73 year old pensioner - QDR Solicitors taking me to court

MLalami50

Hello, I am looking for some help and advice. I received a letter from the Civil National Business Centre a few weeks ago acting on behalf of QDR Solicitors / Euro Car Parks stating that they are trying to recover over £470 for two parking fines from over two years ago that I have no recollection of.

I used the template from the Newbies thread and I adapted it to include my defense stating that the parking fines were from over two years ago and that I have no memory of them. QDR then sent me one letter shortly after stating one line: Quote "Please know that we intend to continue.". I have now received a new letter titled "Notice of Proposed Allocation to the Small Claims Track" asking for me to complete form N180.

I'm incredibly terrified as they are asking for an extortionate amount and I'm a 73 year old widow whom is retired from the NHS after 45 years of service. I'm struggling to sleep at night and I don't really have anyone to turn to. I'd be so very grateful if somebody could help!

D_P_Dance

99 times out of s hundred this is a scam and, if they do take this to court, very likely thy well struggle as £235 per alleged breach seems excessive.  Have you complained  to your MP

Calm ddown, thousands of this tickets are each each day and the courts are flooded by these scammers.

DE_612183

Have you read the Newbees thread? This does NOT sound like a scam that can be ignored - you will need to follow the instructions in the thread.

Do they give any details of the car parks concerned etc?

la531983

Your age and previous occupation are both irrelevant btw.

Coupon-mad

MLalami50 said:

Hello, I am looking for some help and advice. I received a letter from the Civil National Business Centre a few weeks ago acting on behalf of QDR Solicitors / Euro Car Parks stating that they are trying to recover over £470 for two parking fines from over two years ago that I have no recollection of.

I used the template from the Newbies thread and I adapted it to include my defense stating that the parking fines were from over two years ago and that I have no memory of them. QDR then sent me one letter shortly after stating one line: Quote "Please know that we intend to continue.". I have now received a new letter titled "Notice of Proposed Allocation to the Small Claims Track" asking for me to complete form N180.

I'm incredibly terrified as they are asking for an extortionate amount and I'm a 73 year old widow whom is retired from the NHS after 45 years of service. I'm struggling to sleep at night and I don't really have anyone to turn to. I'd be so very grateful if somebody could help!

I think you will find it's less scary than you think.  In fact I know it is because I've appeared at these hearings several times and I'm a retired lady like you, just a few years younger.  Judges are generally solicitors from our generation and they make the hearing easy to follow.  They will look at the evidence and witness accounts.

How to fill in the N180 (DO NOT AGREE TO MEDIATION) is in the NEWBIES thread second post, which also explains about Witness Statement & evidence stage before the hearing.

Do you recall anything about the PCNs?

What does the detailed Particulars of Claim (POC) say?  This is the paperwork QDR sent 2 weeks after the Claim form.

Show us a redacted photo of the POC or ask someone to do that for you over the weekend if you can't.

Most likely it's for taking too long (according to them) at a supermarket or retail park.

Are you disabled by any medical condition that is ongoing and would have slowed you down physically or cognitively when shopping? If so you are protected by the Equality Act 2010 and are legally allowed more than the fixed free parking time.

MLalami50

Coupon-mad said:

MLalami50 said:

Hello, I am looking for some help and advice. I received a letter from the Civil National Business Centre a few weeks ago acting on behalf of QDR Solicitors / Euro Car Parks stating that they are trying to recover over £470 for two parking fines from over two years ago that I have no recollection of.

I used the template from the Newbies thread and I adapted it to include my defense stating that the parking fines were from over two years ago and that I have no memory of them. QDR then sent me one letter shortly after stating one line: Quote "Please know that we intend to continue.". I have now received a new letter titled "Notice of Proposed Allocation to the Small Claims Track" asking for me to complete form N180.

I'm incredibly terrified as they are asking for an extortionate amount and I'm a 73 year old widow whom is retired from the NHS after 45 years of service. I'm struggling to sleep at night and I don't really have anyone to turn to. I'd be so very grateful if somebody could help!

I think you will find it's less scary than you think.  In fact I know it is because I've appeared at these hearings several times and I'm a retired lady like you, just a few years younger.  Judges are generally solicitors from our generation and they make the hearing easy to follow.  They will look at the evidence and witness accounts.

How to fill in the N180 (DO NOT AGREE TO MEDIATION) is in the NEWBIES thread second post, which also explains about Witness Statement & evidence stage before the hearing.

Do you recall anything about the PCNs?

What does the detailed Particulars of Claim (POC) say?  This is the paperwork QDR sent 2 weeks after the Claim form.

Show us a redacted photo of the POC or ask someone to do that for you over the weekend if you can't.

Most likely it's for taking too long (according to them) at a supermarket or retail park.

Are you disabled by any medical condition that is ongoing and would have slowed you down physically or cognitively when shopping? If so you are protected by the Equality Act 2010 and are legally allowed more than the fixed free parking time.

Thank you so much for your response! I will fill in the form to deny a mediation. I have attached a few photos of the claim in question. I honestly do not remember parking there as it was so long ago. As a retired woman, I only use my vehicle for grocery shopping.

Coupon-mad

So one PCN says you didn't pay (or maybe you did, but made a typo in your VRM?) and the other says you didn't pay for long enough.

Are you disabled by any medical condition that is ongoing and would have slowed you down physically or cognitively when shopping? If so you are protected by the Equality Act 2010 and are legally allowed more than the fixed free parking time AND more time allowance for the tariff paid.

MLalami50

I have a hernia for the last few years that reduces my mobility. Would it be worth getting my doctor to write a note of some sort?

MLalami50

Btw Coupon-mad, I just wanted to say thank you for all your help and support that you provide on this forum. You truly are a star x

Coupon-mad

MLalami50 said:

I have a hernia for the last few years that reduces my mobility. Would it be worth getting my doctor to write a note of some sort?

Yes that continuing condition meets the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010.

So, it will be worth stating in your Witness Statement (when you get your hearing date) and attaching evidence from your GP that this is persisting and continuing to affect you since before the two dates, thus you did have reduced mobility.  You may have to pay the GP for a letter.

Show us the exact defence you put in please.

MLalami50

Coupon-mad said:

MLalami50 said:

I have a hernia for the last few years that reduces my mobility. Would it be worth getting my doctor to write a note of some sort?

Yes that continuing condition meets the definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010.

So, it will be worth stating in your Witness Statement (when you get your hearing date) and attaching evidence from your GP that this is persisting and continuing to affect you since before the two dates, thus you did have reduced mobility.  You may have to pay the GP for a letter.

Show us the exact defence you put in please.

I'm reaching out to my GP this afternoon. Meanwhile I have uploaded a redacted copy of my defence here. Please see attached