UKPC Civil National Business Centre fine

londonnitram

Hi everyone.

Back in March 2023 I went to an Aldi later at night, shopped there and sat in my car doing my work notes (NHS Nurse) while eating with the engine running.

I did not realise that the tiny little UKPC sign in the car park said you cannot stay past 23.30. The only sign visible on entry is a giant sign "3 HOURS MAXIMUM STAY" (I was there for 2 hrs doing my notes on laptop after shift) so i stayed 12 minutes over.

Received fine, appealed explaining I was Nurse on duty, had shopped in Aldi and could not see the tiny sign in the dark, provided my work proof on shift, aldi receipt etc. Even got the Mayor of Watford involved and my MP, UKPC did not budge. This particular car park was in the local news over a year ago for poor signage and had to refund tickets.

I ignored the usual debt collection scum letter and now I have this letter delivered. I have only returned from a work trip 3 days ago to find this.

What is my best course of action? I have read mutliple threads and understand the AOS has to be filed.

My question is though, if I do try to defend and fail will a CCJ be put against me? Also if I do try to defend do I actually have to go to the court to defend?

It also states on the back that the 14 days to reply starts 5 days after the issue date (22nd November) so I believe I still have a few days to decide what to do.

Thanks for any help

KeithP

With a Claim Issue Date of 22nd November, you have until Monday 11th December to file an Acknowledgment of Service but there is nothing to be gained by delaying it. 

To file an Acknowledgment of Service, follow the guidance in the Dropbox file linked from the second post in the NEWBIES thread.

Having filed an Acknowledgment of Service in a timely manner, you have until 4pm on Thursday 28th December 2023 to file your Defence.

That's three weeks 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 again at the second post on the NEWBIES thread - immediately following where you found the Acknowledgment of Service guidance.

Don't miss the deadline for filing an Acknowledgment of Service, nor that 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'.

londonnitram

Thanks so much for the reply.

I definitely won't miss the deadlines for either the AOS or the Defence.

I wanted to ask though, if I file for AOS and defend is it still possible for me to get a CCJ? If the court sides with UKPC?

Because a CCJ on my file would be far more damaging than the £250.

Thanks for any more help!

KeithP

If you were to lose the a court case and paid what the court demanded within the timescale allowed, then there will be no lasting County Court Judgment against you.

Anyway, that's enough talk about losing. At this stage it is not even certain that there will be a hearing.   

londonnitram

Thank you so much for the encouragement. My final question, very sorry! The cost that the court could demand is that the £255 in the letter? Or can it drastically go up to the £1000s? Sorry for pestering!

KeithP

So you're still talking about losing.

It is highly likely that if you were to lose, then the amount you would have to pay would be lass than that being asked for by the Claimant.

Coupon-mad

My question is though, if I do try to defend and fail will a CCJ be put against me?

No, because you'd pay, and it would be less than the claim.  YES. LESS. Not £1000s.
LESS THAN THE CLAIM.

We DON'T put people at a risk of a CCJ.  Worry ye not.

But it won't go to a hearing IMHO. We suspect UKPC will discontinue cases at WS stage, as they are new to it and it's too expensive for them to send a rep to a hearing.

Also if I do try to defend do I actually have to go to the court to defend?

Yes if there's an in-person hearing - many are video calls now - but see above. 

Castle

There's a VRM showing on the POC's.

Coupon-mad

Here it is redacted:

londonnitram

Thank you so much for all the help everyone, massively appreciated. Will work on my defence now! Gonna get these thieving gits.