Challenge a Parking Letter Before Claim

A Letter Before Claim is a formal legal notice sent under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims. It signals the parking company’s intention to start County Court proceedings if the matter is not resolved.

It will usually include:

• The total amount claimed, often inflated with added fees

• The legal basis of the parking charge

• A response pack and financial information sheet

• A deadline to respond before court action begins

This is not a CCJ and not a court judgment, but it is a critical legal step that must be handled carefully.

Letters Before Claim are governed by the Practice Direction – Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols.

Courts expect both parties to:

• Exchange sufficient information

• Narrow the issues in dispute

• Consider settlement or alternative dispute resolution

• Act proportionately and reasonably

A poorly drafted response can:

• Accidentally admit liability

• Miss procedural failures

• Strengthen the claimant’s position

• Reduce your ability to challenge costs

This stage is about legal positioning, not emotional argument.

Understanding the timeline is essential.

Day 0 - You receive the Letter Before Claim.

Within 30 Days - You must respond. The claimant cannot issue a court claim during this period.

After 30 Days - If no compliant response is received, the claimant may issue a County Court claim.

If a Claim Is Issued - You will have limited time to file a defence. Mistakes at the pre-action stage can weaken your case later.

Responding properly within the 30-day window gives you the best chance to stop the claim before court.

No. A Letter Before Claim is part of the formal pre-action process. Ignoring it increases the likelihood of court action and allows the claimant to argue that you failed to engage reasonably. Courts expect a response within the 30-day deadline.

Because our responses are drafted specifically to comply with the Pre-Action Protocol and challenge the claim strategically. We focus on enforceability, evidence gaps, and unlawful fees, rather than generic replies that can weaken your position or accidentally admit liability.

Not always. The standard reply forms are generic and often do not challenge the legal or procedural issues properly. In many cases, a structured legal response is more effective than completing the forms without understanding the implications.

Paying at the Letter Before Claim stage is rarely the right move.

• You may be paying fees that are not legally enforceable

• You lose the chance to challenge the claim

• You remove pressure from the claimant to prove their case

• You may pay for a claim that would never succeed

In many cases, a properly drafted response leads to:

• The claim being withdrawn

• The amount being reduced

• No court claim being issued

If a County Court claim is issued, you still have the right to defend the case. We can prepare your defence, witness statement, and evidence, and support you through the full court process to resolution.