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    • The private submersible industry was shaken after the implosion of the OceanGate Titan sub last year.View the full article
    • 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).
    • Thanks for all the suggestions so far I will amend original WS and send again for review.  While looking at my post at very beginning when I submitted photos of signs around the car park I noticed that it says 5 hours maximum stay while the signage sent by solicitor shows 4 hours maximum stay but mine is related to electric bay abuse not sure if this can be of any use in WS.
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Please help - Equita Bailiff's want my husbands car


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Hi all,

 

Very new here and I'm desperate!

 

I had a Equita bailiff call today (i wasn't in) and they posted a 'Notice to remove goods in 24hrs' notice through the door and also a green form listing property they intend to take.

 

On that list was my husbands car, the car is solely in his name.

 

I fully intend to repay the debt to the best of my finances allow but I'n scared they are going to take my husbands car.

 

Can they take it?

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Hi I'm a newbie (today as well).

 

Someone will be along to help you out soon enough.

 

Take a look at the thread levvy through the letterbox found near the top after clicking the new threads button and hopefully that should put you at ease somewhat.

 

Adam.

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You really need to give a little more detail to this so that some one can assist you. what was the debt for and how much is it for.

A break down of what the bailiffs are asking for would also be a help too :)

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Hi, sorry for the lack of detail.

 

The debt is for council tax in my name (my maiden name before we got married)

 

The 'green form' doesn't give a break down of the debt it just say 'total amount £1813'

 

I've read the stickies and I know that I don't have to let them in but I'm very worried if they take my husbands car.

 

It's not worth anywhere near the amount they are asking for but it's our only means of transport.

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you need to write to Equita with a copy of the finance agreement or receipt for the car showing it to be in your husbands name and demand they remove charges for an invalid levy against good that are not yours.

 

Then ask for a breakdown of the council tax and charges they may have put on with a breakdown of what the charges are for.

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No they can't take your husbands car in his name for a debt in your sole name

 

 

That is good to know.

 

 

Reading through ther posts here, it seems that bailiffs like to do what they please anyway regardsless if they are allowed to or not.

 

Do I have the right to call the police if they attempt to take the car or clamp it?

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do you know how much the debt was before it went to the bailiff company, I think I am not sure whether they can levy on your husbands car or not, because the debt was before you were married, but they should of done a check to see what name the car was under before they placed a levy on it they surely would of seen that the name was different so technically shouldnt of, if you get what I mean. All I can suggest at the moment and to keep your car safe is to hide it from view until something is sorted and you can get a payment plan with them agreed on.. What ever you do DO NOT let them in, if you have to talk to them do it through the letter box or an upstairs window.

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They can't take his car But they will try you need to sort this asap

 

Please write a repayment plan and send to the council direct with a payment if you can and you must stick to this agreement,

 

 

If you call the police they will probably assist the Bailiff if you read the threads here that's normally what happens as they know nothing about civil law

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That is good to know.

 

 

Reading through ther posts here, it seems that bailiffs like to do what they please anyway regardsless if they are allowed to or not.

 

Do I have the right to call the police if they attempt to take the car or clamp it?

In cases like this the police are more than likely to assist the bailiff rightly or wrongly

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Hi people, just check with the sticky for certificated bailiffs and it appear the chap who called isn't listed, by his name or Equita.

 

Is the the online link up to date?

 

If so does this mean the chap isn't certificated and can't do jack?

 

Many thanks for all your help so far :)

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the online link was only posted a few days ago and should be up to date

i would however phone Ministry of Justice Public Register of Bailiffs on 020 3334 6355 to confirm that he was not certificated in the last few days

if he is not certificated then he is not a bailiff and cant do jack :)

i would also ask who you put you complaint to about Equita using people that are not bailiffs

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Hi all,

 

Very new here and I'm desperate!

 

I had a Equita bailiff call today (i wasn't in) and they posted a 'Notice to remove goods in 24hrs' notice through the door and also a green form listing property they intend to take.

 

On that list was my husbands car, the car is solely in his name.

 

I fully intend to repay the debt to the best of my finances allow but I'n scared they are going to take my husbands car.

 

Can they take it?

 

Hi,

I had a very similar thing happen to me.

 

Over a year ago an Equita bailiff called at my house when there was nobody in. They also posted a list through the door. On it was a friends motorhome, my daughter in laws car and among other things my sons motorbike. None of which they can take and they know it.

I am sure there are lots of much more experienced people on here that will give you advise. Most of all don't panic!! It wil get sorted.

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Hi folks,

 

Many thanks for the advice given out so far.

 

It's very reassuring to know that these people simply can't 'break in' like he has implied in the letter posted through my door.

 

My husband has moved the vehicle to a safe location for the time being and has collected together all his paperwork for the car in readiness for the next impending visit.

 

A few more quick question if you please.

 

Can the bailiff assess my household goods by looking through a window?

Can they call on a Sunday?

Can they really demand full payment and not have to agree to any paypent plan?

On the 'Green form' posted through my letterbox it does not give any break down of charges, it just says the total. Is that right?

 

 

I just want to make sure I have my facts right ready for the next visit.

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Can the bailiff assess my household goods by looking through a window?

