Free Traffic Legal Advice

Good evening I have received a letter from the HM courts and tribunal service from private car parking fine I received some years ago I initially contested the fine and heard nothing back afterwards years later they have sent a letter to my mothers house where the car I was driving at the time was registered (since been scrapped) I have attached the letter sent firstly I’m asking if this is an official letter or are they trying to intimidate and if it is official is there anything I can do? I would obviously prefer not to have a CCJ in my history. For context I parked on a private carpark advertising £2 for all day parking they sent a letter saying I overstayed I contested this as ‘all day’ is quite vague and I expected it to mean 24hrs not 12hrs. I do not have the original letters as it was over 3 years ago

The one image we need to see is missing!!!! We only need to see the N1SDT Claim Form. Redact your personal info, the claim number and the MCOL password. Leave everything else visible, especially the Particulars of Claim (PoC) and all dates and times.

Once you have show that to us, we can advise on how to defend.

Just so as you get the silly notion that you can simply get a CCJ out of your head, read this:

Nothing we advise on here will make anyone get a CCJ.

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) does not just happen—it follows a clear legal process. If someone gets a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from a private parking company, here's what happens step by step:

1. Parking Charge Notice (PCN) Issued

• The parking company sends a letter (Notice to Keeper) demanding money.

• This is not a fine—it’s an invoice for an alleged breach of contract.

2. Opportunity to Appeal

• The recipient can appeal to the parking company.

•If rejected, they may be able to appeal to POPLA (if BPA member) or IAS (if IPC member).

• If an appeal is lost or ignored, the parking company demands payment.

3. Debt Collection Letters

• The parking company might send scary letters or pass the case to a debt collector.

• Debt collectors have no power—they just send letters and can be ignored.

• No CCJ happens at this stage.

4. Letter Before Claim (LBC)

• If ignored for long enough, the parking company (or their solicitor) sends a Letter Before Claim (LBC).

• This is a warning that they may start a court case.

• The recipient has 30 days to reply before a claim is filed.

• No CCJ happens at this stage.

5. County Court Claim Issued

• If ignored or unpaid, the parking company may file a claim with the County Court.

• The court sends a Claim Form with details of the claim and how to respond.

• The recipient has 14 days to respond (or 28 days if they acknowledge it).

• No CCJ happens at this stage.

6. Court Process

• If the recipient defends the claim, a judge decides if they owe money.

• If the recipient ignores the claim, the parking company wins by default.

• No CCJ happens yet unless the recipient loses and ignores the court.

7. Judgment & Payment

• If the court rules that money is owed, the recipient has 30 days to pay in full.

• If they pay within 30 days, no CCJ goes on their credit file.

• If they don’t pay within 30 days, the CCJ stays on their credit file for 6 years.

Conclusion

CCJs do not appear out of thin air. They only happen if:

• A parking company takes the case to court.

• The person loses or ignores the case.

• The person fails to pay within 30 days.

If you engage with the process (appeal, defend, or pay on time), no CCJ happens.