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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.

      Frankly I don't think that is any accident.

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      Please note that a recent case against UPS failed on exactly the same issue with the judge held that the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 did not apply.

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Student Loan Deferment Conspiracy ? (long)


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Update October 2011

 

The SLC are at it again, fraudulently creating arrears on people's pre-98 Student Loan accounts !

 

This year i sent my deferment form slightly after the previous year's deferment-end-date, & requested on the form that they backdate it in line with the Legislation, which allows for a 3 month backdating time limit. Guess what? they didn't backdate it, thereby falsely creating arrears on my account again!!

 

I notice also that the content of the better regulation executive links on this thread has been deleted.

 

Have just emailed off a formal complaint stage 1, will keep you posted.

 

Don't give in to these crooks at the SLC fight them all the way!

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The SLC make my blood boil !!

 

I am in a similar situation as much as dealing with the incompetience and brush off/pass the buck attitude at the slc.

 

My local education authority completly messed up my applicaiton, awarding me grants that I now know I was not entitled to (did not know at the time), in short I was starting a nhs nursing degree... which is funded by the nhs.. so was not entitled to full support as I would receive a bursary.

The LEA awarded full support as they would for a normal degree student, I have made a formal complaint and gone through all the process - LEA (council) admit 'partial' responsibility !! but will not wipe the extra debt.... the extra debt that I am now expected to pay back, as they say the declaration states "I agree to repay any overpayment howsoever caused" - according to them, this immunes them from being liable !! Can you believe it !!

 

Got on to the SLC, and requested that they wipe that part of the debt as I would never have had to pay it back anyway - and if it had been offered as a loan I would not have accepted that amount. Outright no... we do not have the power to do that.

 

My MP has even written to the sec. of state for business innovation and skills - who is responsible for the SLC, again - outright no - Does not have the power apparently, even though the leglislation says otherwise.

 

They are a complete shower !! the lot of them.

 

I am now no longer at uni, and did not finish my course due to illness caused directly by the stresses their mistakes casued (I initially ended up with phnumonia). So I am now receiving Income Support - which will mean no doubt I will be in line for all their abuses soon !

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Update October 2011

 

The SLC are at it again, fraudulently creating arrears on people's pre-98 Student Loan accounts !

 

This year i sent my deferment form slightly after the previous year's deferment-end-date, & requested on the form that they backdate it in line with the Legislation, which allows for a 3 month backdating time limit. Guess what? they didn't backdate it, thereby falsely creating arrears on my account again!!

 

I am aware that SLC sometimes backdate deferments up to 3 months. However, can somebody please refer me to exactly which document/publication or law or regulation states that as a rule, borrowers are entitled to backdate up to 3 months AND that SLC are obliged to do so?

 

I have searched high and low for written evidence of this and can find nothing to prove a 3 month backdating right. It was told to me over the phone and I have had deferments successfully backdated in the past, but I need to prove whether or not it is a right. As far as I can tell, the SLC can decide to backdate or not at their discretion and are within their rights to refuse backdating or ignore requests. If you have arrears because the SLC ignored your backdating request then they are entitled to punish you. Please show the evidence otherwise, because I do not believe that a 3 month backdating rule exists.

Edited by bureaucrazy
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It's stated in Law : " Each deferment period will last for 12 months beginning on a date the lender tells the borrower. This date will be not more than three months before or two months after the date the lender accepts the borrower’s deferment application"

 

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/211/schedule/2/made

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It's stated in Law : " Each deferment period will last for 12 months beginning on a date the lender tells the borrower. This date will be not more than three months before or two months after the date the lender accepts the borrower’s deferment application"

 

Thanks DaveyDavey,

 

My interpretation of the above is that the SLC is free to choose to start the 12 month deferment period on any date they like so long as it is not more than 3 months before or 2 months after the date they accept the deferment application from the borrower. The date they accept the application probably extends beyond the date they receive the form to allow time for processing. So, this legislation does not give the borrower a right to have their deferment backdated 3 months.

 

If however, the SLC have published some policy or document or have put in writing anywhere that the borrower has a right to backdate 3 months from when they (SLC) receive the application, it could be used as evidence that the contract between the the SLC and the borrower gives a 3 month backdating right. Without that piece of paper, I'm afraid we have no leg to stand on. If you can find it then please post on this forum so we can all demand 3 month backdating.

 

In my case the SLC withdrew money from my account for 3 months before starting the deferment even though I asked for backdating and they would not refund my installments. I cannot prove they have done anything wrong.

 

Good luck.

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just had a phone call, they will backdate the deferment 3 months & my arrears are now cleared.

 

In your case, i would say that if the SLC take 8 weeks or so to process a simple deferment form, you are being penalised by their tardiness / inefficiency / maladministration. Up to you if you want to accept it, if you use the formal complaints procedure & take it to stage 3 (excecutive level) if you need to, you could find the arrears are wiped out. It may also be prudent to cancel the direct debit with the SLC if you wish, so that they are unable to take funds out of your account due to the above, it's ultimately up to you how much you wish to fight it. In my case, I've fought it and won and have not had to pay any unjustified 'arrears', I'm aware of many cases where people have accepted what the SLC has said as gospel, not questioned it, not wanted to put up with the harassment, and have given up and paid the 'arrears' supposedly owed by them, sometimes thousands of pounds. Ultimately the choice is up to the individual.

I personally believe that if the founding principle of student loans is that they only become repayable when a borrower's income reaches a certain level (a principle that still holds true today), then a borrower has a right to resist and fight against this when it is being subverted by the very people who are supposed to be upholding it, the Student Loans Companies, under the watchful eye of the Government.

