I'd just like to add that I'm really enjoying this thread. VCS are so scummy - am very glad you're going after this - good luck, @holmer444!

Haha hello! I just had the urge yesterday to login and to see what VCS have been up to and stumbled across this. I am definitely keeping out of Brook Retail Park! @jenn1I hope you can update us - would be good to see them take another thrashing at the same car park...!

To echo what the others have said, might be useful to show us what they sent you and what you've done so far?

So this can be added to the success thread! Odd day - was listed for 11.30am, then rang to say it was going to be at 12.15pm then pushed back to 2.15pm. They had a 'Mr Tate' as a lawyer. Standing: The judge briefly went through standing and gave it to them. He relied upon the caselaw (Beavis and the Buckingham palace quote) and VCS v HMRC that VCS had stated, saying that even though the service agreement was out of date, it didn't matter to the motorist. Notice to Driver: Judge brought up the timestamped picture of the NtD in the window. Their lawyer said something like, 'oh how odd there's something on the window. It's blue though, not yellow, so it's not a PCN and I don't know what it could be but it's not the company policy to have blue PCNs...' Judge said because my parents hadn't seen the NtD, we couldn't be sure that it was an NtD and that VCS had not mentioned a NtD in their WS. But he wouldn't take any questions on what else it could be, considering it was a patrolled, small car park and the driver was only gone for a short time so it's unlikely someone else put something on the windscreen... Notice to Keeper: Judge said because there wasn't a NtD, the NtK had arrived on time (within 14 days). But then he said the NtK was not compliant with Para 9, Sch 4 POFA. Specifically Para 9(2) Schedule 4 - so the specified period of parking and describing the circumstances during which it was in breach 'was not adequately described.' The judge said this was mandatory. Mr Tate/lawyer, said it was unrealistic that a parking warden could put the times in and out as this would be time-consuming and impractical. Judge said it wasn't adequate. I would maybe mention this in other Brook Retail Park cases - that if they choose not to put an NtD then they have to use para 9, which is mainly meant to be for remote detection, but that's not the motorists problem... Then said on that basis claim dismissed. Mr Tate asked for the right to appeal. Judge said no (but then something about a circuit judge?). We didn't get to discuss costs. He also dismissed the other case in the interest for time as the facts were identical. I am really baffled about the whole thing - on the one hand, I feel morally vindicated that not a penny goes to that awful, unscrupulous company. If anything, I take some comfort that they had to pay for a lawyer. But on the other hand, you do put time and money (printing, posting, driving to take pictures) into the process. Not an easy thing to do if you're balancing lots of other priorities. Still though, I think I would do the whole thing again. Massive thanks CAGGERS! @FTMDave @lookinforinfo @dx100uk Donation on the way!

Tomorrow is the day! I was wondering if there were any good threads / resources that set out what costs to ask for? Just want to be prepared in case we get to that stage. I did look myself but didn't find something that was clear - just someone saying they didn't get work recouped because they took a holiday day // someone saying because it via telephone they didn't get costs. So any guidance? Presumably I can at least ask for postage/envelopes/printing? Also, if you have any final tips for the actual hearing - let me know! Thanks!

Thanks Dave - that's super, super helpful! I appreciate it! I can definitely hold off going to the post office until tomorrow early afternoon. So if anyone has an additional comments / typos to point out / thoughts / contributions to make then if possible please before 1pm tomorrow because I'll hit print and walk to the post office then. Massive thanks Caggers for all your help so far!

Ah Dave, thanks! Yes that was the Mum/Wali's one. Okay great, so no changes, ready to be printed and sent!

You're a !

Hello all, Here is the second WS. It's a bit of a different tone because I felt quite heated reading Ambreen's WS and she made different points to Wali. I haven't put the exhibits in so just ignore all references to that. I'll pop them in before posting. If you only have time to read one WS, then please just read the content of this one. I'm quite happy with the first WS so I'm confident sending that one. Thanks and so sorry again it's so late! DRAFT C2 WS2 Redacted compressed.pdf

Hi everyone, Here's the final version for WS 1. I ought to put it in the post tomorrow for VCS and then email to the court Wednesday. Apologies for the tight turnover, I was struck down with a bug over the past few days, but if you could cast your eye over it, that would be fab! I'm still working on WS 2 but that should be done by tonight/tomorrow morning. Thanks! Draft WS4 redacted and compressed(1).pdf

Thanks for the feedback and what a nice compliment! I'll implement the changes tomorrow and post up a final draft. Then use that to write / copy & paste the second WS. I think the weakest point is definitely about the money / double costs and that's because I don't really get it. £100 for charge is allowed. £60 - debt recovery / contractual costs & interest. I've read threads on the unicorn tax, but I still don't get the abuse of process? Can I also just say that debt recovery is literally their business? It says so in the schedule of the Service Agreement that they only got paid like £12/sign and then they don't get paid to manage the car park so their business model is the PCNs so why do I need to pay for how their business is run? £35 - what's an issue fee? It additionally says £25 hearing fee so I don't think the issue fee is the court fee? But I'm not sure. If you have any articles or explanations I can read great - I have genuinely looked through threads and read them but money confuses me a bit! Also @dx100uk you said earlier you didn't think it was actually 90 min free parking. Without being able to find the planning permission - do you have tips on where I would look to see if it's actually 2 hours free parking? Be nice to sprinkle another tidbit about them having contempt for the rules.

Hi there, Here is my draft WS. It is long - but VCS just said such stupid stuff that I wasn't sure how to make it more concise. Let me know your feedback! Thanks DRAFT WS compressed and redacted.pdf

Hello! I'm a bit ahead of you in the timeline because the same thing happened in our case, so I'm now writing my Witness Statement. They messed up and wrote that we parked in a 'restricted / prohibited area' but then said we walked off site. Would I be able to get a copy of your unredacted Notice to Keeper to use as evidence that they made a mistake and are trying to contort it into an contravention? As Dave said, would be helpful! You can message me privately so it's off the public forum.

