Parking challenge - court

GreyWillow1

Hi,

i received a parking fine from Civil enforcement Ltd. I think I have made a fairly substantial error in my correspondence with them by admitting my mistake. I did not appeal within the time frame within 28 days but sent this shortly after the 28 days:

Good morning,

I am writing to explain the circumstances surrounding the PCN I recently received.

Firstly, I did not receive an initial notification of the parking fine. The first correspondence I received was on 27th November 2025.

On 23/10/2025, my partner and I, along with a group of friends, planned to walk a stretch of the South West Coast Path. Having experienced several pregnancy losses, I have been walking sections of the coast path to raise money for a local charity. Please see the link below for further information:

(included link)

Our group arrived using four vehicles:

·       Vehicle 1: My vehicle – *******

·       Vehicle 2: My partner’s vehicle – ******

·       Vehicle 3: Friend’s vehicle – *******

·       Vehicle 4: Friend’s vehicle – *******

The plan was to leave two vehicles at Thurlestone and then travel together in the other two vehicles to our starting point further along the coast. During the process of moving people and vehicles, some confusion arose regarding which vehicles had been paid for. It is now clear that parking was paid for Vehicle 3 and Vehicle 4.

We then drove Vehicle 2 and Vehicle 3 to the starting point, unintentionally leaving Vehicle 1 in the car park without a valid ticket. I would like to stress that parking was paid for two vehicles, and there was no intention to avoid paying the parking fee. This was simply a genuine misunderstanding during a busy car shuffle.

I hope you will consider this explanation and appreciate that the oversight was unintentional.

Regards,

****

Do I have any kind of defence here? It has got to court stage. I have just done my Acknowledgement of Service. Is this worth any kind of a try or should I pay up? It was an absolute genuine and honest mistake but I don't know if that is any kind of defence!

I would really appreciate any help.

Thank you

Le_Kirk

Use the template defence; show us the claim form with personal details redacted but leave the date of issue showing.

Car1980

Relax. Don't pay up whatever you do because there is very little chance of it going to a court hearing.

Where are you located? In the south west?

Castle

You have left a claim number and PCN reference showing.

(Breach not specified).

GreyWillow1

I have hidden this info now. Not sure if I can delete the others?

Gr1pr

Report the earlier teatime post and ask the administrator to delete the pictures

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81967597#Comment_81967597

Claim issue date 7th April

Le_Kirk

With an issue date of 07/04/26 and providing you complete(d) the AoS after 12/04/26 and before or on 26/04/26 your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 11/05/26

As no breach has been pleaded, you can use the template defence that includes Chan & Akande.

Nellymoser

You can delete those unredacted images posted now your status has changed from newbie to forumite. Click circle with 3 dots in Rt corner of the post you want to delete or edit.

GreyWillow1

Hi again,

I appreciate the advice on this. I have read lots of threads and tried to navigate my way around the template advice, however, I am really confused about how to adjust the template to my case. It is really hard to know what paragraphs are relevant and how much of my own information to include. As far as I understand, paragraph 3 is compulsory - are you able to advise me on which others I should definitely be including / editing. Should I include anything about being pregnant at the time?

Many thanks.

Gr1pr

Defendants Should adapt paragraph 3 to suit, plus possibly add an ending to paragraph 2 as well

No other paragraphs are altered, just 2 & 3 only