CLAIM FORM - I have a LEASE CAR as a Small Business Owner - Unsure what to do next

Jenni_D

I'm surprised this one went this far, and didn't end up as a cancellation ... the PPC must either be stupid or feel the risk is worth taking.

Gr1pr

freedom42 said:

Le_Kirk said:

The judge will guide you and ask you questions and (may) give you an opportunity to speak.  Often posted by @Coupon-mad is the advice to read the room/judge; look out for and listen for visual and verbal clues; see if the judge is on your side and whether or not you need to say anything.  Don't forget to ask for your costs when you win!  Good luck.

That’s a great tip! Just waiting to go in now. Thank you.

So, how did you get on please  ?

freedom42

Good news everyone! I won the case. THANK YOU so much for all your help.

The tip from @Le_Kirk and @Coupon-mad was correct - take the cues from the judge. I didn't have to say much at all in the end. I also said 'your honour' and 'yes sir' whenever I could.

Here's what happened for any other newbies like me:

The claimant didn't show up in person.

The judge had read through all my defence and witness statement, and when I came in, he summarised the 2 main key points - the claimant had not complied with PoFA and secondly,  to do with the particulars of the claim lacking the necessary details to form valid legal case. He talked it through for the record. He said he didn't need to go into further points I had shared about signage etc, as those 2 points were enough for the case to be struck out. I agreed.

I found it hard to follow exactly what the judge meant when he was explaining it all as I find it all quite technical, but the judge seemed to know what he was doing and it was very clear to him that the case should be struck out.

He ended by saying, 'anything else you wish to say?' I finished with asking for £300 of expenses which I worked out (time spent on case, lost earning travelling to court, printing costs etc), but he didn't think that was reasonable, but he said I could have £10 for my travel, which is fine by me. How do I claim that £10? He never told me.

I want to say a BIG THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to encourage me to go to court and helped me with all the paperwork involved. It saved me £500 and I feel justice has been done.

My attitude was, whether I win or lose, I will learn something and will give it a go. It was a fair amount of work doing the defence and witness statements, but a good learning process.

Jenni_D

You should also have been awarded a minimum of half a day's payment (circa £50?) for attending the hearing?

But well done - that's a monkey off your back.  

Coupon-mad

Very well done!

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST! 

Please show us the Judge's Order when it arrives because it should state a short reason and it'll say when the C must pay your £10 by.

freedom42

Jenni_D said:

You should also have been awarded a minimum of half a day's payment (circa £50?) for attending the hearing?

But well done - that's a monkey off your back.  

Because it was through my business, he asked me if I was missing out on any specific contractual work by being there, and I said no, so I think he decided I am not eligible. I probably didn't answer that question well.
He also asked me if I paid for the travel via me or my business, and I said my business.