Hygene company claiming liquidated damages after we claimed breach of contract

[Afterthefact]

The main problem is that this company are being very aggresive in their process and it is concerning
Firstly they sent us a Claim Form N9B fully completed but not issued by the Courts, I know this against either the court managers regulation or some other CPR but would like to know which it is, as only the courts have the right to issue claim forms.
Secondly we completed the defence which we returned in time, yet we received a "Reply to Defence" from the claimant stating they believed we did not have a claim and wanted terms of settlement, this is not in any of the books on the court proceedure nor online forums.
any help appreciated

[ostell]

If this was not a form issued by the court then who did you send your defence to?

[des8]

Form N9B is a combined form for defence to your claim and a counterclaim.
Are you sure it was not correctly served on you and at the same time filed with the court?
Have you checked with the court?
A Defence to Counterclaim should normally be filed within 14 days of service of the Counterclaim, however, given that the Reply to the Defence and Defence to Counterclaim usually form one document, the Court may make a different Order, for example, that the Defence to Counterclaim should also be filed and served with the Directions Questionnaire.