Discontinued Parking Court Case

Tony2411

DCB Legal were taking me to small claims court for £170  plus solicitors and Court fee (£260plus).  I was defending the case as I had paid for parking through Just Park.  When they were due to pay the Court Fee, they wrote to me to advise that they had issued a Notice of Discontinuance (N279 Notice).

I have spent quite some time on this matter.  Many hours responding to their letters and subsequent ction, including several callls to their staff to "discuss the matter", which was really will you pay the £170.  I have attended mediation, having taken time off work to do so.  Completed my bundle which was about to be sent to the Court and DCB Legal.  In all I reckon I spent over 25 hours on this matter.  Further I paid for some onling legel advice (£52).

Can I ask, as they issued the N279, can I claim for my time and costs.  In my normal life, I charge £35 per hour.  If I can claim, how do I go about it.  Do I send them Parking company (Not Just Park) a letter and invoice, or do I do it through the Court?

Finally if anybody has ongoing parking cases, please look up Parking Eye v Heggie, as this might help you.

forgotmyname

You can file a small claim against them for your costs, do you have enough receipts to make it worthwhile?

daveyjp

Add your case to the list.

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

Herzlos

There's no harm writing up an invoice for hours wasted @ £35/hour and sending it to them as part of a Letter Before Action. Follow up with small claims if you want. 

Also complain to your local MP. 

letom

You can claim for anything you'd like. Will you win, no. Will you be out an extra amount of money to file the claim, yes.

It's why it's small claims, the point is not to have people counter claiming for their time, legal costs, related damages etc.

If your goal is to simply waste yours and their time, then go for it.

forgotmyname

letom said:

It's why it's small claims, the point is not to have people counter claiming for their time, legal costs, related damages etc.

And yet the bulk of their charges are legal fees?

daveyjp

Let Government know about this and why you believe it ended up in court,

You only need to respond to Q13.

https://consult.communities.gov.uk/off-road-parking-team/private-parking-code-of-practice-consultation/

BlueonBlue

The experts are not in the Motoring section ....repost in the Motoring sub forum ...Parking tickets and fines and parking... or more specifically in laymans ....Private parking .

Go to the correct specific source as its not opinion....or go round in circles and fail .