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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).
    • 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.
    • Not sure what to make of that or what it means for me, I was just about to head to my kip and it's a bit too late for legalise. When is the "expenditure occured"?  When they start spending money to write to me?  Or is this a bad thing (as "harsh" would imply)? When all is said and done, I do not have two beans to rub together, we rent our home and EVERYTHING of value has been purchased by and is in my wife's name and we are not financially linked in any way.  So at least if I can't escape my fate I can at least know that they will get sweet FA from me anyway   edit:  ah.. Sophia Harrison: Time bar decision tough on claimants WWW.SCOTTISHLEGAL.COM Time bar is a very complex area of law in Scotland relating to the period in which a claim for breach of duty can be pursued. The Scottish government...   This explains it like I am 5.  So, a good thing then because creditors clearly know they have suffered a loss the minute I stop paying them, this is why it is "harsh" (for them, not me)? Am I understanding this correctly?  
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Abuse of Process GMAC


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I am currently seeking to recover charges from GMAC,amongst others, and have become aware that the tactics they are using with me are identical to those used against others. Basically they only filed a defence on the 29th day and are seeking to have judgement set aside,also the counterclaim is similar to others ie threatening to claim their costs etc.

If all of us who have been treated this way were to put these facts in a statement of some sort that could be presented to the courts, then I am sure that GMACs solicitors, in my case Eversheds, could be shown to be abusing the legal process, for which i beleive they will then have to put up or shut up. What do you thinK?? perhaps it would work for other institutions too

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I'm fighting GE Money, Gareth Vowles at Eversheds their solicitor. He too abusing the process. Asked Court for 1 month stay to try and negotiate settlement, which I opposed saying they had 3 months to try and negotiate settlement. I won they didn't get their stay. He then rang me and after a discussion we agreed to settle for £4,000 (full amount without 8% interest) then didn't contact me again. After several emails, letters, phone calls he said there had been no agreement and in any event any discussion we had had were "without prejudice" so couldn't be referred to in court. That was back in November. Still no further and received no response from him. So it's court on 19 Feb.

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Dogwash

 

If you write to them a without prejudice letter stating what was said on the phone and all other points you can then produce that in court if you send it to the court just before the hearing say fax it to the court over night then ring and make sure they have it and it is on the papera and post it to them, takeing a copy with you to court the Judge will read it before they can say anything in our experience all the courts are aware of this abuse and you need to play them at their own game as long as the judge has read it if he thinks they are trying it on he will help you ( well that has happened to us but no always you have nothing to loose ) you need to get any agreement into the arena the fact that they have withdrawn it will not look good for them , Keep in touch

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Dogwash

Just a second thought which branch of Eversheds are you dealing with and how far away from are they we deal with Cardiff so have to pay costs to London or our court which was miles away from Cardiff

any pattern there

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Are these Franchises? Don't think so. Request a transfer of any hearing to your local Court, also keep copies of all expenses inc. time, travel, accomodation etc. and include these in your claim as Miscellaneous Costs, together with postage, correspondence, tel calls etc. The Judge will consider the position as you put it to him.

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Dogwash

 

If you write to them a without prejudice letter stating what was said on the phone and all other points you can then produce that in court if you send it to the court just before the hearing say fax it to the court over night then ring and make sure they have it and it is on the papera and post it to them, takeing a copy with you to court the Judge will read it before they can say anything in our experience all the courts are aware of this abuse and you need to play them at their own game as long as the judge has read it if he thinks they are trying it on he will help you ( well that has happened to us but no always you have nothing to loose ) you need to get any agreement into the arena the fact that they have withdrawn it will not look good for them , Keep in touch

 

Hi Team

 

Please be aware of this when writing letters.

 

'Without Prejudice'

 

The basic meaning is 'without loss of any rights'. It is a term used when two parties are in dispute, and one makes a settlement offer to the other. It puts 'without prejudice' on its offer to make it clear that the settlement offer should not be construed as a waiver of rights. Importantly, communication marked 'without prejudice' cannot be used in evidence in court proceedings if the attempts at settlement fail and the dispute comes to court.

 

A mistake with the paperwork could be costly.

