Got a Court Date mid Jan - Witness Statement Advice Needed Please

ChirpyChicken

Please post it here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6632917/cel-witness-statements-group-thread#latest

eliza2811

Hi all,

We had a mediation phone call on the 10th Oct and nothing was settled, as expected.  MCOL is now reading that the claim has been transferred to Derby.   So I guess we just wait for a court date ?  Do we start gathering evidence now/sort witness statement out at this point ? I will take a look at the NEWBIE thread once more.   Regarding evidence, would photographs be acceptable of the dimly let restaurant car park, showing where the CEL signs used to be ?  I can see them on Google Maps very dated photo from 2023 and there's no lights over them at all. 
Of course, it isn't about the signs.  Its about the car registration pad - was it working and present or not ?  

 We're going away in 31 days on holiday, which I did put down on the relevant form.  

My hubby recorded the mediation phone call and let me listen.  Evidently hundreds of customers went to the restaurant and none of them got PCN's on the date.   I had to laugh.  The car park holds about 10 cars ! It was a Sunday night lol 

Thanks once more...

Gr1pr

Yes, wait for the court order to arrive in the post from Derby 

Yes gather your evidence and start on your WS draft,  but no rush 

Chances are that nothing will be required from you until next year,  so have a good holiday 

eliza2811

Gr1pr said:

Yes, wait for the court order to arrive in the post from Derby 

Yes gather your evidence and start on your WS draft,  but no rush 

Chances are that nothing will be required from you until next year,  so have a good holiday 

Would it be mentioned on MCOL when the court order is sent out ?  We live at a place with a really common street name and frequently post goes missing and we get other people's post.  Thanks.  So looking forward to the holiday.  I hope we don't get an airport parking ticket at East Mids.  I'd be crying :-(  

Thanks once more.

ChirpyChicken

No MCOL is no longer relevant
If you dont get a date within 6 weeks email Derby CC directly and ask them for a copy of the order

eliza2811

ChirpyChicken said:

No MCOL is no longer relevant
If you dont get a date within 6 weeks email Derby CC directly and ask them for a copy of the order

Will do 👍🏻Thank you 

eliza2811

So the Court Date is January. Witness Statement needs to be sorted before 15th Dec. Didn't expect it so soon really. 

I've read the Newbie thread again 🙂 How detailed does the WS need to be? I've no car park signs to photograph.  They can be seen on Google Maps but small and blurred.

The restaurant manager is zero help. Phoned her yesterday. Recorded conversation. She sounded really nervous and kept pausing. I sense BS!! Has changed what she originally emailed to us about when ANPR cameras were taken down. Now saying March/April 2024. Email said Oct 2023 she thought they were switched off. 


Should I photograph the place inside, the car park in the dark? We visited in the dark when got the PCN? 

Any advice, be grateful. Thank you 

Castle

eliza2811 said:

So the Court Date is January. Witness Statement needs to be sorted before 15th Dec. Didn't expect it so soon really. 

And when does the hearing fee have to be paid by?

eliza2811

Castle said:

eliza2811 said:

So the Court Date is January. Witness Statement needs to be sorted before 15th Dec. Didn't expect it so soon really. 

And when does the hearing fee have to be paid by?

By 2pm on 15th December. Court date is 12th Jan. 

Coupon-mad

We doubt they'll pay the hearing fee. CEL often discontinue because they aren't looking for hearings, so this could well be all over v soon.

However, start preparing your WS.

Examples that include Chan & Akande are on lots of recent threads, including by:

@aza123

@Kpmp54