NO but he wouldn't be the first bailiff to do this

 

Many bailiffs are looking at ways of increasing their fees and sadly this scenario is very common indeed. However there is clear case law concerning this as follows:

 

EVANS v SOUTH RIBBLE BOROUGH COUNCIL (1991)

 

 

 

Background:

This case was an Appeal by a Community Charge payer against the decision of the Magistrates Court that had dismissed her complaint against the bailiffs that had levied on goods on behalf of her local authority: South Ribble Borough Council.

 

The bailiff had attended at Mrs Evans property for £341 of arrears. Mrs Evans was not at home when the bailiff visited, the bailiff then posted an envelope through her letter box containing a notice of Distress, a draft Walking Possession agreement signed by the bailiff and requiring Mrs Evan’s signature and return plus various other documents that explained the methods of payment, and the amount of the debt.

 

Mrs Evans did not return the Walking Possession; instead she sought legal advice about this method of seizure.

 

 

 

In his Judgment Mr Justice Simon Brown, reviewed the law and he concluded the following:

  • “Once entry is made, very little in the way of seizure and impounding is required…...but there must in the first instance be an entry (into the property), thus: "it is my clear conclusion that external inspection and posting through the letterbox is a course of action insufficient to bring about the legal consequences of Distress”

And that: the process of distress consists ofthree stages;

· the entryinto the premises,

· the seizureof the goods

· the subsequent securing of the goods (generally called impounding)

 

 

In your case the bailiff has clearly made an external inspection without gaining entry into the property and that this cannot therefore be a valid levy as provided in the case of Evans v South Ribble and that you should be refunded any fees and charges applied to your account by return. In addition, the remaining nominal items or garden furniture are of worthless value.

Can they call on a Sunday NO defiantly not allowed

 

Can they really demand full payment and not have to agree to any payment plan?

YES having said that your best bet is to write to the council and suggest a payment plan that you can afford without defaulting on

 

On the 'Green form' posted through my letterbox it does not give any break down of charges, it just says the total. Is that right?

NO i think the green form you are talking about is a notice of seizure of goods and inventory with your husbands car levied

this must have walking possession fee and a levy fee then a balance on it

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Quick update...

 

I've spoke to the council and they say they passed on a debt of £331 including court costs.

 

How the hell have equita come up with a figure of £1831 ????

 

To be honest I'm shocked that they expect me to pay such an extortionate amount!

 

Thanks to this form I'll be using one of you standard letters to be sent to Equita demanding a full breakdown off all charges against my account.

 

Whilst I was on the phone to the council I asked for them to take the debt back on but they said no, but saying that he was only a call centre chap so they will be getting a letter very shortly as well. Christ I'd pay back the money in full in one go!

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there is no way that £331 can end up as £1831 this is crazy

 

 

On line search to check if a Bailiff is Certificated..... was posted on the 23/7/09 and in these few day I have already come across 2 bailiffs working for equita that don't seem to be certificated i would like to start keeping a record of the names of these so called bailiffs the company they work for and the area they are collecting to see how many times there name crops up and if the move to another firm would you mind sending me P M with the bailiffs name and the area you live in

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again thanks for the help so far.

 

Here is a copy of the letter I intend to send to Equita..

 

27th July 2008

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: XXXXXXX.

your ref: XXXXXXX.

Client ref:XXXXXXX.

In regard to your fees.

 

I write following visits by your bailiff however there appears to an irregularity with your fees

and I am writing to ask you to provide me the following within seven (7) days:

1) The name of the court that issued the certificate for the bailiff in charge

2) Written confirmation of

a) Your fees, including all charges added to my account since referral from the original creditor.

Please note that only a screen shot from the account will be acceptable.

b) The original debt amount passed to yourselves from the creditor.

3) The name and address of the organisation that instructed you.

4) Truthfully confirm in writing your fees are lawful and comply with legislation.

 

I would like to point out that the bailiff in charge that called to my address has left (pushed through my letterbox) an invalid Walking Possession Agreement.

The Walking Possession Agreement (WPA) left is invalid for the following reasons.

1. The WPA is unsigned by myself

2. The WPA does not state any charges, just has a total amount.

3. The bailiff in charge has tried to levy a motor vehicle on the WPA which does not belong to me. I have no claim on this vehicle at all and thus cannot be levvied,

a simple check by the bailiff in charge before he tried to levy the vehicle would have confirmed this.

Please be advised that this vehicle cannot be class to be in a 'Disstressed' state.

4. The bailiff in charge attending my address has altered the total amount on the WPA, thus implying that he was simply making a figure up.

I would also like to point out that I am fully aware of my rights and I will not under any cirmcumstances grant any bailiff in charge attending permission to enter my premisses

eventhough the letter that bailiff in charge left implies that he has the power to force entry. I know this is not the case and any attempt to do so will be reported

to the police immediately.

 

This letter is delivered by Royal Mail and deem it good service upon you by the ordinary course of post under Section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978.

A copy of this letter will also be forward to my local council.

It now is your responsibility and in your best interests this letter is handed to the relevant person within your organisation.

Yours Sincerely

 

Is that good enough?

 

Please feel free to make any suitable alterartions and post up!

 

Many thanks.

 

J.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well it's been 9 days since I sent the letter by recorded delivery, no reply as of yet.

 

And it's been 13 days since the bailiff visit and no second visit from him as well.

 

What do I do now??

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