I've still not heard anything from CEL with regards to the CPR request, but I have been drafting my defence.
I'm ready to include about inadequate signage but not sure which is the best way to get this point across in the defence.
Could somebody please give me some pointers on this?
I still need to include facts running up to the alleged contravention but not sure how to approach this either.
- On or around XXXXXXXXXX the Respondent received a county court claim from the Claimant indicating their intention to recover sums relating to a Parking Charge virtue of a breach of Contract terms/Conditions (TCs)
- - The Respondent denies that the Claimant is entitled to relief of the sum claimed, or at all. It is denied that any conduct by the registered keeper was in breach of any term.
- - The Claimant appears to manage the private car park on behalf of the land owner and collects debts for breach of the TCs.
- - It is denied that the Claimant has the relevant authority to conduct car parking enforcement on the car park in question as the car park appears to be subject to local byelaws upheld by the local council.
- - The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 “POFA2012” Schedule 4, 3(1)(b) & (c) provides that ‘a parking place which is provided or controlled by a traffic authority’ and ‘relevant land means any land which is not subject to statutory control respectively’ is unable to be lawfully imparted as private land for the use of parking enforcement activities.
- - POFA2012 Schedule 4(3) provides: “For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1)(c) the parking of a vehicle on land is “subject to statutory control” if any statutory provision imposes a liability (whether criminal or civil, and whether in the form of a fee or charge or a penalty of any kind) in respect of the parking on that land of vehicles generally or of vehicles of a description that includes the vehicle in question.”
- - Attention is drawn for the claimant to the Department of Transport Guidance on Section 56 and Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012: Recovery of Unpaid Parking Charges, Section 4.1. “The provisions in Schedule 4 are intended to apply only on private land in England and Wales. Public highways are excluded as well as any parking places on public land which are either provided or controlled by a local authority (or other government body). Any land which already has statutory controls in relation to the parking of vehicles (such as byelaws applying to airports, ports and some railway station car parks) is also excluded.”
- - It is the Respondents respectful submission that according to online maps of the car park, one of the signs which is centered within the car park, reads: “Market. Thurs & Fri. Car Park Closed 8.00am – 4.00pm”
- - It is the Respondent’s respectful submission that the car park is likely under statutory control of the local council. The Claimant is therefore put to strict proof to demonstrate the Claimant’s ability to enforce parking terms on the specified land.
- - The Respondent has therefore issued a request pursuant to Civil Procedure Rule 31.14 and has asked the Claimant to provide copies of the contract with the land owner upon which they rely.
- - The Claimant has refused to disclose this information notwithstanding referring to this relationship in their Particulars of Claim (POC).
- - The Claimant has therefore breached their responsibilities under CPR 31.14 and they are put to strict proof to demonstrate they can lawfully collect this alleged debt on behalf of the land owner virtue of the relevant provisions in POFA 2012.
- - The POC issued by the Claimant is not compliant with Civil Procedure Rules, namely CPR 16.4(1)(e) and Practice Direction 16 para 7.5 (PD 16)
- - It is the Respondent's respectful submission that after reviewing online maps and the Claimant having provided their POC, the terms upon which they rely are according to the claimants POC: “displayed in CP and agreed upon entry/parking”.
- - The Respondent respectfully submits that the sign upon entry to the car park does not consist of any agreeable terms, in fact it reads "See car park signs for terms and conditions".
- - The Respondent submits that the conduct element upon which the Claimant relies appears to be with regards to bringing a vehicle onto land and breach of alleged terms of that land.
- - Contrary to CPR 16.4(1)(e) and PD 16 para 7.5 respectively, the Claimant has failed to declare the conduct, amounting to breach of the alleged terms, on which the Claimant relies.
- - Additionally, pursuant to the PD 16, the Claimant has failed to identify by whom the breach was undertaken.
- - The Claimant therefore issued a claim with particulars which must be contrary to the Claimant’s statement of truth and therefore not compliant with Practice Direction 22 para 2.1.
