Civil Enforcement Court Claim - N1SDT

Goku_SuperSaiyan

Hi all,

I’ve received a County Court Claim Form (MCOL) relating to a private parking charge and would appreciate some advice.

Background:

• Civil_Enforcement_Claim_Form.png
  Parking event was around November 2023.
• Location was a Costco customer car park.
• The allegation appears to relate to exceeding the maximum stay period.
• Vehicle was an old car which I no longer own.
• I ignored previous letters at the time.
• I received no warning/Letter Before Claim.

What I find strange:
I heard nothing for a very long time (2+ years), then recently received TWO separate HMCTS money claims around the same time (for different parking matters), one which I already have a forum open for.

This Costco claim:

• Issue Date: 21 April 2026
• Claim form only physically arrived today (8 May 2026), which seemed very delayed.
• I have now completed the Acknowledgment of Service online and selected “defend all”.

I have not yet submitted a defence; I am currently writing out my paragraph 3 and adjusting the defence template.

I have attached the Particulars of Claim (Civil Enforcement) details shortly (with personal details redacted).

Main questions:

1. Is it common for old parking charges to suddenly progress to MCOL after long periods of silence?
2. Does the delayed arrival of the claim form matter at all?
3. Are these types of maximum-stay retail park claims generally defendable, or usually straightforward for the claimant?

Thanks in advance.

Gr1pr

Its not a Letter of Claim, that Letter comes before the Money Claim N1SDT pack, so please change your thread title to something more suitable , only the Court Claim and POC are relevant

1 extremely common, the statute is 6 years

2 no

3 defendable

Coupon-mad

Just use the Template Defence version for CEL in-house claims where the breach isn't pleaded.

Le_Kirk

With an issue date of 21/04/26 and providing you complete(d) the AoS after 26/04/26 and before or on 10/05/26 your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 26/05/26

Goku_SuperSaiyan

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991985#Comment_81991985

Thank you for the above. Btw, what do you mean by 'CEL in-house claims'?

Coupon-mad

CEL is obviously your parking firm who is currently suing you and I never explain a normal business phrase like 'in-house'. It's neither parking related nor a legal term; the meaning is self explanatory (or googleable if you've never heard it before).

Goku_SuperSaiyan

Thank you. Taking on your advice, Am I okay to use the following default paragraph as per template, and use the rest of the template as per forum?

Do I need to add any specifics about my case to paragraph 3 of the defence? Thank you.

3. With regards to the POC in question, two recent persuasive appeal judgments in Civil Enforcement Limited v Chan (Ref. E7GM9W44) and Car Park Management Service Ltd v Akande (Ref. K0DP5J30) would indicate the POC fails to comply with Civil Procedure Rule 16.4(1)(e) and Practice Direction Part 16.7.5. On the 15th August 2023, in the Chan case, HHJ Murch held: 'the particulars of the claim as filed and served did not set out the conduct which amounted to the breach in reliance upon which the claimant would be able to bring a claim for breach of contract'. The same is true in this case and the Defendant trusts that the Court should strike out the extant claim, using its powers pursuant to CPR 3.4. The second recent persuasive appeal judgment also held that typical private parking case POC (like this) fail to comply with Part 16. On the 10 May 2024, in CPMS v Akande, HHJ Evans held: 'Particulars of Claim have to set out the basic facts upon which a party relies in order to prove his or her claim'.

Gr1pr

Use that paragraph 3 above, no additions or removals , no extra details

In-house means they control all of the claim, no 3rd party lawyers as middlemen

Goku_SuperSaiyan

Thank you, I have submitted using the above paragraph 3 and the default template provided. Thank you so much all. Will post again when I hear back. 😀

Goku_SuperSaiyan

Hi All, Just an update, I have just received the Directions Questionnaire, which I am going to fill in and send out by tomorrow. I have followed the instructions on the forum, and will be emailing to DQ.CNBC@justice.gov.uk and CC Civil Enforcement legal team.

I am using the email address that is in their Directions Questionnaire copy that was sent to me, which is legal@ce-service.co.uk.

Could someone confirm this is the correct/most up to date email address for Civil Enforcement?

Thank you.

Le_Kirk

These have all proven usable in the recent past.

office@ce-service.co.uk
Legal3@ce-service.co.uk
complaints@ce-service.co.uk
claimsmanager@ce-service.co.uk
dataprotectionofficer@ce-service.co.uk