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Original poster

Is this a CCJ

30 replies

Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:16

Please could you help me, I’ve got a claim for letter, is this a CCJ?!

It’s from a parking charge in 2020, I initially emailed the company (in 2020) to ask if could I pay in instalments and they agreed (I have the proof of emails) but now I have received this.

Can I contest this with the proof of emails or is it better to just pay and be done with it?

so stressed

OP posts:
cryinglaughing · 30/01/2024 11:19

If you were paying in installments, how is it not paid after 3 years?

Ring them, speak to then to find a resolution.

Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:24

Who is the claim letter from?

Parking companies have a habit of hawking their debts to the highest bidder so things you thought were closed or forgotten suddenly raise their ugly heads again.

I doubt it's a CCJ as reference to a parking company suggests it's private land ie not a council. For a claim of that type to progress to a CCJ they'd need to have issued a court summons so you'd have had letters etc from the County Court.

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:26

Thanks for the reply. Sorry I haven’t been clear I am so stressed.

I emailed the company to ask to pay in 2 payments, they emailed back to ask when to start the payments, I emailed to confirm a date and heard nothing back, I then forgot about it until I’ve got this Claim Form letter now in 2023.
So the parking fine was not paid but I was fine to pay it I just wanted a payment plan. Now I’ve got this claim letter

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:27

Who is the letter from?

LIZS · 30/01/2024 11:28

Sounds as if it has now defaulted. Contact the parking company first and offer to pay in full. However they may well have sold it on and it accrued costs. Probably not a ccj unless from a court order though.

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:28

It says claim form on the letter, from money claims online? It’s got all the details for payments and response details and stuff. It was for a private car park and I was fine to pay but I remember at the time I didn’t have cash on me and there was no card facilities to pay

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:28

@LIZS my thought too.

Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:30

Can you anonymise the letter - ie cover your name and address and put a copy on here?

LIZS · 30/01/2024 11:30

Money claims online is the small claims process.

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:31

thanks for replying.

it says court fee of £195 but I had nothing before then. Do you know if this has gone to a court? I’ve never had anything like this in my life before, I’m on hold to the money court trying to speak to someone.

OP posts:
Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:31

What does this mean? Am I better to pay today? Do you know if this would affect my credit rating and if it’s a CCJ?

thanks for replying I am shaking with stress

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:32

If it is a court thing then it's starting the process. You've got time to think about it.

LIZS · 30/01/2024 11:32

No it is not a ccj, but failure to pay now may become one.

Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:35

It could be the start of a claim or it could be an attempt by debt collectors to intimidate you. They've a nasty practice of sending stuff that looks like court process but is not.

I always feel I need to wash my hands after dealing with them.

JengaCupboard · 30/01/2024 11:40

It will be a CCJ if you don't respond/contest or pay within usually 28 days.

Money Claim Online (the County Court Business Centre) is where businesses apply directly to court for monies owed from businesses and private individuals. You'll be expected to pay their filing fee also, and they may also have chosen to charge you interest so I'd move quickly.

It is not a CCJ at the minute. If you can afford it I would just pay it ASAP and get it over with.

The County Court Business Centre are an absolute shambles to deal with BTW so I would record calls if you can and/or back up any arrangements by email.

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:44

Thanks so much for all your responses, I am new to Mumsnet!

I’ve just phoned the money claim online who say I have to phone SIP to pay them and also complete the admission part of the form and send to them? I thought I’d be able to pay over the phone or something but the guy at money claims said I need to fill out that form regardless and send to them.
I can’t believe this has happened! My first parking ticket and it comes to this!

OP posts:
eurochick · 30/01/2024 11:45

Without seeing the document it sounds like the claim form to start the process that could end in a CCJ.

You should have received documents with it explaining how to defend the claim (if that is what you want to do) or what to do if you want to pay the sum owed (plus the costs that have been incurred). If you want to defend you will need to explain that a payment plan has been agreed but that they have never sent you a start date as requested with all the dates of the emails and so on. (This is not really defending as such as you are accepting you owe the amount.)

If it is not a real claim form it could be an attempt to intimidate you by a debt collector.

Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 11:48

Before something like this gets to the County Court you should have had as a minimum a Letter Before Action ie a properly worded letter saying pay up or we go to court.

Have you had that?
Do you open all your post ie might you put things to one side?
Have you changed address since the incident and is your car correctly registered to you at your current address?

May be worth a word with Citizens Advice.

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 11:57

No I’ve only had this Claim Form which is saying pay the parking charge I think it’s a notice before court. The guy at money court services place says it’s not a CCJ but I need to act now.
I’ve emailed the car parking company sip and copied the guy in who initially told me I could pay in installments.
I need to fill in an additional response form to SIP also I’m told.
hope I can get this sorted quickly thanks for your reply
edit: I do open all my post and this is the first thing I’ve had about this

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 12:03

Does the form mention an address in Northampton?

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 12:06

Yes it does

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 12:21

Does this help:

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/action-your-creditor-can-take/if-youre-being-taken-to-court-for-debt/

In particular does the letter you have had include the listed forms N1, N9 etc.

Original poster
Stressed2death · 30/01/2024 12:28

Thanks for the link.
the letter includes an admission form
(where I agree to pay the payment but want a payment plan)
a defence and counterclaim form
there are no ‘N’ coded forms included

I have emailed the parking company (sip) and have asked them how to pay.
I had nothing before this letter I’ve got today.

OP posts:
Bromptotoo · 30/01/2024 12:32

Getting a bit beyond the scope of advice I'm prepared to offer on a forum. I'd suggest though checking what your local Citizens Advice have to say - take the documents with you.