VCS/ELMS @ Gloucester Peel Centre

smithy_gas

Hi all. Reading for a fair few months now after receiving a PCN for overstaying at aforementioned car park. 

After thinking I got my case quashed via the landowner (email saying it would happen) I received County Court Claim letter. 

I’ve been following due process as per the newbies thread and AOS was submitted in good time and I am writing my defence. Just got a couple of questions on the latter:

Does the fact the landowner was going to cancel/intervene hold any weight at this stage or should I just include in WS evidence pack?

My overstay was pretty meaty (over 3 hours in a 2 hour car park) but in a car park where it was previously 3 hours. Shall I use this as the basis of my argument in regards to the signage still not being clear?

Any help gratefully received. 

Coupon-mad

Yes and yes. Mention both in defence.

What's the date of issue of the claim?

On what date did you do the AOS?

Which PPC and solicitor?

smithy_gas

Date of Issue was 24th May. AOS done on the 3rd June and acknowledged on the 6th June. 

PPC is Vehicle Control Services and Elms legal are solicitor. 

Thanks for answering my questions - the landowner intervention was the main one I wanted to confirm was worth including at this stage. I can finalise now. 

KeithP

smithy_gas said:

Date of Issue was 24th May. AOS done on the 3rd June and acknowledged on the 6th June. 

With a Claim Issue Date of 24th May, and having filed an Acknowledgment of Service in a timely manner, you have until 4pm on Monday 27th June 2022 to file your Defence.

That's nearly a week 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.

Do not try and file a Defence via the MoneyClaimOnline website. Once an Acknowledgment of Service has been filed, the MCOL website should be treated as 'read only'.

smithy_gas

Hi guys

N180 received via snail mail. Do I have to return this via post (including copies) or can I do it online and email again? Sure I read the latter was feasible but cannot find it now… 

KeithP

smithy_gas said:

Hi guys

N180 received via snail mail. Do I have to return this via post (including copies) or can I do it online and email again? Sure I read the latter was feasible but cannot find it now… 

Go back to that checklist you were following when you filed your Defence.

Items 7, 8, 9 and 10 on that list tell you exactly how to deal with that.

smithy_gas

KeithP said:

smithy_gas said:

Hi guys

N180 received via snail mail. Do I have to return this via post (including copies) or can I do it online and email again? Sure I read the latter was feasible but cannot find it now… 

Go back to that checklist you were following when you filed your Defence.

Items 7, 8, 9 and 10 on that list tell you exactly how to deal with that.

Thanks - I closed the defence tab when I completed my defence, rookie. 

Coupon-mad

No worries.

The first few letters are covered in the Template Defence thread, then later stages like the vital Witness Statement and evidence exchange, in the NEWBIES thread under 'IMPORTANT: KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN'.

But although this next few weeks will go quiet on your case, don't disappear from the forum please.

Come back regularly this Summer to check when the final Govt Public Consultation opens, discussed here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6345732/secure-parking-solutions-ntk/p6

I am sure you will be keen to have your say! 

smithy_gas

Appreciate the help so far… it would have been so much easier to pay £70 but I why should I?! I am so glad I came across this forum and the plethora of advice, resources and people willing to help. It’s great. 

Just to keep you in the loop, as seems to be the case with VCS/Elms Legal, VCS have taken the case back in house after defence submitted and N180 sent in. Standard letter sent to me informing me of this and offering a “discount” to end proceedings. No thanks. 

I’ll be loitering as things progress so this thread should rumble on yet. 

Umkomaas

smithy_gas said:

Appreciate the help so far… it would have been so much easier to pay £70 but I why should I?! I am so glad I came across this forum and the plethora of advice, resources and people willing to help. It’s great. 

Just to keep you in the loop, as seems to be the case with VCS/Elms Legal, VCS have taken the case back in house after defence submitted and N180 sent in. Standard letter sent to me informing me of this and offering a “discount” to end proceedings. No thanks. 

I’ll be loitering as things progress so this thread should rumble on yet. 

Fairly standard, predictable part of the VCS process.  Possibly a discontinuation in the offing, but not as guaranteed as (say) a DCB Legal/Highview capitulation. Hang in there. 

smithy_gas

Court date set for 16th December. I know witness statement due 14 days before then but do you recommend waiting or getting it in early? I suspect waiting as I’ll be showing my hand otherwise? There is a date in November for VCS to pay the fee by (18th) so worth waiting until then to submit, even if I prepare before?