Free Traffic Legal Advice

@DWMB2 @b789 - thank you very much. Have sent off the defence with the copy of an order as attachments and have received an auto-response ClaimResponses.CNBC@justice.gov.uk. I shall update whenever I hear what happens next.

Thanks!

We really don't need to see al the blank forms. This is all standard and to be expected. You have received notice from the court that you now have to complete the N180 Directions Questionnaire.

Don't use the paper one. Download your own from here:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/673341e779e9143625613543/N180_1124.pdf

Complete it and sign it by typing your full name for the signature. I won't tell you how to compete the obvious fields.

The name of the court is "Civil National Business Centre".
To be completed by "Your full name" and you are the "Defendant".
C1: "YES"
D1: "NO". Reason: "I wish to question the Claimant about their evidence at a hearing in person and to expose omissions and any misleading or incorrect evidence or assertions.
Given the Claimant is a firm who complete cut & paste parking case paperwork for a living, having this case heard solely on papers would appear to put the Claimant at an unfair advantage, especially as they would no doubt prefer the Defendant not to have the opportunity to expose the issues in the Claimants template submissions or speak as the only true witness to events in question."
F1: Whichever is your nearest county court. Use this to find it: https://www.find-court-tribunal.service.gov.uk/search-option
F3: "1".

When you've completed it, you save it as a PDF file and attach it to a single email addressed to both dq.cnbc@justice.gov.uk and info@dcblegal.co.uk and CC in yourself. Make sure that the claim number is in the email subject line.

Hello all,

As per above, I submitted the N180 questionnaire by email to dq.cnbc@justice.gov.uk, info@dcblegal.co.uk and cc’d myself.


I have now received an email informing me that I have a mediation appointment on 22/01/2025, which came as a bit of a surprise. I believe I filled in the N180 form correctly and that mediation was not part of this claim due to what was written within the form. Please find, I filled the N180 form in as such:

Front page:
Name of court: Civil National Business Centre;
Claim number: [claim number];
Completed by, or on behalf of: [my name];
who is: Defendant;

section B: [my name and address]

C1: Yes

D1: No
If no, state why not:
“I wish to question the Claimant at a hearing to expose omissions and any misleading or incorrect evidence or assertions. As the Claimant is a firm who cut & paste parking case paperwork for a living, having this case heard solely on papers would put the Claimant at an unfair advantage, especially as they would likely prefer the Defendant not to have the opportunity to expose issues in the Claimants template submissions or to speak as the only true witness to the events in question.”

I tried to copy and paste from @b789 previous post but it cut parts of the last sentence off and the form box is unable to be edited.

Section E: E1, E2, E3 and E4 all blank.

I left all questions blank because of the statement on the top right: “Mediation appointment: If your claim is not suitable for mediation, such as Road Traffic Accident or Personal Injury please leave mediation section blank.”

F1: [my local county court];
F2: No;
F3: 1;
F4: No;
F5: No;
F6: No;

G1: No;
G2: English;
G3: English;

Signature: [my name];
Defendant

I have taken a screenshot of the email but have also copied it’s text below:



“Claim number: xxx

Parties: BRITANNIA PARKING GROUP LTD v xxx

Your telephone mediation appointment

Appointment date: 22/01/2025

Appointment time slot: xxx

Your confidential telephone mediation appointment has been booked for the above date and time slot. This means that the mediator will call you between the times shown. Your appointment will last for around one hour from the point at which the mediator calls.

The mediator will call both parties separately – you will not talk directly to the other side. They will try to help you both come to an agreement before the case goes to court.

Where your mediation appointment is mandatory, If you do not attend the appointment, the judge will take this into consideration at any court hearing and may issue a penalty. This could include the judge automatically ruling in the other party’s favour or ordering you to pay for some or all the other party’s costs.


Preparing for your appointment

You must make sure you have provided us with, or confirmed, the name and number of the person who will be conducting the mediation appointment. If you have not done this, or need to update your telephone number, you should contact us using the details at the end of this letter no less than 5 working days before your mediation appointment. Failure to do so may result in your mediation appointment not taking place and may result in a Judge issuing a penalty where the mediation was mandatory.