You are wonderful, Dave!! I shall get the WS drafted soon as I can! Thank you so much for your help!

Hi Dave, Hope you enjoyed the football and thanks for looking over the WS. I have two questions: 1) Strategy - for my mum's car, considering 3 of us were insured on it before it was sold (me, mum, dad) do you think it's worth just playing the 'sue the driver not me' and evade whether she was there or not? And then say POFA wasn't fulfilled so can't be held liable at keeper. I wanted to point out in the WS they should be able to identify the driver considering they had a patrol officer and their privacy notice on their sign says: 'These images will include the recording of the vehicle number plate and may also include images of any person(s) associated with the vehicle. Images are collected for the purpose of identifying the driver or keeper responsible for any charge arising from failure to follow the contractual terms and conditions of the site.’ Obviously in practice they won't have taken images cos that would be a GDPR/privacy nightmare to store. But its their threat, so why not ask them to produce it? Or should you think its best to to make the statement as you suggested and say they were there and keep it vague about who was driving, like the wording you used suggests? 2) Planning permission: I can't find anything in the portal, I emailed the council and they sent me a booklet about advertising and signs and asked which ones I meant. So I'll reply with pictures. But aside from hopefully the council replying saying they don't have permission - I don't know how else to prove that they didn't have planning permission. Sorry I have so many questions - writing two WS's (even if they overlap) is a bit of an undertaking!

Hello, finally here is the second VCS WS. It was written by a different paralegal so does have a different flair. I noticed this one was full of QR codes on nearly each page and have tried to cover them all. Are they using that to find us in these forums? Please ignore that the page numbers are a little messed up - I used the scan from the other WS to put the contract with GBR Phoenix in and I didn't scan the second side of their notices or the LBA. Not ideal, but this was the best I could do. The hardcopy does have the right page numbers. Let me know if you have thoughts! Apologies - I edited it but then it wouldn't let me upload it in my original message. + to add she redacted the schedules of their contract with GBR Phoenix without realising they sent me an unredacted version before. VCS WS 2 Redacted & Compressed.pdf

Interesting - thank you! I'll try and get the second WS up in the next couple of days when the neighbour is free again. That one has a different angle. VCS paralegals do love their copy & paste so that you have to read pages of their repeated nonsense don't they? Well, I wish you all a good night.

Unfortunately not

Thanks @dx100uk - do you have anything I could cite for that reverse trespass is not a thing? Just that the landowner is the only person who can bring a claim in trespass? @FTMDave- thank you for catching that and redacting. So they parked at the carpark and then went to the Citygate garage - it all looks like part of the same retail site but turns out its not. I've attached images so you can see what I mean. Pictures of VK.pdf

Hi everyone, Finally managed to get one scanned, compressed & uploaded! Thanks for the tip, Dave. Will try and get the second one scanned & uploaded in the next few days. Do scroll right to the end of the WS because they put their 'evidence' on the last page. Extra Compressed VCS WS FINAL(1).pdf

Okay great - I shall upload both VCS WS here at the same time. Thanks for the tip Dave. I'll try that. I'm going to enjoy the last rays of sunshine whilst I can. Will upload when I can - hopefully tomorrow!

Thanks for that Dave! Thanks dx - I did it on my phone because our scanner broke but it all went a bit wrong. Went round to a neighbour's and somehow the pdf she made was also too big. I'll ask if I can go over tomorrow and I'll follow your instructions dx. So will attempt it again! In the meantime, the second VCS WS arrived today in the post. It was written by someone else and they make different points (including some elaborate quotes from the supreme court and did mention POFA). Would you prefer I upload both WS's at the same time? Or shall I create a new thread? Or shall I upload one VCS WS, write my reply WS and then upload the second VCS WS afterwards and write the response to that one? What would be easiest/most efficient for you?

Hi FTM Dave - That's great - thank you for pointing my in the direction of Alaska 101. The pdf technology has defeated me today. I'll try and get their WS up tomorrow or Wednesday. Any idea on whether moving a court date / time is possible? Should I just keep trying to get through to the court?

Hello everyone- well the fun is beginning! 1) Both cases are going to court and are on the same day at the same time (end of October) on the telephone. I had hoped to be able to be on the phone for both - any experience with successfully getting the date (or time) changed? I tried ringing the court a few times and didn't get through to anyone. Is my best idea to keep ringing or do they not really change times/dates normally? 2) We were sent a letter end of August from VCS offering us a £27.50 discount to settle (see letter attached). Have ignored. 3) Peculiarly one WS statement from VCS has already arrived. Our scanner broke so I have scanned using my phone (apologies for some weird angles) but I thought I would upload it now so you can already read it. I'll draft a WS in the coming days and then hopefully can get some feedback on that. As a highlight, to whet your appetite, their main cognitive acrobatics are: (para 18) the car was 'observed by manual patrol... parked in a restricted/prohibited area.' (para 29) 'patrol officers comments...stating the driver of Defendants vehicle parked the vehicle and left the site.' (para 32) 'Was observed by patrol officer parking...leaving the site. Rendering, D's vehicle parked in contravention...namely resulting in the vehicle parked in a restricted/prohibited area...' VCS Settlement Letter.pdf

Hi there - I know this is probably a bit overwhelming and unfair. My thread is also about the Brook Retail Park, Ruislip so feel free to give it a read if you want to know what to expect. I definitely recommend reading as many threads as you can to get an idea of how this all works! Best of luck.