DCB LEGAL, MET, court case, at WS stage

Cantstopwontstop

Notice of Allocation to the Small

Claims Track (Hearing)

In the County Court at

Clerkenwell & Shoreditch

Claim Number

Date

2026

MET PARKING SERVICES LTD

THE

COUNTY COND

1s Claimant

1 Defendant

Ref

District Judge ……. has considered the statements of case and directions questionnaire filed and allocated the claim to the small claims track.

Warning: you must comply with the terms imposed upon you by this order: otherwise your case is liable to be struck out or some other sanction imposed. If you cannot comply you are expected to make formal application to the court before any deadline imposed upon you expires.

1. This Claim is allocated to the Small Claims Track and the parties are referred to Part 27 of the Civil Procedure Rules and the Practice Direction of that Part for guidance on how the hearing of the claim will be conducted.
2. The claim will be heard at a court on a date and at a time which is set out on a notice attached to this Order, or which will be sent to you later. The Court reserves the right to change the place and/or time of the hearing.
3. From the available papers, it is estimated that the hearing will take two hours. If a party is aware of a reason why this estimate might be substantially inaccurate, that party must notify the court immediately.
4. The parties are encouraged always to try to settle the case by negotiation. The parties are encouraged to contact each other with a view to trying to settle the case or narrow the issues. The court must be informed immediately if the case is settled.
5. The following paragraphs set out the Judge's directions for preparation for the hearing. Failure to comply with the directions may result in the case having to be adjourned and the party at fault having to pay costs.

The following Directions apply to this Claim:

1. Each party must deliver to the other party and to the court office copies of all documents on which that party intends to rely at the hearing no later than 4pm on 12th October 2026
2. The original documents must be brought to the hearing.

Notes

• Leaflets explaining more about what you should do and what happens when your case is allocated to the small claims track are available from the court office or online at https:// www.gov.uk/government/publications/small-claims-track-fast-track-and-multi-track-ex305-and-ex306 and search for leaflet

EX306.

If you cannot, or choose not to, attend the hearing, you must write and tell the court at least 7 days before the date of the hearing. The district judge will hear the case in your absence, but will take account of your statement of case and any other documents you have filed

If you do not attend the hearing and do not give notice that you will not attend, the district judge may strike out your claim, defence or counterclaim. If the claimant attends but the defendant does not, the district judge may make a decision based on the evidence of the claimant only.

The court office at the County Court at Clerkenwell & Shoreditch, The Gee Street Courthouse, 29-41 Gee Street, London, ECIV 3RE. When corresponding with the court, please address forms or letters to the Court Manager and quote the claim number. Tel: 03001235577. Check if you can issue your claim online. It will save you time and money. Go to www.moneyclaim.gov.uk to find out more.

Produced by:

Gr1pr

So, that order is talking about BOTH PARTIES ( you and DCB LEGAL ) having to submit their Witness Statement plus Exhibits bundle by 12th October ( so WS , EVIDENCE etc ) , not defence . This is fuly covered in the 2nd post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum

And that order doesn't mention DCBL, because they are not involved here, just DCB LEGAL

When is the hearing fee deadline date from that court order. ?

When is the hearing date from that court order. ?

Please edit your thread title to something more suitable like

DCB LEGAL, MET, court case, at WS stage

Coupon-mad

They will discontinue before the hearing fee has to be paid. Surely that date is stated on the reverse? What date?

You could always email DCB Legal asking for their Notice of Discontinuance by email this week, otherwise you will put in a costs assessment with your Witness Statement and ask the court to assess your costs on the indemnity basis due to their unreasonable conduct.

(As I said, that order is fully expected and has nothing to do with your defence).

Cantstopwontstop

thank you for your replies. I don’t think the court date is set yet. But let me check the letter and I will get back to you.

Gr1pr

If its not set, they may set it after the WS have both been submitted, as mentioned in the court order

Meaning, paperwork first, then we will look at the case again

Cantstopwontstop

1. The judge may refuse to consider a document or take it into account if a copy of it has not been sent to the other party as required by this Order.
2. The documents to be sent to the other party and the court must include the statements of all witnesses (including the parties themselves).
3. Witness statements must:

1. Be in the witness's own language;
2. Start with the name of the case and the claim number;
3. State the full name and address of the witness;
4. Set out the witness's evidence clearly in numbered paragraphs on numbered pages;
5. End with this paragraph (provided in the language of the witness statement): I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth; and
6. be signed by the witness and dated with the date on which it was signed.

1. If a witness is unable to read the statement in the form produced to the court, other than by reason of language alone, the statement must include a certificate that it has been read or interpreted to the witness by a suitably qualified person. Where a witness statement is in a foreign language the party wishing to rely on it must have it translated, file the foreign language statement with the court and the translator must sign the original statement and certify the translation is accurate. If a witness who has made a statement is to give evidence or be cross-examined and is unable to do so in spoken English (or Welsh if the hearing is in Wales), the party relying on that witness must ensure that a suitable independent interpreter is available.
2. The judge may refuse to hear the evidence or consider any statement of any witness whose statement has not been prepared and copied to the other party and the court in accordance with the paragraphs above.
3. Neither party may rely at the hearing on any report from an expert unless permission has been granted by the court beforehand. Anyone wishing to rely on an expert must write to the court immediately on receipt of this Order and seek permission, giving an explanation why the assistance of an expert is necessary.
4. Any party intending to show a video or DVD, or play any recorded material as evidence must:

1. contact the court at once to make arrangements for the necessary equipment to he made available and
2. provide the other party with a copy of the recording or the opportunity to view or hear it no later than 4pm on 12th October 2026
3. where the material has been edited, make an unedited copy available to the other party.

1. Because this Order has been made without a hearing, the parties have the right to apply to have the order set aside, varied or stayed. A party making such an application must send or deliver the application to the court (together with any appropriate fee) to arrive within seven days of service of this Order.
2. The Claimant (unless they are unrepresented and the Defendant is legally represented, in which case the Defendant must) file at court in hard copy and send to the other party not more than 7 days before and no fewer than 4 days before the hearing a page numbered bundle which must include in the following order: 1) The Claim Form and Particulars of Claim; 2) Defence and any Counterclaim; 3) Any Reply and Defence to Counterciaim; 4) The Claimant's witness statements) and documents attached; 5) and, the Defendant's witness statements) and documents attached. The Claimant and the Defendant will need to bring their own copy to the hearing.

Unless the claimant does by 4.00pm on the 30 October 2026 pay to the court the trial fee of $27.00 or file a properly completed application (i.e one which provides all the required information in the manner requested) for help with fees, then the claim will be struck out with effect from 30 October 2026 without further order and, unless the court orders otherwise, you will also be liable for the costs which the defendant has incurred.

The hearing of the claim will take place at 10:00 AM on the 24 November

Coupon-mad

Ah OK - so WS first. Annoying!

I'd email DCB Legal today, asking for their Notice of Discontinuance by the end of the week because if they continue, next week you will submit a substantial witness statement with full costs required on the indemnity basis, in the event of later discontinuation.

1505grandad

"………..trial fee of $27.00 or file a properly completed application …………"

Just checking - assume it is pounds not dollars - your typo?

Cantstopwontstop

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82161353#Comment_82161353

It’s a typo. Its £27.

Cantstopwontstop

I have just sent them tehe email below.

Dear DCB Legal,

If your client does not intend to proceed with this claim, please provide a copy of the Notice of Discontinuance by the end of this week.

Otherwise, I will proceed in accordance with the Court’s directions.

Regards,