Success - Civil Enforcement Ltd claim discontinued before hearing Old Crown Inn, Sheffield.

Stefano123

Posting here to share my experience in the hope it helps others fighting similar PCNs at Old Crown Inn, Sheffield. Civil Enforcement Limited (CEL) issued a parking charge against a friend for briefly stopping in a private pub car park while on an emergency call.

The Old Crown Inn, Sheffield was closed at the time. They didn’t exit the vehicle, didn’t turn the engine off, and was stationary for only a few minutes. The entrance signage was obstructed by foliage and completely inadequate, and the terms were ambiguous and, in some cases, impossible to comply with (e.g. it required inputting your reg into a device inside the pub—when the pub was closed). CEL even submitted the wrong photos of the wrong carpark. 

CEL pursued the matter all the way to a County Court claim (Sheffield), alleging a breach of contract and adding £60 in “debt recovery” costs. They were seeking over £270 in costs.

Outcome:

They didn’t pay the final hearing fee, so the claim was automatically struck out by the court. No hearing took place. I never paid a penny.

Coupon-mad

Yay, well done!

I see this about the tenth PCN you've beaten

ANOTHER CEL ONE BITES THE DUST!

This is funny:

The Old Crown Inn, Sheffield was closed at the time. They didn’t exit the vehicle, didn’t turn the engine off, and was stationary for only a few minutes. The entrance signage was obstructed by foliage and completely inadequate, and the terms were ambiguous and, in some cases, impossible to comply with (e.g. it required inputting your reg into a device inside the pub—when the pub was closed). CEL even submitted the wrong photos of the wrong carpark. 

Stefano123

Plus the ones I've not posted about! Really thankful to this forum. Couldn't have done it without all the regular posters on here.  

Umkomaas

Nice. Could I ask whether this was a court claim fronted by CEL themselves, or did they do it through DCB Legal please?

Stefano123

Umkomaas said:

Nice. Could I ask whether this was a court claim fronted by CEL themselves, or did they do it through DCB Legal please?

It was DCB Legal

Ralph-y

well done .... lets try and not get any more PCN's 🙂

Stefano123

Ralph-y said:

well done .... lets try and not get any more PCN's 🙂

Right, because people actively pursue them on a daily basis.  

Gr1pr

Please post a redacted picture of the N279 document so your success can be added to the discontinuations thread by Umkomaas 

Please fill in the Public Consultation survey currently under way that coupon mad posts about 

Coupon-mad

Stefano123 said:

Umkomaas said:

Nice. Could I ask whether this was a court claim fronted by CEL themselves, or did they do it through DCB Legal please?

It was DCB Legal

Again, congrats!

You won - except it's not quite the end here: we need two things, please!

1.  We can't count your success on @Umkomaas' thread unless you can please show us the NoD (not the email, the attachment).  I'm sure you want to stand up and be counted?!

Secondly, we need you!

2.  If you want to be part of the push to change things in future, it's very important that people like you join us to reply to the new Public Consultation, to tell the Government that:

a) you have no faith in POPLA or the IAS and that there must be the SINGLE APPEALS SERVICE that the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 *almost* promised. As long as it is independent (and only ONE appeals service, not two involved in a race to the bottom) that will give an impartial option to resolve disputed cases out of court. That doesn't exist yet.

b).  THAT THE ENRICHMENT OF 'DEBT RECOVERY FEES' MUST BE COMPLETELY BANNED. DISPUTED CASES ARE NOT SOLVED BY A THIRD PARTY DEMANDING MORE MONEY FOR A 'PAYMENT PLAN'.

c). Tell them about your experience and that your case proceeded to a claim precisely because (a) and (b) above mean there is no option, no safeguard for consumers EXCEPT court.

Responses are invited to the Consultation now:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-8-weeks-from-11th-july-2025/p1

We will discuss it all in more detail in a week or so, on that thread.