VCS - Southend Airport No Stopping - RK - Not Driver - Costs Awarded - Another One Bites the Dust

PeasantsRevolt

Any update on a Court Date?

KeithP

PeasantsRevolt said:

Any update on a Court Date?

Any hearing will be months away. The case has not yet been transferred to a hearing court.

@PeasantsRevolt, do you have a parking issue you want help with?
If so, perhaps you should start a new thread and tell us about it.

stop_this_nonsense

Hi all.

I checked MCOL ... in read-only mode :-) just to see what is going on and might need some reassurance / direction as there is a sanction order - see below:

Claim Status
A claim was issued against you on 23/01/2024
Your acknowledgment of service was submitted on 29/01/2024 at 18:01:36
Your acknowledgment of service was received on 30/01/2024 at 08:05:48
Your defence was received on 22/02/2024
DQ sent to you on 22/02/2024
You filed a DQ on 22/03/2024
General sanctions order was made on 26/03/2024

DQ deadline on the N149A was 11/3. I posted a DQ to VCS on 6/3 (so 3 clear business days) as well as emailing VCS at the same time as dq.cnbc (new email address). Received responses from both so I know it went. Seems CNBC only updated on 22/3?

But what is the sanction order? Have I missed a step, or made an error? Nothing in the post from CNBC or VCS.

Coupon-mad

I suspect the sanctions order is against VCS for not filing a DQ!  You are fine. Wait & see.

stop_this_nonsense

Coupon-mad said:

I suspect the sanctions order is against VCS for not filing a DQ!  You are fine. Wait & see.

Thanks @Coupon-mad. Fingers-crossed it is VCS. Is this a 'normal' thing, do you know?

Coupon-mad

Yes and they'll just send it in & carry on.

stop_this_nonsense

Coupon-mad said:

Yes and they'll just send it in & carry on.

... and what a carry-on it is! 

stop_this_nonsense

Hi all. This has now been allocated to my local court for Dec 2024.

VCS have, as expected, sent me an offer to settle ...

"This matter has now proceeded to the Small Claims Track and Directions have been set by the District Judge.We are confident that we have a strong case against you [ ] and we are entitled to recover the outstanding Parking Charge Notice and any additional costs. However, we are mindful that under the Civil Procedure Rules litigants are expected to try and resolve their disputes wherever possible. Therefore, we are willing to accept a reduced settlement charge of £200.00 [ ] payable within 14 days from the date of this letter. This offer is made on a "without prejudice" (save as to costs) basis.

Should you fail to accept our offer of settlement then we will proceed to Trial and bring this letter to the Court's attention upon the question of costs in order seek further costs of £220.00 incurred in having to instruct a local Solicitor to attend the hearing in conjunction with the amount claimed on the Claim Form. Payment of £200.00 needs to be made to the following bank details using the reference XXXXXXXXXX."

I want to respond. Suggest:

"Why should I accept your offer? I have already drafted my witness statement and am eagerly looking forward to hearing VCS’s representative plead your ridiculous and baseless case. I fully expect that the judge will rule in my favour, at which point I will be requesting costs for VCS’s completely unreasonable behaviour. I fully expect that you will end up paying me for my time. I therefore reject your offer."

Suggestions welcome!

KeithP

I would suggest you do nothing.

When is your Witness Statement filing deadline? 
I would expect a discontinuation before then - maybe even in a matter of days from now.

Coupon-mad

I agree - do nothing with that but crack on with your WS and evidence.