G24/DCB Legal - Claim Form Received - Meadowhall Retail

compgo1996

Hi All,

I have a very similar case to the below thread in the sense that it is the same location, same contravention reason, same claim form date and dealing with the same companies. However, a key difference is I have not yet got the landowner to cancel the fine, but I did submit the request today.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6597366/g24-dcb-legal-letter-of-claim/p1

Similar to the above thread, I had absolutely no idea this fine existed until December 2024 when DCBL sent me a final reminder. I ignored this request, as I thought you've got to be taking the !!!!!! trying it on nearly 5 years later. It's also worth noting that at the time I was receiving multiple final reminders relating to a set of x8 fines from UKPC - now at LOC stage for context - which I was aware of. I assumed DCBL were using the Meadowhall fine as a scare tactic to make me crumble on the UKPC case, hence why I did not take it seriously.

Fast forward 4 months and I received the below Claim Form. I do not recall receiving a LOC or LBC, which seems wrong to me? Or maybe it got lost in the 100 other letters they were sending me at the time.

I am not 100% confident in the steps I was supposed to take in this process, but a mix of ChatGPT and these forums led me to decide on submitting the AOS today (03/05/25) online - I know it's a little late - and I also submitted a SAR request today to G24, as I have so little information, however I am unsure if this was the correct move?

I can see in the newbie forum there is a template defence, however from what I have gathered there 1-2 paragraphs that I need to tailor to my defence, so what would you advise me to centre my defence around given my circumstances? I assume it will help if I can get the landowner to cancel the fine as a minimum? Also presumably the SAR will help, but I know that could take 30 days, which is too long. Some advice on timing would be greatly appreciated too, when should I submit the defence?

Gr1pr

Forget about ChatGPT

Its definitely NOT a fine,  it was an invoice from G24

Forget about the LoC stage, deal with the present only

The claimant had 6 years to issue a court claim,  so stored them up and so now we are seeing scores of claims

Definitely complete the AOS online on MCOL , no need to delay it 

27th of May is your deadline for submitting the defence by email 

Your defence rebuts the POC,  not the circumstances,  so adapt paragraphs 2 & 3 same as everyone else 

Ideally you should not have emailed a SAR to G24,  not yet, i would have said do it after your local civil court is dealing with it,  if you had asked us first 

compgo1996

So presumably my defence is going to be quite generic then as far as these forums go?

when should I submit my defence? Any time or leave it later, I’ve already submitted the AOS today via MCOL.

noted about the SAR, what is the risk or disadvantage that I have done it now?

thanks.

Gr1pr

Generic,  correct,  dealing with the POC and nothing else , as it should be 

Anytime its completed,  approved and ready to go  !  Simple  ( within the next 3 weeks   )

Without the extra knowledge,  you have plausible deniability,  sometimes a SAR enlightens you, but you can't unknow what you eventually know   ( or find out , curiosity killed the cat )

Also, you dont need the information at this early stage

Coupon-mad

Just use the template defence and/or copy what another G24 claim thread poster put.