The mediator will call from a withheld number. Make sure that withheld numbers are not blocked on your phone.

Be ready to receive a call from the mediator from the beginning of your time slot. The mediator will call the telephone number you provided in your application.

If the mediator cannot contact you within 10 minutes of the appointment start, the appointment will be cancelled and you may, where mediation is mandatory, face a penalty for non-attendance.


Rebooking your appointment

If you need to rebook your appointment, you must have a good reason. The administration team will only consider rebooking in exceptional circumstances, such as an accident or a family bereavement. You must let us know as soon as possible.


Nominating a different representative

If you want someone else to represent you at mediation (like a trusted friend, relative or a solicitor) you must contact the mediation team

If you want to choose someone to attend your mediation appointment on your behalf who is not a part of the claim or is not a legal representative, you will also need to complete a delegated authority form. You can find out more about this on GOV.UK.

Your representative must know the facts of the case, understand how far you’re willing to compromise and have full authority to act on your behalf. You’re legally bound to any settlement agreements your representative makes on your behalf.


What happens in your mediation appointment?

Introduction from the mediator

The mediator will introduce themselves and check that you have read and understood the mediation process.

Explaining your position

You will need to briefly explain your claim or defence to the mediator. You should prepare for yourself a brief summary of the main points.

Negotiating options 

You’re attending mediation with a view to settling your case. This means negotiating to overcome disputed issues. The mediator is neutral and helps each party to explore options and discuss risks. Mediation works when you’re willing to listen to what the other party has to say, negotiate and agree a settlement.

Building agreement

Settlement can be in many different forms, for example, payment, goods or work. Both parties must agree on the outcome and feel they have reached an acceptable resolution.

Reaching a settlement

The mediator will read the terms of the settlement and confirm agreement with each party. Once agreed, the settlement is legally binding and cannot be changed. A copy of the mediation settlement is sent to both parties and placed on the court file.


Confidentiality

All mediation appointments are confidential. An agreed settlement includes a standard confidentiality clause.


Ending the mediation process

The mediator can end the mediation if, at any time:

either party breaches the terms on which they agreed to mediation
there is no prospect that the mediation will end in settlement
the mediator deems it inappropriate to continue in the case that one or both parties are vulnerable users
either party asks to end mediation

Find out more about Small Claims Mediation by watching our video HERE. Find out more in the guide to the Small Claims Mediation Service on GOV.UK.


Small Claims Mediation Service contact details

If you have any complaints or issues to raise about the Mediation Service, contact us by email or telephone:

Email:  scmreferrals@justice.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 123 4593

Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

We record our calls for monitoring and training as it helps improve the service we deliver. If you want to know more about how we handle your personal data, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/your-data-and-how-we-use-it

If you want to make a complaint by email, clearly title your message as ‘complaint’ in the subject field.”

As always, thank you for all your help and any help with this would be gratefully received.

Hello all,

I have received a letter from the County Court, attached below, for hearing of the claim.

We really don't need to see al the blank forms. This is all standard and to be expected.

As per @b789's previous reply above, I have not uploaded all pages from the letter received as I am unsure if they are standard format. The second page has directions applied to the claim, which I have scanned and can upload if needed. Within the directions, it states both parties must provide copies of all documents to the other party and the court by May 2nd.

I have also blanked out the dates and references from the attached page below which states the date for hearing is June 24th.

I have an issue with the date as I am unavailable due to being out of the country. Typical, just my luck that when I submitted the forms to block out dates I had nothing then I've had to make plans literally for 5 days within the next 10 months and that's exactly when the hearing has been scheduled.

I note it mentions that I must write to the court 7 days before the hearing to tell them, but unsure what I need to say and in what format? I am also concerned about how this affects the hearing as it seems like the date is set; can't be moved; and will proceed without me being able to attend?

Any advice and help would be truly appreciated.

Apologies; I have just re-read the READ THIS FIRST post to hopefully not make an error again. Whilst doing so, I noted that I’d forgotten the part where it says:

remove personal details (name/address, PCN reference number, Vehicle Registration Mark), but show us all dates and times. Details that you think are trivial could help you win, so don’t leave anything out

I have re-uploaded the letter below - this time following the instructions above. I have attempted to remove the erroneous image within my last post to hopefully remove some confusion caused but I’m unable to edit the post; I suspect due to time elapsed since posting yesterday.

