____________________
1.       The Defendant denies that the Claimant is entitled to relief in the sum claimed, or at all.  It is denied that a contract was entered into - by conduct or otherwise - whereby it was ‘agreed’ to pay a ‘parking charge’ and it is denied that this Claimant (understood to have a bare licence as managers) has standing to sue, nor to form contracts in their own name at the location.

The facts as known to the Defendant:
2.      It is admitted that the Defendant was the registered keeper of the vehicle in question but liability is denied. The defendant was driving.

3.      On the occasion in which a violation of contract is alleged to have occurred the driver had overstayed due to being asleep and most likely did not leave the vehicle to see signage. The brief overstay was due to sleeping to recover from fatigue from driving a long distance trip from Brighton to Manchester and was not used for any other purpose than rest.  It was also late at night and therefore dark, so the driver’s likelihood of seeing signage was further reduced. However due to this event being over 4 years ago the driver is unable to recall any further specifics.

4.  The Particulars of Claim set out an incoherent statement of case and the quantum has been enhanced in excess of any sum hidden in small print on the signage that the Claimant may be relying upon.  Claiming ‘costs/damages’ on an indemnity basis is stated to be unfair in the Unfair Contract Terms Guidance, CMA37, para 5.14.3.  That is the official Government guidance on the Consumer Rights Act 2015 ('CRA 2015') legislation which must be considered, given the duty in s71.  The Defendant avers that the CRA 2015 has been breached due to unfair terms and/or unclear notices (signs), pursuant to s62 and with regard to the requirements for transparency and good faith, and paying regard to examples 6, 10, 14 and 18 in Sch2.  NB: this is different from the UTCCRs considered by the Supreme Court, in that there is now a requirement for contract terms and notices to be fair.
5.       It is denied that the exaggerated sum sought is recoverable.  The Defendant's position is that this moneyclaim is in part/wholly a penalty, applying the authority in ParkingEye cases (ref: paras 98, 100, 193, 198) ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 and para 419 of HHJ Hegarty’s High Court decision in ParkingEye Ltd v Somerfield Stores Ltd ChD [2011] EWHC 4023(QB) where the parking charge was set at £75 (discounted to £37.50 for prompt payment) then increasing ultimately to £135.  Much like the situation in this claim, the business model involved sending a series of automated demands to the keeper.  At para 419, HHJ Hegarty found that adding £60 to an already increased parking charge 'would appear to be penal' and unrecoverable.  ParkingEye had dropped this punitive enhancement by the time of Mr Beavis' famous parking event.

6.       Even if the Claimant had shown the global sum claimed in the largest font on clear and prominent signs - which is denied - they are attempting double recovery of the cost of their standard automated letter-chain.  It is denied that the Claimants have expended additional costs for the same letters that the Beavis case decision held were a justification for the (already increased from the discount) parking charge sum of £85.  

7.  The Claimant cannot be heard to base its charge on the Beavis case, then add damages for automated letter costs; not even if letters were issued by unregulated 'debt recovery' third parties.  It is known that parking firms have been misleading the courts with an appeal at Salisbury Court (the Semark-Jullien case) where the Judge merely reset an almost undefended case back for a hearing.  He indicated to Judges for future cases, how to consider the CRA 2015 properly and he rightly remarked that the Beavis case was not one that included additional 'costs' per se, but he made no finding of fact about the illegality of adding the same 'automated letter costs' twice.  He was not taken by either party to Somerfield in point #5 above and in any event it is worth noting that the lead Southampton case of Britannia v Crosby was not appealed.  It is averred that District Judge Grand's rationale remains sound, as long as a court has sufficient facts to properly consider the CRA 2015 s62, 63 and 67 before turning to consider the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Sch4 ('the POFA').
8.  Pursuant to Sch4 of the POFA at 4(5), the sum claimed exceeds the maximum potentially recoverable from a registered keeper, even in cases where a parking firm has complied with its other requirements (denied in this case).  It is worth noting that even though the driver was known in Beavis, the Supreme Court considered the POFA, given that it was the only legislation specifically dealing with parking on private land.  There is now also the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 with a new, more robust and statutory Code of Practice being introduced shortly, which evolved because the two Trade Bodies have failed to properly govern this industry.


The ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67 case is distinguished
9.       Unlike in this case, ParkingEye demonstrated a commercial justification for their £85 private PCN, which included all operational costs, and they were able to overcome the real possibility of the charge being dismissed as punitive and unrecoverable.  However, their Lordships were very clear that ‘the penalty rule is plainly engaged’ in such cases.  
10.       Their decision was specific to what was stated to be a unique set of facts: the legitimate interest/commercial justification, the car park location and prominent and clear signs with the parking charge itself in the largest/boldest text.  The unintended consequence is that, rather than persuade courts considering other cases that all parking charges are automatically justified, the Beavis case facts and pleadings (and in particular, the brief and very conspicuous yellow/black signs) set a high bar that this Claimant has failed to reach. 
11.   Without the Beavis case to support the claim and no alternative calculation of loss/damage, this claim must fail.  Paraphrasing from the Supreme Court, deterrence is likely to be penal if there is a lack of an overriding legitimate interest in performance extending beyond the prospect of compensation flowing directly from the alleged breach.  
12.   The Supreme Court held that the intention cannot be to punish a motorist - nor to present them with concealed pitfalls, traps, hidden terms or unfair/unexpected obligations - and nor can the operator claim an unconscionable sum. In the present case, the Claimant has fallen foul of the tests in Beavis.
13.       The Claimant’s signs have vague/hidden terms and a mix of small font, such that they would be considered incapable of binding any person reading them under common contract law, and would also be considered void pursuant to Sch2 of the CRA.  Consequently, it is the Defendant’s position that no contract to pay an onerous penalty was seen, known or agreed.
14.   Binding Court of Appeal authorities which are on all fours with a case involving unclear terms and a lack of ‘adequate notice’ of an onerous parking charge, would include:
(i)                 Spurling v Bradshaw [1956] 1 WLR 461 (the ‘red hand rule’ case) and

(ii)                Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking Ltd  [1970] EWCA Civ 2,

both leading authorities confirming that an unseen/hidden clause cannot be incorporated after a contract has been concluded; and
(ii)                 Vine v London Borough of Waltham Forest: CA 5 Apr 2000,

where the Court of Appeal held that it was unsurprising that the appellant did not see the sign ''in view of the absence of any notice on the wall opposite the southern parking space''.  In many cases where parking firm Claimants have cited Vine in their template witness statements, they have misled courts by quoting out of context from Roch LJ, whose words related to the Respondent’s losing case, and not from the ratio.  To pre-empt that, in fact Miss Vine won because it was held as a fact that she was not afforded a fair opportunity to learn of the terms by which she would be bound.
15.   Fairness and clarity are paramount in the new statutory CoP being finalised by the MHCLG and this stance is supported by the BPA and IPC alike. In the November 2020 issue of Parking Review, solicitor Will Hurley, the Chief Executive of the IPC Trade Body, observed:  'Any regulation or instruction either has clarity or it doesn’t. If it’s clear to one person but not another, there is no clarity. The same is true for fairness. Something that is fair, by definition, has to be all-inclusive of all parties involved – it’s either fair or it isn’t. The introduction of a new ‘Code of Practice for Parking’ provides a wonderful opportunity to provide clarity and fairness for motorists and landowners alike."   The Defendant's position is that the signs and terms the Claimant is relying upon were not clear, and were in fact, unfair and the Beavis case is fully distinguished.


16.  In the alternative, the Claimant is also put to strict proof, by means of contemporaneous and unredacted evidence, of a chain of authority flowing from the landholder of the relevant land to the Claimant.  It is not accepted that the Claimant has adhered to the landholder's definitions, exemptions, grace period, hours of operation, etc. and any instructions to cancel charges due to complaints.  There is no evidence that the freeholder authorises this Claimant to issue parking charges or what the land enforcement boundary and start/expiry dates are, nor whether this Claimant has standing to enforce such charges by means of civil litigation in their own name rather than a bare licence to act as an agent ‘on behalf of’ the landowner.
 
