I had a friend who wanted a car that I was going to sell but he didn't have the money to pay for it. I had some work that needed doing so we came to a pretty loose agreement that I would let him have the car in exchange for 15 days work. This was getting on for 2 years ago now. In this time, he has only been able to do 7 of the 15 days work. I have also continued to tax the car during this time which he agreed to pay for. We have not transferred the vehicle registration over.

Recently, my partner started chasing him to complete the work as she needed it done. My friend gave dates he could do but they were spread over the year up to November. My partner told him this was unacceptable. My partner suggested that as he was working so much overtime and was unable to complete the work that he may prefer to pay what was owed and forget the work. He did not reply to this.

On the first of the dates that he gave us, he sent a text saying that he was unable to pay for the car so was returning it. He then dumped it on the drive, gave the keys to my son and hurried off without speaking to either of us.

I had also received a PCN from the council as the vehicle had been illegally parked. He told me this had been paid but the council say they have received no such payment.

I have now sent a number of text messages a well as an email asking him to provide any evidence that the PCN had been settled and to let me have the MOT certificate. All have been ignored.

There are also a few problems with the car that it didn't have before he took it.

I now feel that I am being forced down a road of litigation that I don't want to go down. The question is, what should I put on my particulars of claim?

I was thinking of claiming compensation for depreciation, the parking fine, tax, fixing the problems, a valet (it was spotless when he took it) and then taking off £700 for the 7 days labour. Would that be reasonable?

Am I right in thinking that you were the registered owner all this time?