Parking Charge, assumed to be the driver - Claim form received......

ChillyDragon51

Thanks everyone for your responses. Must have been having a moment, and I think I must have been repeatedly clicking on the same link when there were 3 to choose from (it's been a long week.......)
So I've gone with help from other posters and used....  "determination without a hearing seems to provide the legally represented claimant a disproportionate advantage to ensure payment of inflated charges, following the issue of repeated cut and paste paperwork using a misleading and aggressive narrative. The defendant wishes to question the claimant to expose omissions, incorrect evidence...."
Should I be adding anything else?
Thank you so much.

Coupon-mad

Nope that'll do.

ChillyDragon51

Hey - HNY to you all.  I received a text message this morning reminding me about the mediation appointment TOMORROW!!! - After holding on the phone with GOV.UK mediation referrals for a long while, it became apparent I had never received the original notification... I have it now and I've read through it. Seems they are proceeding........ 

Coupon-mad

No they are not "proceeding"; this is normal. Two minute phone call. Don't do the preparation the letter stupidly says.

Re-read the first 12 steps in the Template Defence thread which tells you all about pointless Mediation stage already.

ChillyDragon51

OK, will do - thank you. 

ChillyDragon51

Update: Had the mediation.  Mediator was very pleasant, kind, reassuring and 'independent'.  They made me the offer to settle from the other side, to which I declined.  They asked was I prepared to make any kind of counter-offer, I said no and I explained the reasons why and mentioned a previous similar case which I felt could apply.  Once I read the quote from the judge in question, the kind, reassuring independence seemed to melt away somewhat and was replaced with information regarding the ramifications of not settling out of court and that the judge must rule based on law, not emotion. I suggested emotion wasn't necessary, common sense and being human meant the case law I would quote could be enough for anyone reasonable to find in my favour.  They then went on to explain the costs associated with losing, and that the amount as it stands would increase.  Once asked again and declined for the 3rd or 4th time if I had any desire to make them an offer to settle, and they reminded me this would actually go to court, we said our goodbyes.  

Does any one have any idea how long before I hear a court date or discontinuance?  Is there a time limit?

Thanks.

Gr1pr

Not really,  courts are backed up and overflowing,  but expect it to be between 3 and 9 months,  probably this year 

Any discontinuance will be long after you receive a court date,  like these 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations#latest

Coupon-mad

No time limit. Should be this year.

Complain and give feedback that the Mediator lied and/or scaremongered about costs:

"They then went on to explain the costs associated with losing, and that the amount as it stands would increase."

Not true.

If you went to a hearing and lost, the £70 'extortion' would be disallowed. Interest likely also disallowed. That's a lot less even if a hearing fee of £25 is paid, which in most parking cases it is not paid, and the 'outrageous scammer' industry discontinues.

Tell the Mediation Service jn your complaint that DCB Legal almost always discontinue single PCN claims at WS stage and are appearing to 'play' and take financial advantage of a very Claimant-biased and enabling court system.

Ask why nobody is tracking final outcomes after failed mediation, for real insight? Nobody has spotted the game and abuse of the court system? Why not? It's a public disgrace and waste of taxpayers' money. Why are they propping up rogue parking claims and lying about costs when in fact - if a person RARELY loses a 'scam' parking case - they pay LESS?

ChillyDragon51

Hi everyone. Court date received. Witness Statement required by next month, hearing fee payable by the claimant 4 weeks after that and the hearing around another 4 weeks later. 
Just thinking about the witness statement which I'll not waste any time beginning to put together, would you say anything about the mediation let-down there? Would that be classed as emotional rather than factual? I don't think so, but I'm always second guessing myself.....

Coupon-mad

ChillyDragon51 said:

Hi everyone. Court date received. Witness Statement required by next month, hearing fee payable by the claimant 4 weeks after that and the hearing around another 4 weeks later. 
Just thinking about the witness statement which I'll not waste any time beginning to put together, would you say anything about the mediation let-down there? Would that be classed as emotional rather than factual? I don't think so, but I'm always second guessing myself.....

No, it's not relevant to that court but it IS VERY RELEVANT to this (below):

Please do the same as I explained to this poster (the Enquiry closes in on Friday):
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81312891/#Comment_81312891

Doing this Enquiry before it closes tomorrow will help to change things, not just re?Mediation approaches but the bigger picture too: the litigation abuse by this industry.

We need to stop it and this is how. Be heard!