Claim brought more than six years after the incident
The law gives a parking operator a maximum of six years from the date of the alleged parking incident to take you to court. If they issue a court claim after that deadline, it is automatically too late and you can have the claim thrown out. The six-year clock starts on the date of the incident itself — not from any later letter or demand. Be careful: if you write to say you will pay, or if you make any payment at all, even a small one, the clock can reset to that date and the operator gets a fresh six years.
Legal basis
Limitation Act 1980 ss.2, 5, 29; Bradford & Bingley plc v Rashid [2006] UKHL 37 (acknowledgement)
How to identify this in your case
More than 6 years between alleged contravention date and date of court claim issue; you have not acknowledged the debt or made payment.
Beat It is not using this argument right now
We do not put this argument in appeal letters: it depends on dates and court steps an appeal does not cover. Scan your ticket — the engine looks for every other ground that fits.
Scan my ticketSources
- Limitation Act 1980 ss.2, 5, 29
- Bradford & Bingley plc v Rashid [2006] UKHL 37
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