Fine for 14 Minute Overstay

amandableak

Hi Alll,

I'd appreciate some advice on a Civil Enforcement Ltd claim :)

I've received a County Court claim with an issue date of 10 July 2026. I've already filed an Acknowledgment of Service and indicated that I intend to defend the whole claim.

The parking event was on 24 January 2026. I never received the original PCN. The first correspondence I received was a Letter Before Action. I tried to access CEL's website using the reference provided, but it would not recognise the PCN and there is simply no way to appeal on their website, or to contact them via phone or email. I then wrote to CEL on 2 July 2026 disputing the matter and have proof of posting. Their claim was then issued on 10 July 2026 with no acknowledgement of my letter.

I paid for parking via RingGo and have a receipt showing payment from 10:38 to 13:38. The claim states my vehicle was on site from 10:35 to 13:52, so the issue appears to be a 14-minute overstay, not non-payment.

The overstay occurred because I was with my mother, who has Alzheimer's disease and related health issues. She became unwell and we had to stop and sit down before returning to the car. I did not realise at the time that this had taken us beyond the paid parking period.

The Particulars of Claim state:

"Payment not made in accordance with terms displayed on signage"

The claim is for £261.19.

Does this sound like a defendable claim, and are there any particular points I should be raising?

Many thanks,

A

Gr1pr

Definitely Not a fine, just an invoice from a private parking company, CEL

Definitely worth defending it

Having completed the AOS online stage on MCOL ....

Then use the template defence in announcements near the top of the forum, same as everyone else

abcismeisme

I share the same case with you. I paid for parking but end up exceeding 10 mins. I am in the stage of Compulsory Mediation.

Le_Kirk

With an issue date of 10/07/26 and having completed the AoS in a timely manner your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 12/08/26

Coupon-mad

CEL have started to include the alleged breach in the POC in July, so use the Template Defence with your facts in paragraph 3.

Remove the bit in the Template about the Claimant 'delaying the claim' because they didn't.

amandableak

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075653#Comment_82075653

Hi, I cannot seem to find the template, can you point me to it? Thanks!

amandableak

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82075177#Comment_82075177

Hi, I am really struggling to find the template, can you advise? Sorry.

Jame4ters

It’s at the top of the first page

Coupon-mad

We don't need to link a sticky thread.

Did you miss my signature words below?

amandableak

Update - not sure where I am in the process now

Thanks for the earlier advice. I followed it, filed the AoS and submitted a defence using the template with my own paragraph 3.

Since filing my defence:

• I received a copy of CEL's Directions Questionnaire.
• I have not received my own N180 Directions Questionnaire from the court.
• I have not received a Notice of Allocation or a hearing date from the court.
• I have now received what CEL describe as a Witness Statement/evidence pack, together with a letter inviting me to pay and saying they will continue to a hearing if I do not.

I'm confused about the procedure because I seem to have received CEL's witness statement before receiving any hearing date or court directions.

Is this normal?

Should I have received an N180 and/or Notice of Allocation by now?

Is there anything I need to do in response to CEL's witness statement at this stage?

My main priority is making sure I don't miss any court deadlines or get a CCJ. Wondering if I should just pay at this point :(

Many thanks in advance.

Gr1pr

Ignore and file the CEL early doors generic WS for now, nothing to see there

Ignore and file away the CEL N180 DQ document from CEL, nothing to see there either

Yes those are normal in CEL cases, but probably irrelevant paperwork , no response necessary

Keep your eye on your MCOL claim history to see when the CNBC post out your own N180 DQ paperwork

Once sent , follow the N180 DQ pdf document advice in the first post in the defence template thread in announcements near the top of the forum, download it, fill it in , then email to both parties, especially the CNBC DQ email address, no paperwork, no scans , no pictures either, just the completed pdf document as an attachment

When the N180 paperwork arrives in the post, file it away, not needed ( old school )

The NOA will eventually arrive at the correct point in the procedure, so keep following those 8 steps

Do not pay. !