private "ticket" from North West Parking Ltd, pursued by DCBL. Won court case.

Umkomaas

F3. How many witnesses, including yourself, will give evidence on your behalf at the hearing?

4 (four)

Four?  Who would they be? 

skuther

Umkomaas said:

F3. How many witnesses, including yourself, will give evidence on your behalf at the hearing?

4 (four)

Four?  Who would they be? 

Me and my wife will both be there in person (x2).

Mother-in-law and family friend (x2) also involved that night are providing witness statements comfirming no signage seen (neither entrance signage nor £100 T&C signage, only the single price list sign as per previous uploaded photo) and that we all wandered around in the dark looking for a machine or a sign for how to pay nearly 5mins! and couldn't find any - I don't actually expect them to turn up in person though (unless they happen to be visiting and want to come).

I believe witness expenses apply to everyone who turns up "reasonable travel expenses and up to £95 in lost wages for you or your witnesses", so 1x travel expenses (as we will be coming together in same car), and £95x2.

I am fairly confident that case will be discontinued before court - but if we have to turn up then only thing that will break me is if the court has a private parking company overseeing their parking outside and the case overuns past our paid for parking.... Lol.

skuther

Coupon-mad said:

F4 Are there any days within the next nine months when you, an expert or a witness will not be able to attend court for the hearing?

All of February 2025 + all of March 2025

Surely more unavailable dates?

Think about the Easter holidays. Think about the Summer.  When do you tend to go on holiday? Assume you will book the usual weeks off. When are some close family birthdays? Her birthday? Children?  Does she really want a court claim hearing in April with a newborn?

I didn't want to overdo the unavailable dates - otherwise ideally I would write that we are busy all year...

but of course you are right, will add some more dates.]

Sadly we actually had to cancel a Disney cruise as baby will still be <6month when we were meant to go.

skuther

I previously contacted my local MP about the parking code of conduct and the progress on this and asked to be reassured that it was still ongoing and not stalled.

My MP just got a response back from Alex Norris MP (Parlimentary Undersecretary of State for Local Growth and Building Safety) who responded as "minister responsible for this policy area" (attached as picture).

Then email sent to me was:

Dear xxx

Further to our previous communications, please find attached a copy of the response Mr. Morris has received from the Minister following the enquiries made about the Parking (Code of Practice).

The contents of the letter are self explanatory and we look forward to the Government’s announcement of the new code of practice in due course.

Please be assured of our continued interest.

With good wishes,

xxx,
Senior Casework Manager,
Grahame Morris, M.P.,

Coupon-mad

Yep that ties in with what's happening.

There's an element of going over some old ground because this is a new Labour Government.  They aren't going to just run with what the Tories did without being convinced it is the right thing.

Patience. We (the good guys & gals on the Steering Group) are working hard to make sure they don't drop a clanger.  This is a vital time that must play out.

Nellymoser

I've just emailed my MP too no doubt I'll get the same response even though I've asked for the department's timeline for implementing the code.

Coupon-mad

There's no timeline because it's under discussion.  A very necessary stage.

1505grandad

(Apologies to OP for posting  -  probably not relevant to your actual case)

I hope the unelected HoL are not going to be involved further:-

https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld5802/ldselect/ldsecleg/171/17104.htm

"Draft Private Parking Code of Practice

Date laid: 7 February 2022

4.We have received submissions from three private parking operators, Euro Car Parks Limited, Parkingeye and the Parking Group, which raise a range of concerns about the draft Code.

Conclusion

We regret, however, that the Department has failed to complete its IA, which could have provided a detailed and robust assessment of the expected impact of the changes. This would have been particularly helpful, given that the Department disagrees with the assessment produced by the private parking industry. We are drawing the Code to the special attention of the House on the ground that it is politically or legally important and gives rise to issues of public policy likely to be of interest to the House."

skuther

Did the mediation session yesturday with DCBL.

Mediation service accepted my authority to speak on behalf of my wife - so she chose to listen in but didn't need to say a word.

The mediator was actually very pleasant and calm.

Oddly the experience was actually relaxing and theureupetic for me and my wife.

Mediator spent 30-60sec telling me what DCBL had said and that DCBL had offered to allow repayment over 12months  (haha).

I spent 30-60sec telling him that four adult eyewitness all agreed no contract, no debt, signage was poor at best deliberately misleading at best. I said I felt it was a scam and I don't believe in paying money to scammers and that I was confident that the judge would agree with us and so my offer could only ever be ZERO.

Mediator thanked me for my time and said no point continuing with call.

I now I guess I wait for the court date letter, then almost certainly a discontinuation letter from DCBL - hopefuly before having to waste time having to complete the witness statements + evidence pack.

Coupon-mad

Very good!