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    • further polished WS using above suggestions and also included couple of more modifications highlighted in orange are those ok to include?   Background   1.1  The Defendant received the Parking Charge Notice (PCN) on the 06th of January 2020 following the vehicle being parked at Arla Old Dairy, South Ruislip on the 05th of December 2019.   Unfair PCN   2.1  On 19th December 2023 the Defendant sent the Claimant's solicitors a CPR request.  As shown in Exhibit 1 (pages 7-13) sent by the solicitors the signage displayed in their evidence clearly shows a £60.00 parking charge notice (which will be reduced to £30 if paid within 14 days of issue).  2.2  Yet the PCN sent by the Claimant is for a £100.00 parking charge notice (reduced to £60 if paid within 30 days of issue).   2.3        The Claimant relies on signage to create a contract.  It is unlawful for the Claimant to write that the charge is £60 on their signs and then send demands for £100.    2.4        The unlawful £100 charge is also the basis for the Claimant's Particulars of Claim.  No Locus Standi  3.1  I do not believe a contract with the landowner, that is provided following the defendant’s CPR request, gives MET Parking Services a right to bring claims in their own name. Definition of “Relevant contract” from the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4,  2 [1] means a contract Including a contract arising only when the vehicle was parked on the relevant land between the driver and a person who is-   (a) the owner or occupier of the land; or   (b) Authorised, under or by virtue of arrangements made by the owner or occupier of the land, to enter into a contract with the driver requiring the payment of parking charges in respect of the parking of the vehicle on the land. According to https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/section/44   For a contract to be valid, it requires a director from each company to sign and then two independent witnesses must confirm those signatures.   3.2  The Defendant requested to see such a contract in the CPR request.  The fact that no contract has been produced with the witness signatures present means the contract has not been validly executed. Therefore, there can be no contract established between MET Parking Services and the motorist. Even if “Parking in Electric Bay” could form a contract (which it cannot), it is immaterial. There is no valid contract.  Illegal Conduct – No Contract Formed   4.1 At the time of writing, the Claimant has failed to provide the following, in response to the CPR request from myself.   4.2        The legal contract between the Claimant and the landowner (which in this case is Standard Life Investments UK) to provide evidence that there is an agreement in place with landowner with the necessary authority to issue parking charge notices and to pursue payment by means of litigation.   4.3 Proof of planning permission granted for signage etc under the Town and country Planning Act 1990. Lack of planning permission is a criminal offence under this Act and no contract can be formed where criminality is involved.   4.4        I also do not believe the claimant possesses these documents.   No Keeper Liability   5.1        The defendant was not the driver at the time and date mentioned in the PCN and the claimant has not established keeper liability under schedule 4 of the PoFA 2012. In this matter, the defendant puts it to the claimant to produce strict proof as to who was driving at the time.   5.2 The claimant in their Notice To Keeper also failed to comply with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4 section 9[2][f] while mentioning “the right to recover from the keeper so much of that parking charge as remains unpaid” where they did not include statement “(if all the applicable conditions under this Schedule are met)”.     5.3         The claimant did not mention parking period, times on the photographs are separate from the PCN and in any case are that arrival and departure times not the parking period since their times include driving to and from the parking space as a minimum and can include extra time to allow pedestrians and other vehicles to pass in front.    Protection of Freedoms Act 2012   The notice must -   (a) specify the vehicle, the relevant land on which it was parked and the period of parking to which the notice relates;  22. In the persuasive judgement K4GF167G - Premier Park Ltd v Mr Mathur - Horsham County Court – 5 January 2024 it was on this very point that the judge dismissed this claim.  5.4  A the PCN does not comply with the Act the Defendant as keeper is not liable.  No Breach of Contract   6.1       No breach of contract occurred because the PCN and contract provided as part of the defendant’s CPR request shows different post code, PCN shows HA4 0EY while contract shows HA4 0FY. According to PCN defendant parked on HA4 0EY which does not appear to be subject to the postcode covered by the contract.  