compiling defence for unfair parking ticket, county court business centre stage

Ysekots

Thank you, I’ll do that Monday. I hope you have a lovely holiday and thanks for all of your help and advice. 

Ysekots

Just an update:

So when I spoke to the courts on the phone on Monday they said there was a certificate of confirmation that I had paid my court order. I’ve also sent them an email just to get in writing something to that effect. 

Then today I received the below email from DCB: 

Ysekots

Now all of a sudden the amount I have to pay and the reason for it have completely changed. And they’re trying to blackmail me for it too. How do they get away with this stuff, it’s shocking!

Coupon-mad

Ysekots said:

Now all of a sudden the amount I have to pay and the reason for it have completely changed. And they’re trying to blackmail me for it too. How do they get away with this stuff, it’s shocking!

Report DCB Legal to the Solicitors' Regulation Authority:

https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/problems/

The complaint is that they KNOW the claim was settled in full in time, and they've certified that fact to the court (you checked with the court), but are - seemingly - deliberately misleading you by telling you to pay a three figure sum to their bailiff arm who were never involved, did not issue an Enforcement Notice (and even if they had, the statutory first notice fee would have been capped at £75 by law).

Coupon-mad

Ysekots said:

Now all of a sudden the amount I have to pay and the reason for it have completely changed. And they’re trying to blackmail me for it too. How do they get away with this stuff, it’s shocking!

I just got a reply from Steve Clark who still works for DCB Group:

Dear xxx

I am doing very well thanks and enjoying my semi-retirement. Hope all is good with you as well.

I don’t visit the MSE site as much as I used to but I do pop into it occasionally to see whether I am getting any honourable mentions.

As the issue was raised to me personally I have been able to raise this at a senior level within DCB Legal. Whilst I am unable to go into specific details with you, without authority from the customer in question, what I can say is that I have seen sufficient information to confirm that the escalation of this particular matter was correct.

As confirmed in the forum information, the customer had received all communication from DCB Legal and filed a defence, however by her own admission she failed to attend the hearing. A judgement was issued, along with additional costs, however this was not paid prior to the date set by the Court.

After the due date the matter was passed to DCBL for transfer up to the High Court as part of the escalation process. This Writ of Control, plus the additional cost granted by the Court, was sealed correctly. On the same day as the Writ was sealed, the customer paid the original amount directly to DCB Legal, however the amount had now increased as per the sealed Writ of Control.

A Notice of Enforcement was issued by DCBL, to the same address as all previous correspondence, prior to the notification from DCB Legal to DCBL of the monies paid to us clearing. This, along with an initial error by a junior member of the Legal team is the reason that a higher figure was initially advised, also due to the compliance stage fees being added. A further payment was then made to DCBL.

 Once DCBL were made aware of the initial late payment, the additional costs, correctly applied at the time, were reversed and this particular matter was closed.  We are currently in the process of contacting the customer in relation to a small overpayment and also to discuss a resolution of their other cases.

 While we remain on opposite sides of the fence, I do admire the commitment and energy to do all that you do.

Have a great summer.

Steve

Castle

Coupon-mad said:

Ysekots said:

Now all of a sudden the amount I have to pay and the reason for it have completely changed. And they’re trying to blackmail me for it too. How do they get away with this stuff, it’s shocking!

I just got a reply from Steve Clark who still works for DCB Group:

Dear xxx

I am doing very well thanks and enjoying my semi-retirement. Hope all is good with you as well.

I don’t visit the MSE site as much as I used to but I do pop into it occasionally to see whether I am getting any honourable mentions.

As the issue was raised to me personally I have been able to raise this at a senior level within DCB Legal. Whilst I am unable to go into specific details with you, without authority from the customer in question, what I can say is that I have seen sufficient information to confirm that the escalation of this particular matter was correct.

As confirmed in the forum information, the customer had received all communication from DCB Legal and filed a defence, however by her own admission she failed to attend the hearing. A judgement was issued, along with additional costs, however this was not paid prior to the date set by the Court.

After the due date the matter was passed to DCBL for transfer up to the High Court as part of the escalation process. This Writ of Control, plus the additional cost granted by the Court, was sealed correctly. On the same day as the Writ was sealed, the customer paid the original amount directly to DCB Legal, however the amount had now increased as per the sealed Writ of Control.

A Notice of Enforcement was issued by DCBL, to the same address as all previous correspondence, prior to the notification from DCB Legal to DCBL of the monies paid to us clearing. This, along with an initial error by a junior member of the Legal team is the reason that a higher figure was initially advised, also due to the compliance stage fees being added. A further payment was then made to DCBL.

 Once DCBL were made aware of the initial late payment, the additional costs, correctly applied at the time, were reversed and this particular matter was closed.  We are currently in the process of contacting the customer in relation to a small overpayment and also to discuss a resolution of their other cases.

 While we remain on opposite sides of the fence, I do admire the commitment and energy to do all that you do.

Have a great summer.

Steve

According to the OP's post on 3rd July, DCB confirmed that payment was made on 26/05/24 which was a Sunday, and as the next day was a Bank Holiday, it's very unlikely that the Writ was sealed on either day.

Coupon-mad

Good spot!

And the OP told us that no Enforcement Notice ever arrived.  So... did it ever exist?

Did a Writ ever exist?

And given the max that can be added is £75 for that stage, why was c£400 added?

I DETEST THAT THESE FIRMS USE THE WORD 'CUSTOMER'.  This poor hounded Defendant was never a 'customer' of DCB Group, Steve. Completely inappropriate word.  As well as extortionate money - why are DCBL adding more than £75?

The OP could send a SAR to DCB Ltd requiring a copy of the instruction from DCB Legal, a copy of the supposed Writ and a copy of the supposed Enforcement Notice.

Ysekots

Now I have received the below email 

Ysekots

Thank you both for your input! 

I don’t understand why they keep saying I have other live cases with them too. And Where has my £12 credit now come from? I paid exactly what was on my court order letter, not a penny more or less. 

I will do an SAR as per your suggestion because it feels like they are just randomly making things up now. I’d be worried about giving my bank information to get said £12 credit refunded. 

Ysekots

Also Steve mentions that a further payment was made to DCBL. but I did no such thing. He also said I paid my court order later than the timeframe the court gave. Which I didn’t. So either they are just clueless and making this stuff up as they go along or he’s referring to somebody else. But I have now received an email about a refund for overpayment which he does mention. 

I’ll just do the SAR now and see what they come back with. Then I’m going to make a very big complaint to the SRA about all of the intimidation and deceit. 🥳