MET Parking services

[des8]

I would not pay them, but that is a choice not everyone would make.
People's circumstances are different
Being retired I have the time to dispute with them, and a day in court is a day out

Others anticipate the court hearing will be stressful (it isn't really that bad ... just the anticipation)
You don't have to attend court, but really leave yourself at a great disadvantage by not attending

It is a varied picture
Sometimes parking companies realise they will lose in court so give up
Other times, especially if it has been passed to debt collectors, they will continue to court.
I think this might be because the debt collectors (DCB) have an inhouse firm of solicitors (DCB Legal) and their business plan is issue as many claims as possible as the winning instances produce an overall profit. Many people pay when a claim is issued, rather than defend it.

[Shazwall]

Ok, I will have think about it. Don’t like idea of going to court but also of paying a fine which is not valid.
Thankyou for your responses and help.

[Shazwall]

Can I ask, if it did go to court would they ask who the driver of the vehicle was at the time? I am the registered keeper but have not stated that I was the driver.

[des8]

Any response to your question has to be taken as "general" as small claims track hearings are informal.
The court can use any method it considers fair and usually the judge hears both sides & then asks questions before making a decision.
Whether or not the parties question each other is down to the judge.
Bearing in mind at least one of the litigants in your hearing will be a lay person and not familiar with the court protocols or used to questioning other parties, they will be at a disadvantage and so the judge probably will not allow such questioning.
If perchance you are asked directly by the claimant if you were the driver, you could respond that you are not required to identify the driver and no assumptions can be made from that refusal.
Of course if asked by the judge (and I doubt that would happen) you would need to give a direct truthful answer.

But even if the court decides you were the driver and hence should pay the parking charge, there will almost certainly be other defences which can be raised.

Here are a coupe of links to publications you might find useful. Not all of the contents apply to small claims track cases, but you might find them useful
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/...+web+FINAL.pdf
https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/..._in_Person.pdf