Paragraph 3 help please!

LoulayDoo94

Openly admitting I am not the smartest cookie and have stressed myself out with trying to follow the right steps with handling my court claim! Please could someone check my paragraph 3 over and let me know if its ok? Many thanks! (It's quite a personal one so apologies in advance)

The defense against this parking charge is submitted on the grounds of significant mitigating circumstances, procedural impropriety, and the disproportionate nature of the fine relative to the minor overstay. At the time of the alleged offence, the driver was undergoing bi-weekly treatment for a serious mental health crisis at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford, which severely impacted their awareness of parking regulations. The charge, issued over a year and a half after the incident, is an unreasonable delay that has prejudiced the ability to recall specific events. Furthermore, the overstay warrants discretion, as the penalty is excessive and disproportionate, particularly when combined with the extenuating personal circumstances, rather than representing a deliberate breach of recently implemented and unclear parking restrictions.

Gr1pr

Doesn't look correct to me ( more like a personal witness statement   )  and contains spelling errors 

There are no regulations in private parking,  it's an unregulated industry 

There was no fine  ( magistrates issue fines,  not parking companies,  a common misuse of the word  )

There was no penalty either , not at a hospital 

The charge wasn't issued over 18 months later,  the claim was  ( the charge would have been issued on the day or within 7 months,  not 18 months   )

I suggest that if its being used, an extensive rewrite is required 

I suggest that you name the private parking company claimant,  the lawyers,  the issue date from the top right of the claim form  and post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below after hiding the VRM details first 

LoulayDoo94

Thanks for reviewing it and your input @Gr1pr. I tried to follow the steps on the newbies thread including how long ago the charge was issued so recollection is poor, mitigating circumstances etc but I've done it wrong. I'll attempt a rewrite and post it back here. Thanks again

Gr1pr

But do this first,  so we can help you

I suggest that you name the private parking company claimant,  the lawyers,  the issue date from the top right of the claim form  and post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below after hiding the VRM details first 

Then start again by focusing on the alleged breach,  not trying to use excuses etc, legal points are required in a defence,  not mitigating factors per se

Save your stories and entreaties for your witness statement next year 

Coupon-mad

Yep let's see the claim form, redacted.

LoulayDoo94

Thanks for your help, here’s the paperwork

Gr1pr

That's not properly redacted,  the claim reference number is on show   !

ECP via DCB Legal,  issue date 28th of August 2025

The POC says , your vehicle overstayed the maximum time allowed,  so the alleged breach is pleaded

Get the AOS stage online completed first,  today,  if not done already 

Then

Use the defence template in announcements,  for paragraph 3 study other recent ECP DCB LEGAL cases within the last 6 weeks on here,  see what they wrote 

Le_Kirk

You have time to do his, no need to rush. 

With an issue date of 28/08/25 and providing you complete the AoS after 02/09/25 and before 16/09/25

your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 30/09/25

LoulayDoo94

Thanks for the responses. I have already completed the AoS, just need to work on the paragraph 3 part now

Coupon-mad

LoulayDoo94 said:

Thanks for the responses. I have already completed the AoS, just need to work on the paragraph 3 part now

Please show the claim properly redacted.

LoulayDoo94

Apologies again, hopefully it is right this time!