DCB Legal Letter of Claim - What Can I Expect Next?

PTRed

Hi Coupon,
What do you mean ask for a breakdown? As in to just ask them to break down the full £615 into individual costs so they have to state what is the original PCN and what are their additional costs?

Coupon-mad

Yes, per PCN:

break down the £100 (assuming the PCNs were £100?)

break down the £60 (assuming they added £60 a pop)

PTRed

I've asked them for a full breakdown of the £615 cost. The PCNs were £75 each, total claim is for £615 - this would mean they've added £78.75 per PCN (more than the actual PCN!). If they don't provide a breakdown, I'll send a more specific email. 

Coupon-mad

Yes, don't ask for a breakdown of the £615.  That's not how to ask it.

PTRed

Le_Kirk said:

The only address to contact First Parking by e-mail that I have found is sales@firstparking.co.uk, you could try that, otherwise good old fashioned snail mail!

Thanks, I did find this eventually and got the SAR from them. They've password protected it, so currently waiting for the password and also reading through the defence template from Coupon to help. Once I get that info, I am hoping to understand why they're claiming £615 to ask for a breakdown of their costs for each PCN and the additional charges. At this stage, I don't know the individual costs of each PCN - as I never received any letters nor parking ticket. The University say it's £75, but it's possible they have included terms to say if not paid in 30 days it increases? Once I've got their info I'll go ahead and check the actual signage. 

Coupon-mad

No, you aren't ''hoping to understand'' because the point is, there is no justification! 

You are ''hoping to put them on the spot'', in reality.

 The University say it's £75, but it's possible they have included terms to say if not paid in 30 days it increases?

Nope, that's the entire point you need to get in your head - that is double recovery and even if on the signs, disallowed in law.

PTRed

Coupon-mad said:

No, you aren't ''hoping to understand'' because the point is, there is no justification! 

You are ''hoping to put them on the spot'', in reality.

 The University say it's £75, but it's possible they have included terms to say if not paid in 30 days it increases?

Nope, that's the entire point you need to get in your head - that is double recovery and even if on the signs, disallowed in law.

Absolutely!

PTRed

I have now received the information back. Are there any specific questions or things I should be looking for now?

Obviously I can now ask about the breakdown of the costs per PCN and the additional £78.75 per PCN. 

Other things I've noted, but not sure if it's worth anything:
No evidence I was parked there for more than 1 minute MAX - should I ask if they have evidence I was there for longer?
No indication of where signage is in relation to where I was parked - does this matter?
Their pictures of signage are completely illegible, because the writing is so small - should I note this or wait for defence? 

Thanks for any help.

PTRed

Oh also - should I reply in the chain with the SAR request, or should I be sending additional queries in a new chain? Should all communication be to PPC? Should I be CC'ing in solicitors (or just consider them a non-factor?) 

Coupon-mad

Don't reply to a SAR with non-SAR issues and questions. 

Your queries asking for evidence and a breakdown should only go to the solicitors. Don't admit to driving if you haven't already!