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I'm glad you had success. It's encouraging and I totally agree that everyone should stand up to SLC. The ignored backdating request happened to me about 2 years ago and I wrote in to complain (recorded delivery) but got no reply. I may be out of time for ombudsman help, etc. but I may try to raise the complaint again. My line of attack was to claim the money back from my bank under the direct debit guarantee. Then the bank would get it back from SLC and probably charge them on top. But I can't convince the bank that the withdrawls were unauthorised without evidence of a three month backdating policy. How did you manage to convince them that there was a 3 month backdating right?

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  • 1 month later...

I came across this thread by accident. I've encountered the same problems as the OP described 4 years ago.

 

I've long suspected that SLC were deliberately losing deferment forms. I could virtually guarantee that each year at least one deferment form will go 'missing in the post'. One year, three went walkabout, landing me with arrears. So this year I decided to take my time. Should have sent it back at the start of the year. Of course my arrears will go up but they'll only get what I can afford anyway. Think I might return it this week.

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  • 1 month later...

I've got problems with honours loans who are now demanding full payment of the loan. I moved and apparently didn't inform them so was 5 months in arrears. I applied for deferment and They backdated 3 months but still want the 2 months. I'm unemployed so couldn't pay. So they added £40 interest a month plus £20 letter. The arrears doubled as a result. I'm appalled at the interest rates! My arrears was £300 so £40 a month is well over 100% apr unless they are counting the whole loan which they shouldn't have. Anyway I'm happy to go court. It's really disgusting

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I just stumbled accross this forum, and I had to join and write down my experience too.

 

I sent off my deferment form for 2004, and never heard a word as per usual. I forgot all about subsequent deferments as I never earned anywhere near the limit, and I never heard another word from them. The loans were registered at my mothers address, where she still lives, and she can confirm that we received no communication at all. One day out of the blue in late 2007 I received a call (On the mobile number I have had all along which the Student Loans company had!) - "Hallo Mr X I need you to pay your arrears of £3700 today".

 

It turns out that my deferment form was 'lost' and that in the absence of any communication from me, which they could have had by simply lifting the telephone, or dropping me a line, they decided to secretly charge me £100 per month in arrears. They only got in touch after 37 MONTHS - when the arrers were almost the total amount of the loan.

Since then I've had all the harrassment that others have detailed here, ie. threats, lies, debt collectors, threats of court action, repettative phone calls etc. All along I've stuck to my guns, and said that this is illegal, and there is no way I'm paying anything. I used to get regularly hassled by either HSS or Penine but they go quiet for while, and try again sporadically. I have even had letters charging me for 'finding me' at the address I was still living at!

 

They claim to have sent me documents throughout the 37 months, but they can't produce any evidence for this when I ask. I get the same ill informed operators ringing me and asking the same things ie. 'Pay up!', and all I do is refer them to the notes on my case which they obviously haven't read - then tie them up in logic, or ask for the proof, or perhaps talk ethics with the operator for a bit. You would think after 5 years of arguments I might have been contacted by a manager or senior handler of some sort, but I have not. I believe its always just been low level junior call centre/debt collecter operatives .

 

For a period of several months last year I think, my interest on the loans went in to negative interest, and was actually reducing the loan amount I thought this was great, and it can clearly be seen on the statements, but alas it suddenly changed without warning, and of course I didn't receive any reason for this - Anyone else had this?

Basically I'd just like to add my eperiences to this thread, and say stick to your guns - don't be intimidated, and if you are in the right, and you know it, they will not be able to push you. If you earn below the limits don't be tricked in to paying.

Edited by Conniff
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  • 5 weeks later...

I thought I was the only one who had noticed this little game that HSL and Student Loans like to play. Unfortunately I cant share with you everything I know but basically I sat for several years in a chair hearing calls from students telling me they had sent the forms to the company who denied receiving them, by this time the process had got to court. Probably thousands of students were made to pay back their loans even when they normally should not have been paying them back. However by getting a court judgement the company could then change the terms and make the loans like every other debt. In other words get payments below the normal wage thresholds.

 

As a graduate I knew that people were telling the truth and in any case when you have heard the same story enough times you know but in the position I was in, nobody wanted to hear me. Plus in addition I am still having to defer loans myself and have a file pretty thick now since 94 of the numerous complaints I have myself have had to submit. Now abroad the company are finding excuses to write to me several times a year and guess what even though they have had my new address for nearly 2 years they are still sending the odd deferment form and letter to my old address. Moreover one of my deferrmen forms has arrived late of course. Still the complaint letter has been sent, copies have been taken of everything and its all gone by registered post. Know anyone picking up this thread that you are right, these **** bags are not playing by the rules.

Edited by Conniff
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  • 2 months later...

Good morning, I have just been taking a look at some of the messages regarding Student Loans. This is because my Son in Law telephoned the student loans people to change his address and was told that he now owes £**** immediately because he did't send back his Deferal Forms. He was horrified as he duly returned his forms in December last year and they insisted that they hadn't had them also saying that they have written to him on "sereral occassions" Gues what he hasn't recieved any corres[pondence from them whatsoever. Despite this the 2 people he spoke to yesterday evening were rude, unhelpfull and patronising and made demands that he pay up or else. He now has to wait for them to telephone next week as they said he must give them a financial statement and make a suitable offer of payment plan. Are there actually any laws to protect people like my son in law and where do you ngo to complain about the way these people are abusing my son in law and the many thousands who are driven to despair ???

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