Removal of a Paid CCJ

Guru9JGQN

I have recently paid in full a CCJ to Gladstone Solicitors who are acting on behalf of Euro Parking Services Ltd. 

Around 9 months ago I was issued an initial parking fine from Euro Parking (the parking fine I do not really care about contesting, especially after paying the CCJ is an admission of guilt). 

Due to my profession (member of the Armed Forces) I was undergoing a detachment and therefore did not go home for a lengthy period of time. Upon my arrival home, I found a stack of parking fine letters culminating in a £285 CCJ. At the risk of enabling bailiffs round my house I immediately paid the CCJ upon its discovery on the 13th December 2021. The CCJ was issued on 10th September 2021, therefore meaning I had missed the month period whereby if payment was received the CCJ would be removed from my file.

I have researched extensively how to get the CCJ removed or at least have this marked as settled on my file to somewhat improve my credit rating. It is of high interest to me to get this sorted as I’m keen to get a mortgage in the near future. Even looking at loan rates for myself, they have gone from 3.9% to 12.2% APR in a matter of months (well, the ones that haven’t rejected me).

The process to get this removed without a solicitors help is not that clear, other than submitting Form N244 at a cost of £275, or agreeing with the claimant to have this settled which entails a cost of £115 to approach the court with.

I guess my main questions are:

1) Are either of these avenues a process in which I can complete myself and be successful? (I have had quotes from solicitors who have quoted £500 - £12000…therefore would rather avoid solicitors)

2) What is the best route to take and how do I initiate it? (I have tried to contact Euro Parking Services by phone and email to touch base with confirming they are happy to settle this but have had no success as of yet)

Thanks for any help.

Guru9JGQN

I understand this will be a ‘set aside’ procedure. 

It appears i may have a strong enough case to get this CCJ set aside due to me not being allowed home throughout the duration of being sent letters. 

Just to reiterate my question, how do I need to go about completing the process without getting a solicitor involved?

And as a man who is not especially clued up on the legal system at play here, what’s my best plan of action?

sourcrates

There is nothing a solicitor can do, that you cannot do yourself, in this situation, with the right help, the process is the same, the chances of success or failure are just the same, the obvious difference is that instructing council will cost you a lot of money.

You have listed the options yourself, a set aside costs £275, a set aside with consent I believe now costs £115, its just a matter of filling in the forms, which you can download from the internet, posting them to the court, with the fee, and you will then be invited to a hearing to plead your case.

I would not go down the consent route, that can backfire on you, and be especially problematic if the creditor won`t cooperate.

You appear to have good reason why you did not respond to the original court papers, but you may fall down on the defence part of your strategy, however the judge may accept your being on detachment as a good enough reason on both counts, but it will cost you £275 to find out.

Guru9JGQN

Thanks for your reply, that is very helpful. 

I presume i will need to touch base with the parking company first to ask them to sign the documents prior to sending them to the court?

I am fairly sure the parking company generally co-operate (as stated by the solicitors as they’re frequent customers with each other).

However, what makes you believe this consent route may backfire? Surely if
both parties have signed the document and willing this is enough? (Aka what
more defence do I need?)

thanks again

MovingForwards

All the info should be in this section:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/parking-tickets-fines-parking