6.2         The entrance sign does not mention anything about there being other terms inside the car park so does not offer a contract which makes it only an offer to treat,  Interest  7.1  It is unreasonable for the Claimant to delay litigation for  Double Recovery   7.2  The claim is littered with made-up charges.  7.3  As noted above, the Claimant's signs state a £60 charge yet their PCN is for £100.  7.4  As well as the £100 parking charge, the Claimant seeks recovery of an additional £70.  This is simply a poor attempt to circumvent the legal costs cap at small claims.  7.5 Since 2019, many County Courts have considered claims in excess of £100 to be an abuse of process leading to them being struck out ab initio. An example, in the Caernarfon Court in VCS v Davies, case No. FTQZ4W28 on 4th September 2019, District Judge Jones-Evans stated “Upon it being recorded that District Judge Jones- Evans has over a very significant period of time warned advocates (...) in many cases of this nature before this court that their claim for £60 is unenforceable in law and is an abuse of process and is nothing more than a poor attempt to go behind the decision of the Supreme Court v Beavis which inter alia decided that a figure of £160 as a global sum claimed in this case would be a penalty and not a genuine pre-estimate of loss and therefore unenforceable in law and if the practice continued, he would treat all cases as a claim for £160 and therefore a penalty and unenforceable in law it is hereby declared (…) the claim is struck out and declared to be wholly without merit and an abuse of process.”  7.6 In Claim Nos. F0DP806M and F0DP201T, District Judge Taylor echoed earlier General Judgment or Orders of District Judge Grand, stating ''It is ordered that the claim is struck out as an abuse of process. The claim contains a substantial charge additional to the parking charge which it is alleged the Defendant contracted to pay. This additional charge is not recoverabl15e under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4 nor with reference to the judgment in Parking Eye v Beavis. It is an abuse of process from the Claimant to issue a knowingly inflated claim for an additional sum which it is not entitled to recover. This order has been made by the court of its own initiative without a hearing pursuant to CPR Rule 3.3(4)) of the Civil Procedure Rules 1998...''  7.7 In the persuasive case of G4QZ465V - Excel Parking Services Ltd v Wilkinson – Bradford County Court -2 July 2020 (Exhibit 4) the judge had decided that Excel had won. However, due to Excel adding on the £60 the Judge dismissed the case.  7.8        The addition of costs not previously specified on signage are also in breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, Schedule 2, specifically paras 6, 10 and 14.   7.9        It is the Defendant’s position that the Claimant in this case has knowingly submitted inflated costs and thus the entire claim should be similarly struck out in accordance with Civil Procedure Rule 3.3(4).   In Conclusion   8.1        I invite the court to dismiss the claim.  Statement of Truth  I believe that the facts stated in this witness statement are true. I understand that proceedings for contempt of court may be brought against anyone who makes, or causes to be made, a false statement in a document verified by a statement of truth without an honest belief in its truth.   
    • Well the difference is that in all our other cases It was Kev who was trying to entrap the motorist so sticking two fingers up to him and daring him to try court was from a position of strength. In your case, sorry, you made a mistake so you're not in the position of strength.  I've looked on Google Maps and the signs are few & far between as per Kev's MO, but there is an entrance sign saying "Pay & Display" (and you've admitted in writing that you knew you had to pay) and the signs by the payment machines do say "Sea View Car Park" (and you've admitted in writing you paid the wrong car park ... and maybe outed yourself as the driver). Something I missed in my previous post is that the LoC is only for one ticket, not two. Sorry, but it's impossible to definitively advise what to so. Personally I'd probably gamble on Kev being a serial bottler of court and reply with a snotty letter ridiculing the signage (given you mentioned the signage in your appeal) - but it is a gamble.  
    • No! What has happened is that your pix were up-to-date: 5 hours' maximum stay and £100 PCN. The lazy solicitors have sent ancient pictures: 4 hours' maximum stay and £60 PCN. Don't let on!  Let them be hoisted by their own lazy petard in the court hearing (if they don't bottle before).
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      The judge's reasoning is very useful and will certainly be helpful in any other cases relating to third-party rights where the customer has contracted with the courier company by using a broker.
      This is generally speaking the problem with using PackLink who are domiciled in Spain and very conveniently out of reach of the British justice system.

