Thread: CCJ but no claim form received **WON**

Well all I can tell you is what I did, which was filled in the N244, photocopied letter and statements etc highlighting the charges, did a spreadsheet from the templates library on CAG showing the charges etc.

I worked on the basis that if I gave them all the info I wouldn't have to take it them later and they could have a good look before the hearing.

Yes you will probably have to go to a hearing but it's very informal. You and the DJ in a smallish room sitting at opposite ends of a long table. The claimants may or may not turn up, in my case they didn't, they wrote to the court instead saying why they opposed the set aside. The DJ reads your stuff, reads theirs, asks questions and makes a decision based purely on the law and what info you've supplied which shows you have a valid reason for your request and that you have a reasonable chance of not having a judgement entered against you had you received the original paperwork and defended.

Hope this helps. And the very best of luck.

Here is a little key advice.

Do your set aside application using an affidavit in support. Use something like the following

"
With respect to this claim, the first time I found out about it was on DATE, when I recieved a court judgement. I did not recieve any court documentation before this. I am therefore applying for this set aside within X working days of being notified of this matter. It is public knowledge that the postal service is suffering huge delays and problems due to recurrent postal strikes.

If I had recieved the claim form, i would have defended it on the basis of an unenforceable credit agreement and a counter claim of unlawful penalty charges.

On the DATE, a request was made under section 78-79, of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, to obtain a copy of a credit agreement that the alleged debt refers to. It was sent by DELIVERY METHOD to the Claimant’s Solicitors, with the statutory £1.00 fee enclosed. It was received on the DATE, which gave the Claimant twelve working days from receipt of the request, to provide said document, which is stipulated in Regulation 2 of The Consumer Credit (Prescribed Periods for Giving Information) Regulations 1983. The claimant has not provided this document. Accordingly, having failed to produce a credit agreement within the requisite timescale or at all, the Claimants are in default of said request under section 78(6)(a) or 79(6)(a) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.

I deny that there has been any failure to make payment in accordance with the alleged contract. The Claimant has failed to produced a copy of a properly executed credit agreement and in the absence of such an agreement, which conforms to sections 60 and 61 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, I avers that no agreement has ever existed for there to have been any failure to make said payment.

It is denied that any Default Notice in the prescribed format was ever received and the Defendant puts the Claimant to strict proof that said document in the prescribed format was delivered to the defendant.

In respect of that which is denied, during the period in which the Account was operating the claimant debited numerous charges to the Account in respect of purported breaches of contract on the part of the Claimant and also charged interest on the charges once applied. The defendant understands that the claimant contends that the charges were debited in accordance with the terms of the contract between itself and the Claimant.

I contend that:

a) The charges debited to the Account are punitive in nature; are not a genuine pre-estimate of cost incurred by the claimant; exceed any alleged actual loss to the claimant in respect of any breaches of contract on the part of the defendant; and are not intended to represent or related to any alleged actual loss, but instead unduly enrich the Claimant which exercises the contractual term in respect of such charges with a view to profit.

b) The contractual provision that permits the Claimant to levy such charges is unenforceable by virtue of the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations (1999) and the common law.


Accordingly I put the Claimant to strict proof that every charge and collection charge made to the account was valid and lawful. I aver that any default notice sent would have included these charges.

I put the claimant to strict proof that any default notice sent to me was valid. I note that to be valid, a default notice needs to be accurate in terms of both the scope and nature of breach. If the claimant sent a default notice that includes unlawful charges, this default notice is invalid under English law for the reason that it is inaccurate and so the claimant may not seek to enforce this debt.

Further, the claimant states that I have refused to pay sums due under agreement. In its particulars of claim, it has not explained under what terms of any agreement these sums were due and I put the claimant to strict proof that said monies are due.

You can attach copies of any documents to the claim form.

edit: the affidavit form is http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/c.../n285_0499.pdf ... take it to the court, and get them to witness it (it's free) or to a soliciter (probably around £2-5)

Originally Posted by Robdblynd

Thomas, as always, fab advice.

Heh, thanks you gave some good advice too

The application form Rodblynd mentioned is available http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/c.../n244_0400.pdf

You want to use something like

1 - at a hearing
2 - 10 mins
3 - no
5 - distict judge
6 - claimant

fill in the side on the right (you are the defendant)

part a

I apply for the judgement to be set aside

because i did not recieve the claim form, and the judgement was issued in default

part b
the attached affidavit

sign it.

Take three copies of everything to the court.

Originally Posted by Blossomandebony

Cheers, Tom, superb that!!!

Don't know how you know all that posh jargon but i'm glad you do! I really appreciate the effort you've put in to help me - the way you've phrased things is much better than I could have achieved. In fact, I think the statement you wrote for me should be in a sticky or the library for others to use who don't get the benefit of your advice.

I will word my N24 and affidavit with confidence now.

Just time for afew more queries:

1 Will I definitely get a hearing to set aside the judgement?

No. It's at the discretion of the judge. That's rather like asking me if Australia will definitely win at cricket. However, the arguments rehersed in the set aside application are substantially the same as other arguments I've seen that have got a set aside.

2 If , (and it looks unlikely), the judge hears my evidence at the set aside hearing and says, 'No chance - pay up', is that it? CCJ!! Or . . . can I appeal on the point of law that is the Wilson case, because it is a HOL precedent?

That very much depends if a higher court gives you permission to appeal.

3 Should I bring up any of the defendant's shocking behaviour in harassing me for this alleged debt, including saying by letter that they had deleted the 'Late payment' entries on my credit record, when they hadn't - I have written proof! (This in a previous small claim against them last year where I asked for charges and a deletion of these negative entries , on my POC), or will that just annoy/ confuse the judge? Any opinions welcome.

Don't do it in the set aside application, but you can mention it to the judge when you meet them.

Anyway, for now - thanks to all those who have posted advice.

..

Use Special delivery, next day delivery; don't use first class post.

the default notice section isn't necessary, but in itself it provides a complete defence to the CCJ. Lots of people get away with only the charge and CCA arguments, though.