Free Traffic Legal Advice

Received a PCN as keeper in mid 2017. Replied without disclosing driver and referred them to no liability for keeper as POFA did not apply due to byelaws. All I stated was my observation that 'Your PCN shows the vehicle registered to me stopped at a junction with an airport main road for a maximum of 5 seconds before turning right and being shown further down the road 3 seconds later. This was clearly a stop to turn manoeuvre.' I concluded by rejecting their PCN as invalid
VCS responded by stating 'my appeal' was rejected and 'in your appeal you have confirmed to us that on the date in question you stopped your vehicle on the access road which is an area where stopping is not permitted'. They also stated 'byelaws are not currently in use as the last set of byelaws relate to the old airport site and are now regarded as obsolete by the Airport Company'.

I sent a letter back refuting that it was 'an appeal' and that whilst they had tried to infer I was the driver, there was no basis for them to make this inference. I confirmed that I responded to them only as the keeper and that I would not release driver details. A Notice of Intended Court Proceedings was received in November 2017 and that was the last correspondence from them I ever received.

In early 2021 I moved house and did not use a mail redirection service, instead asking the postman to return the small amount of mail expected at the old address to alert people to the change of address wherever possible as I thought I had notified all relevant parties of the new address.

However this week I received a letter at my current address from a debt collection agency stating that VCS had actually obtained a CCJ for C £270 in December 2021 and I could either settle the debt at 45% of the amount by end Jan or they would arrange for bailiffs to recover the debt.

Very unhappy that VCS have sneaked this through by using my old address when i believe it would have been thrown out had I been informed and able to mount a defence. Would welcome any advice/guidance as to the best course of action. Contemplating an application to have the original judgement set aside via an N244 form. All views gratefully received.