IVE ended up in court with CEL - Help

Aprillia041629

On the 16th April 2024 I received a parking charge notice(notice to keeper) from CEL stating that on 10th April 2024 I failed to obtain a permit in accordance with the notified terms.

The vehicle  is my sons Wheelchair accessible vehicle which is driven by his team PA's to take him to appointments; On the day in question they had taken him to an NHS appointment. It stated that I could only appeal in writing at www.ce-services.co.uk and so I went onto their site and followed the online contact form and informed them that I was not the driver. I did not know which carer was the driver at this time and did not supply driver details. I got no receipt or acknowledgement to my email which i sent via their online form on the site.

On 7th may 2024 i got a reminder before further action. I again went onto their site and used the online email form to remind them that I had responded and told them that I wasn't the driver. Again,  I got no response but On 30th May 2024 I received an 'Action Needed' letter. At this point I just ignored it because I was getting nowhere.

17th July 2024 I received the first DCBL notice of debt recovery. I searched their email and contacted them stating that I had appealed via CEL and that they must give an appeal decision before instigating debt recovery and were acting unlawfully -  Again no response. I received another 4 reminders from DCBL; 7 Aug 2024 - 6 Sept 2024 - 2 Oct 2024 - 16 Jan 2025.

The next thing I got was a claim form from the courts sent by CEL. (Not sure if relevant but the court form doesn't say they are pursuing me as RK). I responded promptly and said I was defending the claim and submitted my directions questionnaire and ticked no to a determination without hearing. 

I then had to have mediation so went along with it. Told the mediator I wasn't the driver, they had ignored my appeals, and I wasn't prepared to pay for something that is absolutely nothing to do with me. He said they wanted £170 and I offered a £5. He then said he'd refer to the court, I said ok. 29 Sept 2025 I received a copy of CEL witness statement and I am at present about to start mine and wait for a court date! 

Any advice would be appreciated. I'm furious these fools can put us through all this time wasting. It needs to stop.

Gr1pr

is it CEL only ? top left of the claim form ? , OR , is it CEL via DCB LEGAL  ?

start drafting that Witness Statement ASAP, if you have received theirs already

what is the deadline for the WS submissions on your court order ?

1505grandad

"The next thing I got was a claim form from the courts sent by CEL."

Can you post verbatim the Defence you filed please.

Also a copy of the PoC from the claim form redacting VRM.

Coupon-mad

I doubt they have a WS deadline yet. Sounds like the usual generic Scott Wilson WS that gets sent prematurely?

Please show the WS as we are collecting them.

Aprillia041629

Gr1pr said:

is it CEL only ? top left of the claim form ? , OR , is it CEL via DCB LEGAL  ?

start drafting that Witness Statement ASAP, if you have received theirs already

what is the deadline for the WS submissions on your court order ?

Its CEL only. I don't have a deadline for the witness statement yet. I just got confirmation of the hearing being transferred to my local court. I am awaiting instructions.

Coupon-mad

Please show the Scott Wilson WS.

Aprillia041629

1505grandad said:

"The next thing I got was a claim form from the courts sent by CEL."

Can you post verbatim the Defence you filed please.

Also a copy of the PoC from the claim form redacting VRM.

Hi This is the defense I sent. Not the best I fear after reading threads on here : 

I am the defendant and the registered keeper of the vehicle
referenced in the claim. I deny liability for the entirety of the
claim.

The alleged parking event took place on 10/04/2024. I was not the
driver at the time. The vehicle is a Motability vehicle used to
transport my disabled son to hospital appointments. On that day,
the vehicle was being used to take him to a medical appointment.

Upon receiving the Parking Charge Notice, I submitted a
notification via the claimant’s website stating that I was not the
driver. I provided this information promptly and in good faith. I
received no acknowledgement.

I later received correspondence from a debt recovery company,
despite having already notified the original party that I was not
the driver. I attempted to contact the recovery company directly
to resolve the matter, but did not receive any response.

