MET Park ticket from 2023

Mikee_F

Hi everyone, 

Background: Back in 2023, I went to pick up someone from Stansted airport, at night, and ended up getting a parking fine. However, to me this was odd, as I had done it before going at night to pick up other people and in another occasion I even stayed longer and never received any fine (lucky I guess?). 

As such when I received the letter I tried to contact the MET park company via one of their website forms, it had shown the form had been sent and that was it, until I received the further letters that the period to pay the lower amount had passed. I still tried to use the form again as I didn't have time to be calling them over the phone, this time I took a print screen when the form went supposedly went through. Which didn't work as they then sent it to a debt collector, I then took half day one day to contact them through chat, but at the time they said that the fine was with the debt collector so it was no longer their problem. 

I then left it at that and basically ended up ignoring. It went initially through Debt Recovery Plus, they sent a few letters and that was it until they passed onto DCBLegal. fast forward I now have received a letter from HM Courts issued on the 18th Feb, and I have acknowldged the claim on the 4th March, as the first step. 

My questions are:

1. Do simply copy paste the defence template changing the details to my particular case?
2. Can't really tell if the letter is POFA or non-POFA, to me it seems similar to the non-POFA letter (attached)

I am not too sure at the moment how to draft the defence, I know I need to email it afterwards a signed copy of it. 

Coupon-mad

That's non-POFA, so you might only wish to admit to being the keeper at this point, in your paragraph 2.

Then you can add some facts in para 3.1 after the usual para 3 by shahib_02 which is already linked for everyone in the Template Defence.

We only want to see your para 3.1 please. You can copy para 3 yourself and change the date there, to make sense. We don't need to check that simple bit, nor the Template Defence. DON'T show us the whole bog standard template defence...thanks!

Gr1pr

Post a redacted picture of the POC on the lower left of the claim form after hiding the VRM details first 

I suspect that you will be seeking the recent typical defence template adapted by member @Shahib_02,  an adaptation of the defence template thread in announcements 

Your defence concentrates on rebutting the POC,  not so much on the alleged breach 

You definitely didn't receive a fine, Met Parking issued you with a Parking Charge Notice,  ( it says so just below the yellow stripe on the right of the NTK , plus the dark stripe nearthebottom  ) , so just an invoice 

KeithP

Mikee_F said:

I now have received a letter from HM Courts issued on the 18th Feb, and I have acknowledged the claim on the 4th March, as the first step. 

Hello and welcome.

With a Claim Issue Date of 18th February, and having filed an Acknowledgment of Service('AOS') in a timely manner, you have until 4pm on Monday 24th March 2025 to file a Defence.

That's just over a week away. Plenty of time to produce a Defence but please don't leave it to the last minute.

To create a Defence, and then file a Defence by email, look at the second post in the NEWBIES thread.

Don't miss the deadline for filing a Defence.

Do not try and file a Defence via the MoneyClaimOnline website. Once an AOS has been filed, the MCOL website should be treated as 'read only'.

Mikee_F

Coupon-mad said:

That's non-POFA, so you might only wish to admit to being the keeper at this point, in your paragraph 2.

Then you can add some facts in para 3.1 after the usual para 3 by shahib_02 which is already linked for everyone in the Template Defence.

We only want to see your para 3.1 please. You can copy para 3 yourself and change the date there, to make sense. We don't need to check that simple bit, nor the Template Defence. DON'T show us the whole bog standard template defence...thanks!

Hi,

Thanks, so basically para 2 I leave it with the end of being only the keeper, due to non-POFA letter and that's it I won't add that I am the driver.

So para 3 it's just the paragraph from the thread with the date changed and 3.1 would be the below? The rest of the defence I only need to leave it as is or is there anything else I need to adapt to my situation?

---------------------------------------------------------------//----------------------------------------------//----------------------------

3.1 Particulars of Claim 1. The Defendant (D) is indebted to the Claimant (C) for a Parking Charge issued to vehicle XXXXXXX(my plate number) at (346) Southgate Car Park.

2. The PCN(s) were issued on 28/11/2023
3. The defendant is pursued as the driver of the vehicle for breach of the terms on the signs (the contract). Reason:Authorised vehicles only
4. In the alternative the defendant is pursued as the keeper pursuant to POFA 2012, Schedule  4.
AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS
1. £170 being the total of the PCN(s) and damages.
2. Interest at a rate of 8% per annum pursuant to s.69 of the County Courts Act 1984 from the date hereof at a daily rate of £.02 until judgment or sooner payment.
3. Costs and court fees

---------------------------------------------------------------//----------------------------------------------//----------------------------

Le_Kirk

You don't need to show the POC in the defence; that is what you appear to be doing!  If I am wrong, apologies.

Mikee_F

Le_Kirk said:

You don't need to show the POC in the defence; that is what you appear to be doing!  If I am wrong, apologies.

My understanding from Coupon-Mad post was that I need to add these, specially cause it's DCB Legal 

1505grandad

It should be similar to this  -  obviously amend to suit your case:-

Starting with "Referring to the POC:"

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81361413/#Comment_81361413

Mikee_F

1505grandad said:

It should be similar to this  -  obviously amend to suit your case:-

Starting with "Referring to the POC:"

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81361413/#Comment_81361413

And from the template defense that's the only para that needs adapting? Also I can just print in PDF and virtually sign it? I don't have a printer at my house to physically sign it or can I just email it in the body of email?

Mikee_F

Also is this correct? the header? No date or anything?

Coupon-mad

That's correct but obviously you've added your claim number and correct Claimant - and as for a date, you can see from the Template that the date goes under your signature at the very end.

YOU CANNOT PUT A DEFENCE IN THE BODY OF AN EMAIL.

It's a PDF and of course you don't need to print it. Nobody does. Just put an electronic signature on it.