Thank you for the draft email and pdf attachment. I shall get that sorted and sent right away.

There is also the fact that the claimant has been given right up to the actual hearing date to pay the trial fee which is highly unusual. As you have already sent the letter to request a date change, I advise you to send the following to Uxbridge county court immediately:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Postcode]

[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

Date: [Insert Date]

To: The Court Manager
County Court at Uxbridge
501 Uxbridge Road, Hayes, Middlesex, UB4 8HL

Re: Claim No. [Insert Claim Number]

Claimant: Britannia Parking Group Ltd
Defendant: [Your Name]

Subject: Request for Review of Procedural Fairness in Allocation Order

Dear Sir/Madam,

Further to my recent letter requesting that the hearing listed for 25 June 2025 be vacated due to the Defendant’s unavailability, I now write to raise separate concerns regarding apparent administrative inconsistencies within the Notice of Allocation dated 4 April 2025.

I write in connection with the Notice of Allocation to the Small Claims Track dated 4 April 2025 and wish to place on record several concerns regarding apparent administrative inconsistencies in the order, which risk prejudicing the Defendant’s position.

Of particular concern is the direction that the Claimant may pay the trial fee by 4:00pm on the date of the hearing itself (25 June 2025). This is highly irregular and inconsistent with established HMCTS guidance, which stipulates that trial fees should be paid not less than 14 days before the hearing. For example:

• The EX50 – Civil and Family Court Fees guidance confirms at section 2.1 that hearing fees are payable “not less than 14 days before the hearing”.

The accompanying EX306 leaflet on small claims hearings also states:

“If the court has told you to pay a hearing fee, you must pay it at least 14 days before the hearing. If you do not, the court may strike out your claim.”

Allowing the Claimant to wait until 4pm on the hearing day to pay the fee puts the Defendant at a serious disadvantage. It provides the Claimant with an unfair degree of flexibility, particularly as their legal representative is known for routinely discontinuing defended claims shortly before the hearing fee becomes payable.

While both parties are directed to serve their witness statements and supporting documents by 2 May 2025, the order grants the Claimant until 4:00pm on the day of the hearing to decide whether to proceed by paying the trial fee. This is procedurally unfair. The Claimant is represented by DCB Legal, a bulk-litigation firm known for its habitual practice of discontinuing defended claims at the very last moment—often immediately before the trial fee becomes payable. This pattern has been widely observed and documented in over 500 recent, nearly identical claims, and appears to be their standard modus operandi. The current order facilitates this behaviour, enabling the Claimant to defer any real commitment to the trial until the Defendant has already expended considerable time and effort preparing their case. This risks wasting court resources and undermines the overriding objective of dealing with cases justly and on an equal footing.

I also note in passing that the trial fee specified in the order appears to be one usually associated with a fast track claim, despite this matter being clearly allocated to the small claims track. While it is not for the Defendant to assist the Claimant in resolving any such irregularity, it may point to further administrative oversight within the order that warrants review.

In light of the above, the Defendant respectfully invites the Court to review the current directions to ensure they reflect standard practice and do not unfairly disadvantage one party. I trust this submission will be considered before the deadline for service of the witness statement on 2 May 2025.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]

CC: DCB Legal info@dcblegal.co.uk

So, are you saying that you haven't yet sent the original letter as a pdf attachment to an email addressed to both the court and DCB Legal?

If you, have, then just send the extra letter I provided. Otherwise just send this letter:

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Postcode]

[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

[Date]

To: The Court Manager
County Court at Uxbridge
501 Uxbridge Road
Hayes
Middlesex
UB4 8HL

Re: Claim No. [Insert Claim Number]
Claimant: Britannia Parking Group Ltd
Defendant: [Your Name]

Subject: Request to Vacate Hearing & Procedural Concerns Regarding Allocation Order

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write in relation to the Notice of Allocation to the Small Claims Track dated 4 April 2025, which lists a hearing on 25 June 2025 at 11:30 AM. This letter serves as both a request to vacate the hearing and to place on record a number of serious procedural concerns regarding the directions in the order.

