Free Traffic Legal Advice

Thank you so much for your kind advice, which I will attempt to action as urgently as possible.  I am extremely grateful that you took the time and trouble to reply.

Hello, I'd be most grateful for any advice/help regarding a Court Claim Form received, details below.  As this is on behalf of a friend's son, I do not have all the details to hand but can make any necessary enquiries of him.  Thank you very much in advance!

- My friend's son (who had recently passed his driving test) was driving in Enfield, London on 20 April 2025, when he suddenly came across a lot of traffic / severe congestion due to a car meet that was taking place in the area.  Not knowing what else to do, he pulled into the car park of a nearby Travelodge hotel, in order to wait for the traffic to ease / congestion to clear.  I think that he did not exit his car at any point.  He says that the traffic took quite some time to clear, and after he left the car park he subsequently received a parking charge notice and further documents / reminders, all of which he unfortunately ignored.

- He recently received a Court Claim Form, issue date 8 July 2026.

- He has filed an Acknowledgement of Service via Money Claim online on 21 July 2026.

- He intends to file a Defence by the required date, which we believe is 10 August 2026.

- I do not currently have the original parking charge notice or any other documents other than the Claim Form.

- I am posting the Claim Form below, and also his initial appeal to Horizon Parking, which was rejected.

- We would be most grateful for any advice about preparing a Defence.  He says he is prepared to go to court if necessary to argue his case in person.  He also says he would be prepared to pay the original parking charge amount if it was possible to go back to that stage.

Thank you so much, kind experts of this forum!