Hey, Can we get some advice please ?

cassitya

5 years ago my partner parked her car at her workplace and received a parking fine, granted she had forgot her window badge that day in a rush. 

We received (her car at the time) a ticketing fee and came on here to find out if we should pay as I heard unless it was the council they cannot enforce it (unless took to court which is unlikely) 

They sent various letters and even got a company who were on “don’t pay well take it away” to write to us. Again I sought advice on a forum and was advised to ignore it. 

A few years have passed, money is even tighter and we have received a letter from dcb legal which is titled “Letter of claim” 

Stating we owe £160 

I could pay it and be done with but I’d rather not give this vermin any money. 

Can anyone advise as to what the likely next steps would be, now we’ve had this letter are they more likely to take us to court ? 

If it’s a likely possibility, i’d probably consider writing off the money and pay it. 

If anyone can add advice or help it would help calm the anxiety. 

Thank you 

Umkomaas

A Letter of Claim is the start of the legal process, and you need to respond to it. How you do that is shown in the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post, so please read that and use it as your guide. 

Which parking firm please?

DCB Legal have a track record of discontinuing court claims, but you do need to follow all procedures as guided in the NEWBIES FAQ and Template Defence Announcements. Read about DCB Legal discontinuations here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations/p1

Coupon-mad

are they more likely to take us to court ? 
If it’s a likely possibility, i’d probably consider writing off the money and pay it. 

No, we hope you wouldn't....!

No point and people who did that last year are responsible for funding the industry to block the new law that would have reined them in.  Don't be that person just because you might think (wrongly) that a court claim damages your credit rating.

With DCB Legal discontinuing defended claims, and no risk of high costs or a CCJ by defending it, these cases are to be defended.

We have a template defence.  Think if court as the ultimate dispute resolution and CERTAINLY no paying it for an easy life like the people who funded this year's Judicial Reviews for the ex-clampers.

cassitya

Thanks both for your replies. 
If it was me who owned the car and me as the driver I’d not even consider paying and i’d be fully on this defence but there’s two issues. 

1. My partner was driving and it’s her car, she’s easily overwhelmed. How much does she have to get involved or can I do the leg work ? 

2. I’ve gone to the link provided in the first post and if i’m honest i’m a bit confused. It’s full of links of defended claims. I was hoping for like a step by step guide on what to do. 

Im happy to defend against this vermin 

cassitya

Sorry - The parking form is UKPC 
The other query i had was, if they after all the steps do take us to court, what’s the chances of winning or loosing ? 

Coupon-mad

1. You can do the legwork.

2.  But there already is a step by step walkthrough (first 12 steps) in the Template Defence thread (one of those links...)!

The NEWBIES thread already tells you that we have a 99% win rate, including discontinuances that UKPC cases always end up in.

I am currently in your position, handling LBC stage for a relative and have managed to (so far) hold off any court claim by telling them they may as well save themselves the court fee by discontinuing now! Robust response to every letter (in the name of the keeper of course).  Send them packing.

cassitya

Thanks i’ll take a thorough look when i’m back home. 

Does it matter that I don’t have the previous letters that a different company sent me ? 

Coupon-mad

Nope because (as the NEWBIES thread resource teaches you in the second post - don't diss it!) you will get those letters and all photos, by doing a SAR now.

cassitya

I’m going to be honest guys. I’ve tried reading the newbies thread and I am confused as to which bit relates to me. 

Times ticking and i’m getting stressed out 

cassitya

First step is to appeal to the UKPC parking company ? 

Even though it was over 5 years ago? 

Do I really have the time to do that?

cassitya

i’ve read the UKPC complaints procedure and they can take a long time to get back to you, yet this letter from DCB legal is timed to 30
days from 28/11 ? 

Can someone please help?