1. Request to Vacate Hearing

The Defendant respectfully requests that the hearing be vacated and relisted to a date after [insert your return date], as they will be unavailable and out of the country on the listed date. At the time of submitting the Directions Questionnaire (Form N180) in November 2024, there were no known conflicts. Since then, however, essential travel has been arranged for a brief five-day period, during which the hearing has now been scheduled.

This request is made promptly and well in advance of the seven-day minimum notice set out in the allocation order. The Defendant is available at any time except [insert unavailable dates] and wishes to attend the hearing in person.

Given the low value of the claim (£329), the Defendant asks that this matter be dealt with administratively under the Court’s case management powers (CPR 3.1(2)(b)). It would be wholly disproportionate and procedurally unfair to require a formal N244 application and a £123 fee simply to request the hearing be rescheduled where the conflict was unforeseeable, the application is timely, and no prejudice arises to the Claimant.

2. Procedural Concerns – Trial Fee Deadline and Prejudice to the Defendant

I would also like to raise separate concerns regarding apparent administrative inconsistencies within the Notice of Allocation to the Small Claims Track dated 4 April 2025 and wish to place on record several concerns regarding apparent administrative inconsistencies in the order, which risk prejudicing the Defendant’s position.

Of particular concern is the direction that the Claimant may pay the trial fee by 4:00pm on the date of the hearing itself (25 June 2025). This is highly irregular and inconsistent with established HMCTS guidance, which stipulates that trial fees should be paid not less than 14 days before the hearing. For example:

• The EX50 – Civil and Family Court Fees guidance confirms at section 2.1 that hearing fees are payable “not less than 14 days before the hearing”.

The accompanying EX306 leaflet on small claims hearings also states:

“If the court has told you to pay a hearing fee, you must pay it at least 14 days before the hearing. If you do not, the court may strike out your claim.”

Allowing the Claimant to wait until 4pm on the hearing day to pay the fee puts the Defendant at a serious disadvantage. It provides the Claimant with an unfair degree of flexibility, particularly as their legal representative is known for routinely discontinuing defended claims shortly before the hearing fee becomes payable.

While both parties are directed to serve their witness statements and supporting documents by 2 May 2025, the order grants the Claimant until 4:00pm on the day of the hearing to decide whether to proceed by paying the trial fee. This is procedurally unfair. The Claimant is represented by DCB Legal, a bulk-litigation firm known for its habitual practice of discontinuing defended claims at the very last moment—often immediately before the trial fee becomes payable. This pattern has been widely observed and documented in over 500 recent, nearly identical claims, and appears to be their standard modus operandi. The current order facilitates this behaviour, enabling the Claimant to defer any real commitment to the trial until the Defendant has already expended considerable time and effort preparing their case. This risks wasting court resources and undermines the overriding objective of dealing with cases justly and on an equal footing.

I also note in passing that the trial fee specified in the order appears to be one usually associated with a fast track claim, despite this matter being clearly allocated to the small claims track. While it is not for the Defendant to assist the Claimant in resolving any such irregularity, it may point to further administrative oversight within the order that warrants review.

In light of the above, the Defendant respectfully invites the Court to review the current directions to ensure they reflect standard practice and do not unfairly disadvantage one party. I trust this submission will be considered before the deadline for service of the witness statement on 2 May 2025.

The Claimant’s solicitor has been copied into this correspondence in accordance with the rules.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Name]
CC: DCB Legal Ltd – info@dcblegal.co.uk

I shall send the letter within your last post urgently. Thanks again.

Email sent now and received email copy to myself, confirmation from DCB Legal and Uxbridge Court.

Also within the auto-response from Uxbridge Court it stated:

In accordance with HMCTS policy, your email will be dealt with or responded to within 5-10 working days following the date of receipt and will not necessarily take priority over items sent by post.  Please refrain from sending follow up emails until 10 working days has elapsed.

This could potentially be beyond the stated May 2nd for sending witness statements and supporting documents, as per your previous response as this week coming will have 4 working days then 5 the week after which takes the 10th working day up to May 5th. Should I be concerned about this text within the auto response from the Court?