In the matter of costs, the Defendant seeks:
17.   (a) standard witness costs for attendance at Court, pursuant to CPR 27.14, and 
(b) that any hearing is not vacated but continues as a costs hearing, in the event of a late Notice of Discontinuance.  The Defendant seeks a finding of unreasonable behaviour in the pre-and post-action phases by this Claimant, and will seek further costs pursuant to CPR 46.5.
18.   The Defendant invites the court to find that this exaggerated claim is entirely without merit and to dismiss the claim. 
Statement of Truth
I believe that the facts stated in this defence are true.  I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.
Defendant’s signature:
Date

KeithP

You say...

rxbfm said:

On the 14th Jan 2021 I received a letter from the usual County Court...

 Does that perhaps mean that you received a County Court Claim Form with an Issue Date of 14th January 2021? Please confirm the Issue Date.

rxbfm

Apologies KeithP yes thats exactly what I was clumsily trying to say!  14th Jan is the Issue date.

Redx

Only post the paragraphs you have altered , not all of them ,case are not checking those untouched paragraphs by coupon mad

Email a SAR to nexus if not already done , for your data , for the WS stage

Complain to Moto and try to get them to cancel or give you a written signed and dated statement supporting you

Ps , this would have been an easy win if appealed by the keeper at the time and taken to Popla

KeithP

rxbfm said:

14th Jan is the Issue date.

With a Claim Issue Date of 14th January, and having filed an Acknowledgment of Service in a timely manner, you have until 4pm on Tuesday 16th February 2021 to file your Defence.

That's nearly three weeks away. Plenty of time to produce a Defence, but please don't leave it to the last minute.

To create a Defence, and then file a Defence by email, look at the second post in the NEWBIES thread.

Don't miss the deadline for filing a Defence.

rxbfm

Redx said:

Only post the paragraphs you have altered , not all of them ,case are not checking those untouched paragraphs by coupon mad

Email a SAR to nexus if not already done , for your data , for the WS stage

Complain to Moto and try to get them to cancel or give you a written signed and dated statement supporting you

Ps , this would have been an easy win if appealed by the keeper at the time and taken to Popla

Eek sorry I don't know how to edit my post with the defence in!
Just emailed the SAR now, thank you
Will have another go at complaining to MOTO now
Gutted, I should have come here earlier.

rxbfm

KeithP said:

rxbfm said:

14th Jan is the Issue date.

With a Claim Issue Date of 14th January, and having filed an Acknowledgment of Service in a timely manner, you have until 4pm on Tuesday 16th February 2021 to file your Defence.

That's nearly three weeks away. Plenty of time to produce a Defence, but please don't leave it to the last minute.

To create a Defence, and then file a Defence by email, look at the second post in the NEWBIES thread.

Don't miss the deadline for filing a Defence.

Thankyou KeithP!

Please can you have a look at my defence above.  So mindful not to get caught out missing the deadline.

Coupon-mad

Looks fine!

Now go and read a few other MOTO threads because the email address of the person to complain to has been posted and they HAVE been cancelling these even at court stage.  Get angry about this, how bloody dare they sue people for using a services to sleep. 

This is a well-known case to refer to at WS & evidence stage, if MOTO don't cancel this earlier (not MOTO and not Group Nexus but exact same scenario at a Services):

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/aug/26/parking-eye-takes-on-top-barrister-85-fine

I echo the others advice in that this one was a total cinch to win with one email when you got the first non-POFA PCN. A walk in the park.  Not now.

Redx

Leave it up seeing as CM has approved it , concentrate on everything else now

rxbfm

Thanks all really appreciate your advice so far.

Just submitted a follow up complaint (not appeal) to MOTO saying, as advised by coupon-mad how angry I am.  Surely as the landowners they have the authority to provide me with some basic customer service and instruct the contractors to stop hounding me?...

Think the email I used to appeal last time (parking.queries@moto-way.co.uk) was a duff cause as they just forwarded straight to CP Plus, so sent to CEO ken.mcmeikan@moto-way.co.uk and via the 'feedback' section of the website.

Should I submit my defence now anyway or wait for a response?  Thanks again!