PCN from UK Parking Control Ltd. - Claim Form received

Coupon-mad

Crack on as advised already. It'll be sorted and you can demand compensation too

steve9989

The court system cerftainly takes its time, but here is the latest position.

I called the court's help desk and explained that we did submit the claim form with a defence within the prescribed time and have evidence to that effect in the form of an auto confirmation of receipt. I was advised to email the 5th floor (apparently the N9 and DQ's section, whatever that means), which I did and received a response on 7th June saying that "your case has been referred to a District Judge for directions on how to proceed as the defendant's response wasn't processed within the correct time scale. It can take 8 - 10 weeks to receive a response".

As the deadline for payment before a county court judgement became effective was the end of June, well before the 8 - 10 weeks they wanted, I emailed back to ask what to do to avoid incurring a CCJ. No response. Followed up by email 2 weeks later, still no response. Called the help desk again, held in queue for ages then cut off.

Deadline came and went. Emailed a 3rd time, again no response. In the meantime, started receiving threats of bailiff from dcbl. Finally received letter from the court headed "Notice of Proposed Allocation to the Small Claims Track", which basically stated that the CCJ had been set aside and this was now a defended claim, that the case appeared suitable for allocation to the small claims track and required a Small Claims Directions Questionnaire be filed with the court and copied to the claimant by 25th August. Subsequently (today), received a letter from the court acknowledging receipt of our defence and stating that the claimant has 28 days to indicate that they wish to proceed.

I am currently waiting in the queue for the help desk (again) to establish whether I still have to submit the Small Claims Directions Questionnaire by 25th August as the letter received today seems to have put the ball in the claimant's court.

My real question now is, if I do have to submit the questionnaire, is the small claims track where I should be going? If so, I assume I don't want the small claims mediation service and do want to go to court?

I should add that I have also made an official complaint via the HM Courts and Tribunals Service website requesting compensation for the delays and distress caused by their failings.

milkybk

Yes you want the small claims court and no you don't want mediation. When you fill in the form make sure you state that you should be at the hearing, so you can properly defend yourself.

Coupon-mad

Yes you must file and serve the DQ as the Template Defence Thread and the NEWBIES thread tell you.  Every question in the DQ is already covered, so no assuming is needed.