Parked in a permit area without displaying a permit

[b789]

@Natedog, that is exactly what I expected.

If the court has confirmed that the £27 trial fee was not paid by the 4pm deadline on 11 May 2026, then the court order is very clear. It says that unless the Claimant paid the trial fee or filed a properly completed help with fees application by that deadline, the claim is struck out with effect from 11 May 2026 without further order.

So this is not simply a case of waiting to see whether the court decides to strike it out. Under the wording of the order, the strike-out has already taken effect unless there is something on the court file showing that the fee was paid or a valid help with fees application was filed in time.

For now, send a short email to the court asking them to confirm that, as the Claimant failed to pay the trial fee by the deadline, the claim was struck out with effect from 11 May 2026 and the hearing listed for 8 June 2026 has been vacated. Also mention that you have not received any N279 Notice of Discontinuance from the Claimant and ask the court to confirm whether one has been filed.

The order also says that, unless the court orders otherwise, the Claimant is liable for the costs which the Defendant has incurred. So you should also ask the court to confirm the procedure for submitting a short schedule of costs.

In the meantime, because court staff have told you to continue complying with the existing directions until the file is updated, we will take a cautious approach. If there is still no written confirmation from the court by 13 May, and you still have not received the Claimant’s witness statement and evidence, then you can file a short protective witness statement.

There is no point trying to produce a detailed witness statement because the Claimant has served nothing. They have not served the witness statement or evidence required by the judge’s order. They have not provided the contractual terms, landowner authority, details of where the alleged contract was made, clear A4 photographs, detailed breach allegations, or any proper explanation of the alleged debt.

So any statement would be short and procedural. It would simply say that the Claimant failed to pay the trial fee, the claim was struck out automatically under the court’s order, the Claimant has failed to serve the evidence ordered by the court, and there is nothing further for you to answer beyond your existing defence.

Do not panic and do not waste hours on this. In my experience of hundreds of DCB Legal parking claims over several years, this is exactly how they behave. The N279 or court update usually follows shortly afterwards.

We can deal with the exact wording of the short protective witness statement later today, if it becomes necessary. Just send this email to the court today and I will come back with the WS later:

Subject: Claim No: [INSERT CLAIM NUMBER] – Trial fee not paid by Claimant – request for confirmation and costs direction

Dear Sir or Madam,

Claim number: [INSERT CLAIM NUMBER]
Claimant: UK Parking Control Limited
Defendant: [INSERT DEFENDANT NAME]
Hearing date: 8 June 2026

I write further to the Notice of Allocation dated 15 April 2026.

I have spoken with the court office today and have been informed that the Claimant did not pay the £27 trial fee by the deadline of 4pm on 11 May 2026.

The order states:

“Unless the claimant does by 4.00pm on the 11 May 2026 pay to the court the trial fee of £27.00 or file a properly completed application for help with fees, then the claim will be struck out with effect from 11 May 2026 without further order and, unless the court orders otherwise, you will also be liable for the costs which the defendant has incurred.”

Please therefore confirm that the claim was struck out with effect from 11 May 2026 and that the hearing listed for 8 June 2026 has been vacated.

I also confirm that I have not received any N279 Notice of Discontinuance from the Claimant. Please confirm whether any such notice has been filed with the court.

For completeness, I further confirm that I have not received from the Claimant any witness statement or evidence, including the additional information specifically required by paragraph 3 of the court’s order.

In light of the Claimant’s failure to pay the trial fee and the express wording of the court’s order, I also ask the court to confirm the procedure for the Defendant to recover the costs incurred. If required, I can file and serve a short schedule of costs.

Unless and until the court confirms that the claim has been struck out or the hearing vacated, I understand that I should continue to comply with the existing directions.

I would be grateful for confirmation as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully,

[DEFENDANT NAME]

Email this to: Civilhearings.coventry.countycourt@justice.gov.uk and CC civilenquiries.coventry.countycourt@justice.gov.uk. Also CC yourself.

For the costs schedule, you keep it modest and credible. Use £24/hour for Litigant in Person (LiP) time, plus any actual expenses such as printing, postage, parking or travel if applicable. I’ll cover this with the WS later today.