Morrisons DCBL Debt Recovery - help!

tinymontgomery

Hi,

So about two years ago me and my partner parked in Morrison's carpark. My partner went shopping while I took our 2-year-old daughter to the GP's. Long story short, our daughter ended up being taken by ambulance to the hospital direct from the GPs. I went with her in the ambulance and my partner joined us later. My partner doesn't drive so was unable to move our car. He did however call the Morrisons store later that evening to explain what had happened and that we wouldn't be able to move the car until the next day but that we were concerned about getting a parking fine. The lady he spoke to basically said don't worry, that Morrisons can't do anything until the fine is actually issued but that if it is issued to contact them again and they'd cancel it.

So now nearly two years later I've received a "Notice of Debt Recovery" from DCBL (working for ParkingEye) saying I owe money - apparently they'd been writing to me at a different address and have used a tracing service to find my current address.  I'm obviously ignoring the letter but am planning on emailing Morrisons to see if they can cancel it (even though the letter states it's now too late to appeal) - my main query is, all the advice I'm reading on here is saying when complaining to the store don't admit you're the driver - but how can I explain to Morrisons what has happened if I don't admit I'm the driver? Or in this case is it okay to admit I'm the driver?

Any help much appreciated!

Redx

Just use the royal "WE" in your communications , it's that simple

nosferatu1001

Nothing will happen. PE take cases they CAN take to court, and those with which it judges to be a good chance, straight there. If DCBL are involved the chances of you being taken to court are tiny

Ignore DCBL. Just check you DONT have a CCJ first!

tinymontgomery

Yeah but there're 2 of us in the story, we were each in separate places, and only one of us drives - so it'll be pretty obvious who the driver is! Or am I overthinking it this? Should I just email Morrisons and basically just tell them what's happened?

tinymontgomery

nosferatu1001 said:

Nothing will happen. PE take cases they CAN take to court, and those with which it judges to be a good chance, straight there. If DCBL are involved the chances of you being taken to court are tiny

Ignore DCBL. Just check you DONT have a CCJ first!

Well that's reassuring! So you're advice is don't even bother complaining to Morrisons?

nosferatu1001

Complaining to morrisons is always good, because then you KNOW it is cancelled if they cancel it for you
PE may of course change their mind, especially fi the eventual legal CoP basically screws their business model. We dont know, neither do you, so this gives you certainty. 
PE also comply with POFA, normally, so I wouldnt even bother hiding the driver

tinymontgomery

Ok thanks for that. I’ll email Morrisons and see what happens.

Anybody know what’s the best email address to use?

nosferatu1001

Have you searched the forum for an obvious address?

tinymontgomery

Nope

Redx

Try CEO email dot com , try reading the sticky threads at the top of the forum , try reading other Morrisons threads , it's been posted numerous times

D_P_Dance

There are serious concerns about PE's signs, they have lost two courr cases recently because a jdge has ruled that they are unfit for purpose, read this

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5972164/parking-eye-signs-oxford-road-reading

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and has been known to get the charge cancelled.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.