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Would appreciate any help I could get here.

I had an outstanding Council tax debt of around £1000 (including the two bailiff visit fees), which had been handed over to B&S so I rang them and set up a payment plan of £200 a month. The first payment went out fine, but then I had a real problem with a bunch of direct debits being cancelled by my bank (around the time I was claiming for bank charges strangely enough) and the payments stopped leaving £804 to pay.

The first thing I knew about this was a notice of seizure of goodsthorugh the door detailing the original £804, a levy fee of £49, an attendance to levy fee of £18 and a redemption of goods fee of £24.50 adding £91.50 to my bill. Attahced to this was an inventory listing my next door neighbours car.

I rang the office and told them that they had levied against property that didn't belong to me, although they kept reiterating that I would have to speak to the bailiff as he still had my file.

I rang the bailiff the next morning and he was very agreeable and told me to ring the office the following monday when the paperwork would be back with them.

I did this and they informed me that another bailiff would have to visit to set up a payment plan, which I thought was a little strange.

Nothing happened for a month until my girlfriend rang me while I was out one evening to let me know that the bailiffs had just been back and had tried to gain entry to levy goods. She hadn't let them and told them that I didn't have my mobile with me and that she would get me to give them a call the day after.

As soon as I got home I read the letter and noted that the debt was now £1250!!!! I did some research on this excellent site and armed with this called them back the next morning. Again he was very pleasant and I informed him that I could pay the whole balance of £804 (obviously deducting the charges for the false levies) the following monday (this being a friday). His mood changed slightly and he told me that I had to pay the balance by the end of that day or he could get a locksmith to attend my premises and take goods without me being there. I very calmly said that I'd sought legal advice and knew that that was an outright lie and suggested he didn't try any of his bullying tactics on me again or I would lodge a Bailiff complaint with the court that had issued the original order. I then told him that me paying it off on the monday was a more than reasonable offer and in fact would pay it off 2 months earlier than the original payment plan that had failed. He then tried to "help" me by advising that I pay the charges, but I said that I needed them justifying first.

I did in fact pay the £804 on the monday and sent a letter to the compliance officer questioning the fees. I didn't get a reply until last week when a bailiff visited again while I was out stating that I still owed £274 in fees. I rang him the next day explaining that I'd sent a letter, but he said that they had not received it, so I told him that I would not pay the fees until I knew that they were just and I would resend the letter registered post this time.

 

Sorry about the novel, but wanted to make sure everyone had the full facts. I now need to know that as none of my goods had ever been levied could they still technically charge the "reasonable" vehicle hire costs? Also, is the letter to the compiance officer the right route to take to enquire about this?

 

Thanks in advance.

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Have just drafted the following letter to the compliance officer:

 

Dear Sir/Madam

 

Your Reference: xxxxxxx

I amwriting this letter to raise some questions regarding additional fees to my, now settled, council tax debt.

Your records will show that the original debt plus the two statutory visit fees have been paid and that there is an outstanding amount of some £274. I do require a full breakdown of the fees incurred, but for the time being I believe them to be for “reasonable” expenses such as vehicle hire for the removal of levied goods. This in itself is rather perplexing as no property of mine has ever been levied against.

I would prefer to assume that there has been a simple misunderstanding surrounding your procedure and that it can all be cleared up quite easily, however during conversations with your bailiffs I have been confronted by outright lies and what can only be described as threatening shock tactics. I have filled out a Formal complaint form, but will wait to hear your response before I send it.

As stated above I would like to see a full breakdown of the fees incurred including values, dates, times and details.

Yours faithfully

How does that sound?

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Good letter.

 

 

The following is sadly is something we are seeing very often. It is worth checking with your council. Also when sending your letter it is VITAL that you request a copy of the screen shot of the account.

 

..............................................

 

The Magistrates Court do not send out copies of Liability Orders and because of this, many people do not actually know the amount on the Liability Order. We would advise that you contact the council to ask how much the Liability Order is for. The reason for this is that we have seen so many cases where the amount being requested by the bailiff company is not the amount on the Liability Order. and in many cases can vary between an additional £24.50 for an "apparent first visit", £42.50 for two such visits and even a van visit of between £100 to £200. The inclusion of van fees is more common when the debt is for a large sum of money as the debtor will very likely not notice this charge. When questioned, the bailiff has tried to justify the additional amount stating that it must be the court fees !!

