Exeter Court Delivers a Powerful Blow to UK Car Park Management represented by Gladstone Solicitors and ordered to Pay £2,154.10

In what can only be described as one of the courtroom showdown of the year, the County Court in Exeter served up a win that felt more like a David versus Goliath. Our former client, a determined small business, faced off against the heavyweight, UK Car Park Management Limited, represented by the formidable Gladstone Solicitors. The result? A sweeping victory for the little guy, with a £2,154.10 icing on the cake for costs!

This electrifying victory is more than just breaking news—it's a clarion call for private parking operators to wake up and take note: adhere to the statutory framework or risk a hilarious—and financially painful—day in court.

The case began with an unpaid Parking Charge Notice (PCN) for an alleged set of parking shenanigans on 10th May 2022. UK Car Park Management Limited took aim at our former client , the vehicle's hirer at the time. But little did they know, their target was ready to fight back!

The defendant sought counsel from our expert team, and we promptly connected them with our trusted partners at Lawrence and Associates Solicitors. Enter stage left: Mr. Jackson Yamba, the skilled legal representative who helped steer the defendant's ship with a bold move to strike out the Claimants claims for failing to meet CPR 16.4 requirements. The Claimant was permitted to amend their particulars of claim but order to pay costs.

The spotlight shifted to the courtroom stage, where the defendant brandished a robust and technically savvy defence. They showcased that the claimant had missed crucial steps to recover charges, as dictated by the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. (“POFA”).

Among the arguments:

- The claimant’s failure to provide a valid "notice to hirer" in compliance with Schedule 4 para 14(5) of POFA

- Missing documents, including a statement from the vehicle hire firm and a hire agreement copy, standard regulations under Schedule 4 para 13(2) of POFA

Both parties were ordered to furnish witness statements, yet the claimant's host of Gladstone Solicitors didn't quite check off the required boxes. A fair warning was handed down to discontinue the claim to avoid unreasonable conduct costs—yet the claimant called their bluff and persisted.

At the final curtain, Mr. Jackson Yamba captivated the courtroom, presenting an air-tight defense that left District Judge Griffiths thoroughly persuaded. The culmination? A complete dismissal and the awarding of significant costs against the claimant—a hilarious, yet stern reminder of the costs of ignoring procedural propriety.

This blockbuster outcome spotlights a dire warning to private parking firms everywhere: neglect the rules, and the costs might just extinguish your business bottom line. But for the Defendant and Lawrence and Associates Solicitors, this landmark victory underscores the power of strategic and expert legal advice—ensuring justice with a sprinkle of courtroom comedy.

Are you bogged down with an unfair parking ticket from UK Car Park Management Limited? Don't let the big guns intimidate you. Reach out to us now for a consultation, and let’s make your parking woes the next headline-grabbing victory!