Ccj judgement advised by text, no paperwork or reason

Willingtolisten

Hi, hoping someone can advise ASAP regarding a text I received last week saying I had a ccj, amount and phone number to pay. I started to ignore as a scam but checked register and found there was a new ccj. I'm stunned as no paperwork ever received from this company, but see that my old address which I left 18 months ago was used for court paperwork.

I contacted court office today and they advised it was an old parking ticket from over a year ago (jan 25). I spent a lot of last year abroad but came back every few months or had mail brought to me and I received just 1 letter from a parking company end of June.. dated May ..and I responded by email in July.

I advised them date I went abroad and that I had provable flight and accommodation docs and that my car and keys were left at a friend's house. I asked for further evidence.

I got a 1st reply about an appeals process, then before I could reply again, I received a 2nd message to say the file was closed. (July 2025)

I assumed that was the end of it until last week. (Feb 2026)ccj

My current address is public, my car registered correctly 6 months ago and my mailbox secure. I also had mail forwarding for a few months after I left last address, this company (solicitors) have not tried to find me correctly.

Court office at first advised me to pay to make it go away..then told me about potential hearing and set aside option.

I had good credit til now, so unfair. Either I pay £279 to settle or £313 to try to defend, it seems either way I lose. I have til 9.3.26 to pay. Could someone help please, thanks

Gr1pr

Name the private parking company claimant and any lawyers involved

Please read the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad

Start the set aside process, which is what the £313 is for ( not for defending yourself. ) its for obtaining a set aside for the incorrect service of papers

DE_612183

read newbees thread about setting aside a ccj

Coupon-mad

@Willingtolisten which solicitors?

If it's DCB Legal you can either:

• apply for a set aside (£313 fee, which you ask the judge to award back st the hearing and to strike out the claim)

Or

• There is a way to negotiate to settle for a lower sum. Can be sorted next week and in SOME circumstances it could even be as low as £1, if you told the parking firm your new UK address when you appealed. Did you?

Willingtolisten

Hi,

Apologies, additional info.

Parking co is Euro Parking Services..and no I didn't have a chance to inform them of correct address before I had "file closed" message from them. With hindsight my appeal email was probably too late as I was abroad for a lot of last year due to family illness.

Solicitors they used are Gladstones.

If relevant..My V5 was amended to correct address last September, so was correct for the past 5 months and current address traceable for 18 months.

Q. The court lady said that its taking 5 weeks to process set aside applications plus 12 weeks for judgment order, I assume this mean it will be fully on my file for 4 months or more unless I settle up?

Coupon-mad

Yes that is correct.

I doubt Gladstones will budge on negotiations so get your N244 & WS & Draft Order in.

A fairly recent-ish CCJ thread was by @Brightonrock123 but there are more recent ones to read. Needs VCS v Carr. Don't read older threads than a few months ago.

Willingtolisten

I'm getting very stressed trying to do this as have terminally ill family member needing my attention....can you tell me where to find explanation about my liability if I was not the driver of car, i.e.away and left car and keys with friendlies..not stolen.

And ..if I'm not up to defending and try to pay..what paperwork I'd get and how quickly ccj would disappear, and would it be cleared without trace or footprint? Thanks in advance

DE_612183

If you pay it - it doesn't go away just gets marked as "settled".

Willingtolisten

Ok, thanks ..I thought i had read on gov website if paid in full within 1 month ..it got removed from register and so not put on credit file..(9th march) ..beyond that 'satisfied' and remains. To set aside takes me beyond that month.

Also that if it gets set aside they can just reapply for ccj and reintroduce for a hearing, and I need to attend and defend successfully, hence my Q re my liability of handing over car and keys.

Please bear with me, I've never used a forum so threads and stickies all new to find

Gr1pr

What is the actual date of the CCJ. ?

Willingtolisten

It is 10.2.26