Edited by jonni2bad
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You might want to read the following concerning the matter of the bailiff "levying" on a car that is not owned by you.....

 

 

..........................

 

"Levying" on a vehicle that you do not own:

 

This is now also becoming commonplace with "less reputable" bailiffs, in particular when collecting for unpaid council tax. How it works is this:

 

The bailiff will make a visit to your premises with "a view to levying distress" (this is the legal term). He can charge just £24.50 if this is the 1st visit and you are not at home and no levy is made. In order to generate more income for him and his company,the bailiff will instead post a form through the door to say that he has attended and "levied" on a vehicle either on the driveway or on the road outside. The bailiff will then charge both an additional "walking possession" fee and a "levy fee". The bailiff knows that there is case law that provides that he can "assume" that the car is yours and that it is up to you....not him..... to prove otherwise.

 

Many times these vehicles are owned by sons/daughters/friends/even tradesmen etc. If this does occur and the bailiff company refuse to accept that the car is not yours....then a Statutory Declaration must be sworn by the owner of the vehicle and a request made that all fees and charges associated with this "levy" are removed.

Edited by jonni2bad
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  • 2 weeks later...

Received a letter in the post this morning.

 

Dear sir,

 

I can confirm the receipt of your letter onm the xxxxxx, the content of which has been noted.

 

Now that we have established via the DVLA that you are not the registered keeper of the vehicle seized on the xxxxxx, we will credit the fees incurredfor the seizure and also the visit with a view to removing the vehicle.

 

This will leave your account £32 in credit. Please see the attached statement of your account and also the enclosed cheque for £32.

 

Although the registered keeper is not the owner of the vehicle, as a gesture of goodwill I am prepared to credit the levy fee, Redemption of goods fee and the Van/Abortive removal fee, clearing your account.

 

 

One for the good guys eh? I would have settled for clearing the account, but the cheque will go to a slap up binge for the better half having to face these guys.

 

The only thing that confused me slightly was the last paragraph about the car, but I think what they are saying is that even though it is registered to my neighbour doesn't necassarily mean it's not mine!!!???

 

Thanks again Tomtubby for you help.

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I am just pleased that I could be of assistance.

 

And I, for one, are just as pleased that we have you on our side.

I Wish you everything you wish yourself.

 

NatWest Claimed £1,639. Accepted £1,344.

Natwest Paid me again as GOGW £1,656. Yes they can have it back if they say please.

Barclays 1 Claimed £1,260. Won by default. Paid in full

Barclays 2 Claimed £2,378. Won by default. Paid in full

Birmingham Midshires. Claimed £2,122. Accepted £2,075.

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Thank you Tonycee.....

 

What you doing up at 01.11 looking out for us lost souls ?

I Wish you everything you wish yourself.

 

NatWest Claimed £1,639. Accepted £1,344.

Natwest Paid me again as GOGW £1,656. Yes they can have it back if they say please.

Barclays 1 Claimed £1,260. Won by default. Paid in full

Barclays 2 Claimed £2,378. Won by default. Paid in full

Birmingham Midshires. Claimed £2,122. Accepted £2,075.

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  • 1 month later...

A bailiff CANNOT levy on a car that is on HP. That is because the vehicle is not YOURS until the FINAL payment is made.

 

Maybe you are getting confused with a car subject to a finance agreement.

 

Sadly, the levying of cars by bailiffs is now VERY COMMON indeed and people need to be very wary because if you are in arrears in paying your council tax and you refuse to let a bailiff into your home......then bailiffs are now putting a levy on the car.

 

He can ONLY do this if the vehicle is owned by YOU.

 

Finally, always remember that BEFORE a bailiff has levied on goods.....you can give away, hide, sell or transfer ANY goods.

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If a Baliff visits your property for unpaid council tax for the first time and you don't let them in and don't sign anything but they levy your car in the drive can they still charge an extra fee and if so how much? The car in question is about 10 years old and notworth very much so would this make a difference?

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