Verbal order by Judge not on court order - Costs

notsoquick

Hello,

Some background info before i get into my question...

In spring of this year I attended a local county court for a PCN received at London Excel. 
Gladstones were the solicitors who took on the case and were asking for £270.

I emailed Gladstones after receiving an LBC and advised them to look back to 2020 when i beat them in a previous case. The circumstances felt somewhat similar to me, so i stated the following: 

"Cease and desist, otherwise i am happy to take your money in court".

The Director of Client & Business Relations, Julie Williams, responded with the following:

"As you have confirmed your intention to vigorously defend the matter, we suggest you follow the steps on the claim form upon receipt of the same."

Lo and behold, i won in court... Again... The reasoning on this occasion was lack of description on Particulars of Claim. I submitted a photocopy of the POC a few days after the witness statement deadline however the courts accepted it and Gladstones acknowledged receipt.

Now on to my query:

I submitted a costs assessment form with my witness statement for loss of earnings. Judge verbally said she will order the maximum of £95. I asked her if i have to complete a seperate expenses form, but she said no and that it will be in the order.

The hearing was end of April this year. I received the order through the post some weeks later but it did not mention anything about the costs i applied for.

I have emailed the county court and they asked me for the details as there was nothing written in the order.

It has been 3 weeks since i queried this and have had no further update.

Has anyone else been in this scenario, where the judge verbally agreed to pay costs but neglected to enter it within the order?

The customer service email team of the court seem slow to respond and I am worried that I have no proof the judge gave the order. I am unsure how long they keep voice recordings of hearings and if so, i am dont wish to pay for a copy of the hearing, I just want was promised to me.

Any help?

Umkomaas

Frustrating as it may be, getting back to the court seems your only route. Obtaining a transcript of the hearing will likely cost you well north of £95. 

Gr1pr

In any case, whatever happens,  please complete the Public Consultation survey by the mhclg this month,  because nothing will change until the government changes the various parameters,  via regulation

ChirpyChicken

It would have been recorded by the judge.  I would complain directly to the court manager.
Depending on the court go into the court building and ask to speak to the court manager personally
Can be more fruitful

Coupon-mad

And please do the Public Consultation which is only open this month!

This is how to change the law.

What parking operators and their aggressive CCJ-trigger-happy 'legals' do is is a national disgrace and a drain on Society, in terms of money and anxiety.

To be part of the push to change things in future, it's very important that people like you tell the Government that:

a) motorists have no faith in POPLA or the IAS and that there must be a SINGLE APPEALS SERVICE that people trust. The sector is crying out for an independent and impartial appeals service - not two involved in a race to the bottom - that will give a real option to resolve disputed cases out of court. 

b).  THE ENRICHMENT OF 'DEBT RECOVERY FEES' MUST BE COMPLETELY BANNED. CASES ARE NOT SOLVED BY DEMANDING MORE MONEY AND OFFERING A 'PAYMENT PLAN' THAT ONLY THE VULNERABLE PAY. DRAS MAKE NO MONEY IF THEY HANDLE DISPUTES IN THE SPIRIT OF THE APPEALS CHARTER, WHICH IS WHY THEY ALWAYS PLOUGH ON TO COURT CLAIMS AND CCJs, RATHER THAN OFFERING REAL RESOLUTION AT PRE-ACTION STAGE. THEY OFFER NOTHING, NO LEGITIMATE OPTION TO KEEP CASES OUT OF 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 further in a few days or at the weekend on that thread if you want more focus.