No costs savings

Since 19 March we have been required to send all CPR Part 7 designated money only claims to the County Court Money Claims Centre at the Salford Business Centre. The goal is to reduce costs and processing time.

Unfortunately, our experience is less than positive. Where we are issuing proceedings, the court papers are slow to be returned (two or three weeks is not unusual). Even more worryingly, when acting for defendants and where the court was instructed to effect service, we have discovered on enquiry with the claimant’s solicitors that they have received notice of issue some time after the acknowledgement of service was due and while we were still awaiting service of the proceedings. Although we will have grounds to set aside any default judgment in such cases, if this becomes common there will hardly be a costs saving; quite the contrary.

Flora Wood, Ashfords, Exeter