County Court Claim from Watford in Aug 19 - need to file a defence TODAY!

KeithP

So you didn't read this bit of my earlier post...

KeithP said:

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

See the words 'by email' in there?


And then this bit...

KeithP said:

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'.

That is because we know that the MCOL website will truncate a Defence as you have now found out.

So your Defence as filed does not include a Statement of Truth?
Expect it to be rejected on that point alone.

ripofflondon

Umkomaas - thanks. I guess sending something this PM shows I'm at least TRYING to do the right thing and keeps me in the game as you say!  That's good wording to use 'you have realised that the MCOL portal has truncated your Defence and would they be good enough to substitute it with your attachment.'  And I'll add in something about 'Defence as filed does not include a Statement of Truth because MCOL website truncated it'  

@KeithP - thanks too.  I admit I didn't read all the info in the Newbies thread - was hurrying this as I had work stuff to get done.    

Are my Paras 2 & 3 OK?  

KeithP

ripofflondon said:

@KeithP - thanks too.  I admit I didn't read all the info in the Newbies thread - was hurrying this as I had work stuff to get done. 

But you've had four weeks - not four hours.

ripofflondon

Keith - I know, I know.  I let it creep up on me and I shouldn't have done.  

ripofflondon

ANYWAY, amended defence now filed via email.  Anything I need to do now apart from sit back and wait to hear from the Court?  

Umkomaas

ripofflondon said:

ANYWAY, amended defence now filed via email.  Anything I need to do now apart from sit back and wait to hear from the Court?  

Start working on your Witness Statement and evidence bundle ready for any court hearing. That is some months away, but given your track record, please don't leave this one until 4 hours before due date/time!

The final draft (not the first one) by @aphex007 is currently viewed as the best example of a well developed and laid out WS. Look at that as an example, not a template - it's not for simple copying and pasting!

All the steps from here on in are detailed in the 12 points shown in the first post of the Template Defence sticky and the 'What Happens And When' section of the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post.

Coupon-mad

ripofflondon said:

ANYWAY, amended defence now filed via email.  Anything I need to do now apart from sit back and wait to hear from the Court?  

The emailed defence doesn't count.  You sent it after the one you shoe-horned into the box on MCOL we tell everyone never to use.

Therefore, because MCOL takes your first answer, your defence is the shorter one you squished into the online box that will now truncate it and make it hard to read.  Nothing you can do about that now, we are where we are.

No need to worry about cropping off the statement of truth though because the MCOL system includes that automatically and it's not needed in the wording you submit.

Please now re-read the 12 first steps in the first post of the Template defence thread, which already covers the standard questions about the N180 form and the tedious template letter from the solicitors which comes next.

Need to get you back on piste and prepared.

ripofflondon

Thanks everyone and sorry again for lastminute.com
Coupon-mad - would it help if I were to call up the CCBC and ask them to substitute the amended defence for the MCOL one?  

Umkomaas

ripofflondon said:

Thanks everyone and sorry again for lastminute.com
Coupon-mad - would it help if I were to call up the CCBC and ask them to substitute the amended defence for the MCOL one?  

Can't do any harm, but whatever is agreed that helps you, get them to confirm in writing. You may have to initiate that by emailing them after the phone call, detailing your understanding of the telephone call's content, then ask them to simply confirm by return. 

Get the name of the CCBC rep with whom you speak and send your email 'FAO'.

ripofflondon

Umkomaas - brilliant, will do - cheers.  

These b---ds don't hang around - I've already had the Directions Questionnaire emailed to me by Gladstones