 

Ukaviator

WARNING TO ALL

Please be aware of acting on advice given by PM .Anyone can make mistakes and if advice is given on the main forum people can see it to correct it ,if given privately then no one can see it to correct it. Please also be aware of giving your personal details to strangers

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Thanks Bona. I will write to them outlining what has to date taken place and showing that I have made strenuous efforts to settle without court hearing. Take on board what you say about UKaviator but I can say that they rang me to negotiate settlement on 15 November and I offered to settle for £4000 for speedy settlement and I didn't make that offer "without prejudice" . However they rang me on 17 November and agreed to my offer - as far as i am aware that was not "without prejudice".

 

Tude Turner - costs not an issue in my claim it is in small claims court - my local court.

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hello all

Just a quick note and i may be wrong ?

I had a mortgage with gmac and they used eversheds to take us to court for repossession, however on the day in court it was not a eversheds solicitor who turned up , it was a local solicitor "on behalf of" eversheds.

 

Eversheds as far as i know are based in cardiff and use local solicitors in the country courts if the court is a long way from them.

 

I am in essex, so sending someone from cardiff to romford county court would have been a bit of a slap for them?

I dont know if they have any type of franchise though?

 

Hope its of some use and keep us informed of how you get on with them!

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I would be obliged if thiose of you who have had dealings with Eversheds could pm me with th the details ie late defences, judgements put aside, etc. I will then contact the court me claim is going through to quote these instances as abuse of process and inform the law society

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I would be obliged if thiose of you who have had dealings with Eversheds could pm me with th the details ie late defences, judgements put aside, etc. I will then contact the court me claim is going through to quote these instances as abuse of process and inform the law society

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Martdj,

 

You'll probably find that Eversheds are a data warehouse who use a complex case management solution to manage large numbers of accounts for the banks and mortgage providers. They did it with me initially and transferred the matter via a 'Notice of Ceasing to Act' for the Halifax, to a local Solicitor, who was basically a one man band (and his wife). The 'franchisees' then made a fortune out of common people simply by attending court and issuing papers for which they were allowed by the Bank to charge extortionate fees.

 

Interestingly, the same firm of Solicitors changed their name three times!

 

What's that all about?

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Thanks for all the information everyone, GMAC have to serve us their itermised costs buy Friday 4.00pm, this will include all thier expenses. It will be interesting to see. We will then have a costs hearing .Allthough we have paid the costs as they took them when we redeemed the mortgage we hope to get a substantial amount back. We will be asking the court to make an order to have all gmacs other costs (not solicitors ) assessed as well, at the moment they are oposing us, so we need to get some amunition for the hearing any ideas!!!

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just did a quick google on eversheds and found a case study of them here is the link ........ suggest you do a thorough google on them you never know what claims to service you might find .... they quote words like best practice ... costing all work accurately in advance .....

link

The Times 100 - Edition 11 - Eversheds Case Study Summary

 

just found that eversheds have been used as an investors in people

case study ..... another link below

 

..a complaint to IIP might be an idea

 

 

Investors In People - Case Studies

:cool: sunbathing in juan les pins de temps en temps

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Here is a copy of a letter I have sent to the Law society,

 

CCS

Victoria Court,

8 Dormer Place, Leamington Spa,

CV32 5AE

 

 

19 January 2007

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

 

I am the claimant in a small claims case against GMAC-RFC. This is a claim for the refund of unlawful charges applied to a mortgage account I had with this company.

 

The defendants solicitors are Eversheds 1 Callaghan Square Cardiff, their reference is xxxxxxxxx.

Judgement was granted in this case by Northampton County Court on 28/12/06 as the defendant had not filed a defence, however on 4th January 2007 I received a copy of an application notice that they intend to have the judgement set aside.

If this were a one off application in these sorts of cases it would be acceptable, but this appears to be a tactic that this company, and others, employ in order to delay the settlement of the case. It is therefore an abuse of the courts process.

 

I can provide examples where this tactic has been employed in other cases should you require these.

The case is very simple in its entirety and in no way would warrant an undue delay.

I have enclosed a copy of a letter I have sent to Dartford County Court.

 

I look forward to receiving your comments.

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Martin Johnson

 

 

 

Lets see what happens now!!

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Have a look at this link I found on the Glenn v Abbey thread

 

Privileged, Without Prejudice, and Without Prejudice Save As to Costs documents. - Alway Associates

 

It is very interesting.

just because documents are marked “Without Prejudice”, unless they are intended to be part of a genuine settlement attempt they will not actually enjoy “Privileged” status and they will not be protected from disclosure.

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