I suspect that the claim has been discontinued or is about to be, as is standard with DCB Legal issued claims. The claimant was under the same deadline as you to submit their WS and they have not done so.
I would call the court on Monday and ask whether the claim has been discontinued and the hearing date vacated. They have until 4pm on 5th June to pay the trial fee or the case is automatically struck out.
If the claim has not been discontinued yet, I would advise you submit the following late WS to protect your position. ONLY submit this on 6th June. Do not submit it earlier. You must send it to the court by email as a PDF attachment to enquiries.northampton.countycourt@justice.gov.uk and you must also CC in info@dcblegal.co.uk and cc in yourself too. The subject line of the email must be marked “Urgent” and also include the claim number.
IN THE COUNTY COURT AT NORTHAMPTON
Claim No: [Claim Number]
BETWEEN:
UK Parking Control Ltd
Claimant
- and -
[Defendant's Full Name]
Defendant
WITNESS STATEMENT
1. I am the Defendant in this matter. I make this witness statement to preserve my position in advance of the hearing listed for 3rd July 2025. I understand that it is being filed outside the 22nd May 2025 deadline directed by the court, and I respectfully ask that the court admit it in the interests of justice under the overriding objective.
2. This witness statement is submitted as a formality, without prejudice to the court’s order that the claim be struck out if the Claimant failed to comply with directions by 5th June 2025. As of the date of this statement, I have not received any witness statement or evidence from the Claimant or their legal representatives.
3. The defence was filed and served in good time. It raised significant issues concerning the Claimant’s failure to comply with CPR 16.4, including the lack of clarity as to the basis of the claim and whether the Defendant is being pursued as the driver or the registered keeper.
4. The Claimant did not attach the contract it relies upon, nor the specific wording of any terms said to have been breached. No copy of the original Parking Charge Notice has been provided, nor any photographs, signage, or location details. The Particulars of Claim remain vague and fail to identify the alleged breach with the required precision.
5. I included a draft order with my defence, inviting the court to require the Claimant to produce further and better particulars so that I could properly understand and respond to the case. However, this was not actioned and the case was allocated to hearing without further clarification.
6. I have been unable to provide further documentary or substantive evidence in support of this witness statement due to the Claimant’s failure to comply with CPR 16.4 and to plead my case with sufficient clarity. As a result, I am placed at a disadvantage and remain unaware of the precise allegations or evidence relied upon.
7. The Claimant has made no attempt to set out how the amount claimed has been calculated, nor to identify the legal basis for any damages or additional charges. The claim simply refers to “registered users only” without explanation.
8. No evidence has been provided to demonstrate that I was the driver, nor that the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA) has been complied with in order to establish liability against myself as the registered keeper.
9. The Claimant’s conduct to date has been uncooperative and evasive. It has failed to comply with basic procedural obligations and, in my experience and understanding, DCB Legal frequently discontinues claims at the last moment when required to pay the trial fee.
10. I make this statement to protect my position in the event that the Claimant attempts to proceed, but if the claim has been struck out as ordered, then I rely on that strike-out and submit this statement for completeness only.
11. I reserve the right to submit a supplemental witness statement if the Claimant attempts to revive the claim or introduces evidence at a later stage.
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.
Signed:
Date:
We need to see everything. you already have shown a propensity to not follow advice or provide clear answers to questions.
We need to see ALL of the order so that we can determine the various deadlines, which we now know are:
• Witness Statements (WS) to be submitted by 22nd May.
• Claimant to pay trial fee by 5th June
• Hearing date 3rd July.
Whilst UKPC/DCB Legal will not let this go to a hearing, there is slight problem because the court has ordered that the WS be submitted much earlier than the trial fee deadline. They will discontinue before that deadline but you will want to see if they send you a copy of their WS before 22nd May.
Remind us on 21st May if you have not received a copy of their WS by then. If you do receive one before then, she us immediately.
IN THE COUNTY COURT
Claim No: [Claim Number]
BETWEEN:
UK Parking Control Ltd
Claimant
- and -
[Defendant's Full Name]
Defendant
DEFENCE
1. The Defendant denies any liability for this claim.
2. There is a lack of precise detail in the Particulars of Claim (PoC) in respect of the factual and legal allegations made against the Defendant such that the PoC do not comply with CPR 16.4.
3. The Defendant is unable to plead properly to the PoC because:
(a) The contract referred to is not detailed or attached to the PoC in accordance with CPR PD 16(7.5);
(b) The PoC do not state the exact wording of the clause (or clauses) of the terms and conditions of the contract (or contracts) which is/are relied on;
(c) The PoC do not set out the reason (or reasons) why the claimant asserts the defendant has breached the contract (or contracts). Simply stating "Registered users only" is vague and inadequate;
(d) The PoC do not state with sufficient particularity exactly where the breach occurred, the exact time when the breach occurred and how long it is alleged that the vehicle was parked before the parking charge was allegedly incurred;
(e) The PoC do not state exactly how the claim for statutory interest is calculated;
(f) The PoC do not state what proportion of the claim is the parking charge and what proportion is damages;
(g) The PoC states that the Claimant is suing the defendant as the driver or the keeper. The claimant obviously knows whether the defendant is being sued as the driver or the keeper and should not be permitted to plead alternative causes of action.
4. The Defendant has attached to this defence a copy of an order made at another court which the allocating judge ought to make at this stage so that the Defendant can then know and understand the case which he/she/it faces and can then respond properly to the claim.
Statement of truth
I believe that the facts stated in this Defence 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.
Signed:
Date:
Draft Order for the defence (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/o1xbmqxzmgn4dv9el96kd/Draft-Order.pdf?rlkey=td1ajprejse2mgq6z9x0fgahr&st=wqng5ecp&dl=0)
You only need to edit in the defence your name, the claim number and sign the defence by typing your full name for the signature and dating it. There is nothing to edit in the draft order.
When you have done that, you attach both files in PDF format to an email to claimresponses.cnbc@justice.gov.uk and CC in yourself. Make sure you include the claim number in the subject field of the email and in the body just put "Please find attached the defence and a draft order in the matter of UK Parking Control Ltd v [your full name] Claim No.: [claim number]"
After you have emailed it, you must get an auto-response from the CNBC.