I was surprised and disappointed that a parking charge was issued
in relation to a disability vehicle parked at a hospital for a
medical appointment. I believe reasonable adjustments should apply
in such circumstances.

The original charge was £60. The current claim seeks £185.84,
including £15.84 interest. I consider this an unfair escalation.
Had the matter been acknowledged at the time, It would have been
resolved at the original amount.

I have seen no evidence that the claimant has followed the legal
steps required under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act
2012 to hold the registered keeper liable in the absence of driver
identification.

I therefore ask the court to dismiss the claim. I also reserve the
right to request costs under CPR 27.14(2)(g), as the claimant
escalated this matter despite being informed that I was not the
driver and did not respond to reasonable attempts to engage.

Aprillia041629

1505grandad said:

"The next thing I got was a claim form from the courts sent by CEL."

Can you post verbatim the Defence you filed please.

Also a copy of the PoC from the claim form redacting VRM.

Aprillia041629 said: I hope this is what you wanted

1505grandad said:

"The next thing I got was a claim form from the courts sent by CEL."

Can you post verbatim the Defence you filed please.

Also a copy of the PoC from the claim form redacting VRM.

Hi This is the defense I sent. Not the best I fear after reading threads on here : 

I am the defendant and the registered keeper of the vehicle
referenced in the claim. I deny liability for the entirety of the
claim.

The alleged parking event took place on 10/04/2024. I was not the
driver at the time. The vehicle is a Motability vehicle used to
transport my disabled son to hospital appointments. On that day,
the vehicle was being used to take him to a medical appointment.

Upon receiving the Parking Charge Notice, I submitted a
notification via the claimant’s website stating that I was not the
driver. I provided this information promptly and in good faith. I
received no acknowledgement.

I later received correspondence from a debt recovery company,
despite having already notified the original party that I was not
the driver. I attempted to contact the recovery company directly
to resolve the matter, but did not receive any response.

I was surprised and disappointed that a parking charge was issued
in relation to a disability vehicle parked at a hospital for a
medical appointment. I believe reasonable adjustments should apply
in such circumstances.

The original charge was £60. The current claim seeks £185.84,
including £15.84 interest. I consider this an unfair escalation.
Had the matter been acknowledged at the time, It would have been
resolved at the original amount.

I have seen no evidence that the claimant has followed the legal
steps required under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act
2012 to hold the registered keeper liable in the absence of driver
identification.

I therefore ask the court to dismiss the claim. I also reserve the
right to request costs under CPR 27.14(2)(g), as the claimant
escalated this matter despite being informed that I was not the
driver and did not respond to reasonable attempts to engage.

Aprillia041629

Aprillia041629 said:

Gr1pr said:

is it CEL only ? top left of the claim form ? , OR , is it CEL via DCB LEGAL  ?

start drafting that Witness Statement ASAP, if you have received theirs already

what is the deadline for the WS submissions on your court order ?

Its CEL only. I don't have a deadline for the witness statement yet. I just got confirmation of the hearing being transferred to my local court. I am awaiting instructions.

CEL sent me a copy of their witness statement with a letter requesting payment!

Aprillia041629

Coupon-mad said:

I doubt they have a WS deadline yet. Sounds like the usual generic Scott Wilson WS that gets sent prematurely?

Please show the WS as we are collecting them.

Just resizing it now. Will post it shortly

Aprillia041629

Aprillia041629 said:

Coupon-mad said:

I doubt they have a WS deadline yet. Sounds like the usual generic Scott Wilson WS that gets sent prematurely?

Please show the WS as we are collecting them.

Just resizing it now. Will post it shortly

 here is CEL witness statement. Sorry it hasn't posted pages in order! I notice that it talks about the generous time to pay and the 28 days to appeal but makes no mention of my appeal or their response, reasons for denying the appeal. It also says appeals must be in writing but state to follow their online for to submit it. Once sent you have no record or receipt for this appeal.