Hospital PCN turned to CCJ for elderly disabled grandparent

Stratfordben

My grandfather received a PCN from a hospital car park back in May 2025.

He had parked in the multi-storey car park, in what appeared to him to be a disabled bay, due to the location of the signage, and having done so he ensured his disability badge was on display. The pillar besides the 'space' he parked in had a sign that said parking there was for disabled blue badge holders only and he believed he was in a valid bay (pic attached).

Turns out he wasn't, which to you and I may be obvious, but to an 85 year old disabled man, it wasn't immediately obvious.

Anyway, I said I'd sort it for him. I contacted the hospital Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS) who took a while to get back to me, when they did get back to me I missed their email, which was asking for information I had already provided, excluding a photo of my grandad's blue badge.

Fast forward to August 2026, my grandad receives a notice from the County Court that a claim has been entered against him. Claimant is Parkshield Collections Limited and the payee is Moorside Legal Services.

I replied on his behalf requesting more time to defend the case, contacted PALS again and now the time to defend the case has passed and a CCJ has been entered.

I contacted the County Court today (haven't been able to get through to them in the last 3 attempts), and they said the options were: a) pay the CCJ for £285.48 or b) log a claim against the parking company at a cost of £321 (claimed back if won). If we then lose that claim, we must pay the £321 + £285 - so obviously this is illogical.

My grandfather is obviously very worried and stressed by this, which is affecting him. And I am now worried and stressed - I know I should have done more to defend the case etc. but life got in the way.

Is there any more that can be done now? I'm still waiting on PALS to get back to me regarding what they can do now, but I fear they can't do anything now the judgement has been entered.

We have until 20th September to pay or sort it otherwise.

Pics of parking - obviously the 'valid' bays are the yellow lines. However, parking where he parked wasn't blocking pedestrians or any entry/exit points to the car park.

Gr1pr

Sounds like a default CCJ due to not defending properly or promptly, meaning that no defence was filed before the deadline set by the CNBC

When you said County Court , I assume that you mean the CNBC in Northampton, not an actual County court ( no county court would have been involved at this early stage, just the CNBC in Northampton. )

Stratfordben

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82125471#Comment_82125471

Yes, sorry it's from the CNBC. Does that mean there's effectively nothing else we can do now?

Gr1pr

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82125473#Comment_82125473

I never said that

One option is the £321 set aside ( a shame that the claim form wasn't dealt with before the deadline expired. !

There may be other options available, other than what the CNBC told you ( but not for me to say. )

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82125473#Comment_82125473

Wow - obviously not! He doesn't have to pay.

Options:

• why doesn't he ignore the CCJ? I'm retired and I would. If he doesn't need credit it never affects him;
• he could apply to set it aside and maybe he qualifies for Help With Fees? The application could be free;
• There can be scope to negotiate and pay a fraction of what's been set.

No bailiff will call. I'd choose ignore.

James_Poisson

He had parked in the multi-storey car park, in what appeared to him to be a disabled bay, due to the location of the signage, and having done so he ensured his disability badge was on display. The pillar besides the 'space' he parked in had a sign that said parking there was for disabled blue badge holders only and he believed he was in a valid bay (pic attached)

Such a shame it was allowed to get to this, yes it isn't neat parking but there is absolutely nothing to say he couldn't park there and it's not blocking access, in fact you can see where diagonal ground markings have been removed and it appears to be surrounded by disabled parking signs.

knightstyle

If it was me I would tell him to go public and shame the hospital and parking company. Good story for local paper and complain to the relevant MP.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82125473#Comment_82125473

There is help out there. I'll send you a pm,