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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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      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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First capital connect notification of prosecution


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Hello

 

I'm in need of some advice. Last year I was out shopping with my mother when we returned to my house near Alexandra Palace. It was around fireworks night and the ticket inspectors were out. I mistakenly believed that I could touch in and out at Ally Pally using my oystercard but the inspector told me otherwise and I also only had 40p on my oyster (along with a zone 1-2 monthly travelcard). Admittedly these were both mistakes but things I was unaware of when we left central london.

 

The inspector gave me a pf which I couldn't afford to pay at the time but I gave him my address. Months passed with no news so I (rather naively) thought the inspector had had a change of heart. What I received last week was a demand for a £105 fine or an appearance in court.

 

I'm currently trying to contact the prosecutions dept at kings cross but they aren't answering their phones. I wrote to them saying I hadn't received the request for the £20 fine but would be happy to pay that. He told me to call him to discuss it further.

 

I am living paycheck to paycheck and really can't afford to pay £105. My parents have offered but I feel just awful. I don't want a criminal record. Help please. Do I have any choice?

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And also, although this doesn't excuse it in any way- I lost (I know, derrr) the pcn which does have, I think, all the info you need in order to pay. I was going to pay however when I received the letter.

 

I'm pretty sure I've got little or no recourse but bloody hell £105 is a lot of money.

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Are you calling the number that they tell you to on the latest letter? I have a feeling that when you eventually get through, you'll be told that it's your responsibility to pay the PF on time, and not lose the paperwork etc.

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Yes Stigy, that is the position.

 

Wasp19, the rail company does not have to send you any reminders, but they do so in order to encourage you to pay and thereby avoid Court action. The notice that the £20 penalty was due was handed to you and all the details of how & where to pay and how & where to appeal as well as when this must be done by were printed on it.

 

If you don't pay and they proceed to Court they will be able to show evidence that

 

i) you didn't have a valid ticket

ii) you were handed a notice telling you when and where you must pay

 

additionally, the prosecutor might seek to advise the court that

 

iii) you were given an opportunity to resolve the matter out of time but did not do so

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All of those things make me sound like a criminal! It honestly was a series of unfortunate events. I understand they must have people telling them that every day but....

They aren't obliged to send me reminders but nothing at all then £105 and a court date? No first, second or even final reminders? You get that with almost any other kind of 'money owed' scenario.

 

I feel like enough of an idiot as it is having lost the bloody thing, let alone someone telling me I have to go to court for it...

 

Dammit

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And yeah stigy I'm calling the number on the latest letter, no answer. Although when my dad called he answered straight away (all my mail comes to my parents because I'm moving flats)

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All of those things make me sound like a criminal! It honestly was a series of unfortunate events. I understand they must have people telling them that every day but....

They aren't obliged to send me reminders but nothing at all then £105 and a court date? No first, second or even final reminders? You get that with almost any other kind of 'money owed' scenario.

 

I feel like enough of an idiot as it is having lost the bloody thing, let alone someone telling me I have to go to court for it...

 

Dammit

 

My post wasn't meant to make you 'feel like a criminal', it was simply intended to explain the position that any rail company might take

 

Having said that, an unpaid rail fare is not just like any other money owed.

 

There is a legal obligation under Railway Byelaws to pay the fare before travelling where facilities exist to do so.

 

If you don't do so, the company can just go straight to prosecution if they choose to do so, but, in recognising that sometimes other factors may be relevant, there is the penalty notice or, unpaid fare notice whichever is appropriate. Not all rail companies allow that concession.

 

Which type of notice you are issued depends on which rail company you were travelling with, but both give you a set time to pay the fare or appeal liability in writing. (It's similar to a fixed penalty notice issued by Police for road traffic matters.)

 

You don't say what time of day you have been calling them and it's rare in my experience for them to alter things on the strength of a just telephone call. The offices that deal with this kind of thing are generally not staffed 24/7.

 

It is unfortunate that you say you lost the notice, but again this is something that they hear all the time. If you don't pay or respond you have only yourself to blame if the ral company proceed and whether we always agree with them or not, that is the view that the Courts take in the majority of cases.

 

Sadly, the Courts hear the same excuse thousands of times a year too.

 

I hope you can resolve it

 

.

Edited by Old-CodJA
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Thanks for the advice both. I just spoke to the nice man at the prosecution department and he has arranged for me to pay an admin fee and then consider the matter closed. No pleading guilty, no court. He basically did that because Alexandra Palace did introduce touching in and out shortly after I was issued with the pcn and he could understand the mix up.

 

Now I always travel with a full travelcard whenever I leave the house so- lesson learned I suppose!

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Lucky result! I honestly thought there would be no discussion and I would just have to pay £105. It's very considerate of him to consider slightly extenuating circumstances and my own scattiness.

 

Phew.

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  • 5 months later...

Nice to hear that with a valid excuse, they might exercise some sort of leniency. I will try my best to grovel but I have no extenuating circumstances. I was poor and desperate, the worst kind of citizen in Blighty and an easy case to prosecute. Well done, you managed to find some humanity despite the situation.

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I have been reading the forums and I am need of some help (real bad).

I made a terrible mistake whereby I bought a ticket from Kings Cross to St Albans at a gold card rate. I was caught by the revenue inspector and said I was a gold card member but had lost my 2010 card. I was previously a gold member for over 5 yrs but decided not to renew end of Jan this year due to me moving. Whilst there was another person on the train who didn't have a ticket he was fined £20 I somewhat pointed that out to the inspector. I guess he didn't like me...In the end the inspector had to check my records and I had to confess that I lied to him and the company. He took the statement down. I did not pay the £20 even though I was willing to do so as I was desperate to get home

FCC wrote to me and I wrote back to them (see below)

I have been commuting regularly between Kings Cross and St. Albans with First Capital Connect trains for the last 7 years and until recently, a gold card member for almost five years.

On 28th August I was in a rush to get back to St. Albans due to a family emergency and by habit quickly purchased the ticket at a gold member rate. Although this slip in concentration serves as no excuse I explained to the ticket inspector that I would be willing to pay the full fare and any fine. This was however declined. Furthermore, whilst on board the ticket inspector fined another passenger £20 for not having a ticket at all - worse for your company from revenue perspective than purchasing a ticket at 80% full price. However, it appears that your inspector wanted to impose upon me a more severe fine. I would urge you to consider the consistency of how the rules are applied and fairness of this.

I trust that as a company you value repeat business - in the last five years, I have spent nearly £10000 and would hope that you could reward my loyalty with settling this matter without progressing to the magistrates court, a costly and time consuming affair for all parties concerned. In lieu of this I would be happy to pay the full train fare cost, and/or any administration charges to close the issue swiftly.

I implore you show some leniency and once again apologize for any inconvenience caused

Only today did FCC write back saying they will forward the case (to Court).I've left them a message to call me (twice).

I am really worried as I have a good career, never had a criminal record... but have admitted that I was wrong.

What are my next steps? I've read the forums and there are similiar cases but really need some advice about next steps of what I should do/ expect from FCC?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

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