CEL - Letter before action. UPDATE - In house claim

thisishelpful

Hi!

I have received a letter before action from CEL. Well 2 actually, for the same PCN because they are completely incompetent.

Anyway, I've read the newbies thread and various other posts, but I can't seem to find the email address I should be sending a response about the LBA (LBC) to. I believe it's their internal litigation team. Is anyone able to point me in the right direction?

Much appreciated.

Van_Girl

I sent mine here:

office@ce-service.co.uk

Legal3@ce-service.co.uk

Gr1pr

Le_Kirk regularly posts several email addresses for CEL on here

Le_Kirk

Those shown are the current known ones that work.

thisishelpful

Thanks everyone ☺️

thisishelpful

Hi All,

I have received my claim form. I've read up on all the steps and comfortable to complete the AOS on MCOL then defend, I just wanted to ask some advice on my particular situation as to if/what I should mention in my defence.

I parked on a car park to go to Costa and they have a tablet at the counter to enter your reg so you can stay longer than the 1 free hour. Apparently my reg didn't register in the system (shock) so I got a PCN. Turns out all their systems are useless because:

• I appealed. Heard nothing then got a PCN reminder, so I complained to BPA.
• Shortly after (but perhaps not due to the BPA) CEL email to say they realised their system had an error and I may not have received the outcome to my appeal, so they resent it. Refusal, pay fine or appeal to POPLA.
• Appealed to POPLA. Whilst this was in, I got another PCN reminder. Turns out their system is chasing me twice for the same PCN, one in line with their system not notifying my of the outcome of my initial appeal, and then a new one in line with them notifying me. I keep receiving the same threats/paperwork twice, just a few months apart.
• Anyway, POPLA was also refused, but interestingly, they stated that because I'm saying I put my reg in, that it's classed as a keying error and that CEL should lower the fine to £20 (for admin or something) in line with BPA COP, and that CEL did that and since I didn't pay, they refuse the appeal. The most annoying this is, CEL never offered me a £20 fine, only pay the fine or appeal to POPLA! Nowhere in any of the evidence CEL submitted to POPLA does it say that, I never received that offer. POPLA have obviously just assumed that because thats what CEL should do that they have and haven't actually checked the evidence. So even POPLA are useless (I guess you all already know that)!

So, my question is, can I mentioned this lack of £20 fine in my defence when it's not stated anywhere on the breach (attached for reference)? Also, can I mention the fact that CEL are chasing me twice for the same PCN because all their systems are useless? All my complaints to CEL and the BPA about that have fallen on deaf ears! Just don't want to have to do this all again when the second claim form inevitably comes through.

It's so annoying that I have to put all this work in when they can't be bothered to just follow the rules, and that POPLA are equally as useless! I would have happily paid £20 to avoid all this!

Many thanks :)

Gr1pr

Stick to the template defence

The £20 option is an early settlement one time offer, if offered, definitely not a fine, save it for your WS in several months time

Focus on the end game, not the minutia, deal with the current claim, not the history

thisishelpful

OK great. Thanks once again for your support.