- - Attention is therefore drawn for the Claimant to CPR 3.4(2)c which provides the consequences imposed on Claimants who breach the Civil Procedure Rules. The court is respectfully invited therefore to strike out the Claimant’s statement of case.
- - The Respondent respectfully submits that the terms upon which the Claimant relies are contrary to s62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 “CRA 2015” which is the requirement of good faith. The Respondent will elaborate with the below.
- - In the Claimants signage, above the sub header “Terms and Conditions” it reads: “IF YOU BREACH ANY OF THESE TERMS YOU MAY BE LIABLE TO A PARKING CHARGE OF UP TO £100.”
- - In the Claimants signage, under the sub header “Terms and Conditions” it proceeds to read: “If you do not obtain a valid permit, you must (a) pay within 15 minutes of arrival;”
- - s13.1 of the British Parking Association code of practice indicates that all car parking enforcement companies under this association must provide a consideration period which exceeds at least 5 minutes to allow the driver the ability to consider the terms provided.
- - The Respondent contends that the alleged term in para 23 does not inform the driver to pay upon parking on the premises, in fact it demands payments upon arrival of the premises only.
- - Attention is drawn towards the particulars of claim which indicate the Claimant’s own distinction between entry to and parking within the car park.
- - The Respondent therefore contends that the Claimant cannot realistically have intended to enter into legal relations with the driver or registered keeper based on the conflicting code of practice.
- - The Respondent contends that this term is an unfair term contraire to para 18 of Schedule 2 CRA 2015.
- - In the Claimants signage, further down the alleged terms, it reads: “Additional costs/recovery charges will be incurred if payment is not received within 28 days”
- - The Respondent contends that the statement in para 22 therefore renders the term in para 29 to within the scope of the conduct required by the Practice Direction 16 para 7.6.
- - It is the Respondents interpretation that the terms indicate that, without a permit, additional costs/recovery charges will be issued for lack of payment for parking within the car park which is due for up to a maximum time of 28 days lapsed.
- - The Respondent therefore contends that the Claimant cannot rely upon the alleged term in para 29 to add additional charges or recovery charges which their claim relies, as s68 of the CRA 2015 provides that every term of a consumer contract must be transparent and expressed in a plain and intelligible language. The respondent contends that the terms in the Claimants signage are neither transparent nor intelligible as the terms seem to contradict each other and the contract should be construed against the draftsman.
- - If it is found that the term in para 29 refers to a parking charge, then the Respondent will contend that the Claimant is attempting to perform a double recovery on the alleged debt. The Respondent respectfully forwards the Claimant’s attention to the case of Parking Eye v Beavis; it was determined in this ruling that the charge in which the Claimant is attempting to recover, is a cost sanctioned by the supreme court as reasonable costs to cover the recovery. It was also decided that a global sum of £160 would be considered as a penalty and not a pre-estimate of loss.
- - The Respondent respectfully submits that the Claimant has added an unlawful extra amount of £70 payable to the Claimant.
- - It is therefore denied that the Claimant is entitled to relief of the sum claimed as the additional charges/recovery charges are contraire to s67 CRA 2015 and Schedule 2 CRA 2015.
- - Attention is therefore drawn for the Claimant to s71(2) CRA 2015 which indicates the courts obligation to consider unfair terms in contracts.
- - It is the Respondents respectful submission that the Claimant’s claim should be struck out as the Claimant has exhibited a blatant abuse of process by attempting to claim for additional fees for which the Claimant is not entitled.
- - If it is found that the Terms provided by the claimant are correct then the Respondent will contend that the signage upon entering the car park does not neither allow or guide any driver to the knowledge that it is a private car park.
- - It is the Respondents respectful submission that the Claimant has brought a claim which not only exhibits a catalogue of Civil Procedure Rule breaches but has no reasonable prospect of success and should be struck out.
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