Private Car Parking Fine Escalated to Debt Collectors (DCBL) - Worried about CCJ

hybridhaylee

Hello everyone,

I'm in a rather urgent and distressing situation concerning a private car parking fine (One Parking solution) that has now been handed over to debt collectors, specifically DCBL. I'm hoping some of you might have valuable insights to share. Here's what's been happening:

I parked in a private car park and, to be honest, the fee terms sign was tucked away on the ground and barely visible due to dirt accumulation. It was quite a challenge to spot. After some effort, I did manage to locate the sign, which instructed payments to be made through an app. Unfortunately, I had no signal at that moment, so I wandered around to find a signal in order to make the payment. As soon as I got a connection, I paid for an entire day's parking, even though I intended to stay for just about 6 hours.

However, here's the tricky part: By the time I returned to my car, having searched for signal and completed the payment, I had exceeded the 10-minute grace period. The entire process took around 30 minutes. Despite my genuine attempt to adhere to the payment terms, I received a £100 parking fine.

I took the initiative to appeal the fine directly with the parking company, providing evidence of my payment and explaining the situation thoroughly. Unfortunately, they flat-out rejected my appeal. Not willing to give up, I escalated my appeal to the Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) service, hoping for a more impartial decision. But, to my dismay, they sided with the company. As a result, the fine has now escalated to a staggering £170 due to additional charges, and DCBL, a debt collection agency, is now involved. I am on a final reminder.

What's making matters worse is my concern about ending up with a County Court Judgment (CCJ) on my record if this situation ends up in court. I'm feeling incredibly anxious about the potential consequences and the impact it might have on my record.

I genuinely believe I took every possible step to comply with the payment terms, and yet I find myself in this really unfair scenario. On a side note, the carpark using Just park and I complained, a month or so later the car park shut down.

If anyone has dealt with escalating fines and the involvement of debt collectors like DCBL, and especially if you've managed to avoid a CCJ, your input would be priceless to me. I'm urgently looking for ways to navigate this frustrating situation and would be grateful for any assistance you could provide.

KeithP

Well here's a 'valuable insight'...

The fourth post of the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with debt collector's letters, but to summarise that post - ignore them.

Coupon-mad

You didn't use the notorious Vantage Point car park in Brighton did you?  If not, where?  Llangrannog?

No-one parks in an OPS car park!  AVOID!

Tedious debt demands don't cause a CCJ.  Nor can DCB come knocking.  Ignore £170 demands.

Come back if DCBLegal or another actual solicitor firm send you a LBC to respond to with your dispute, but DO NOT PAY.  Obviously if a court claim arrives you still DO NOT PAY (you defend and win) but this is all explained in the Newbies FAQS thread already. 

hybridhaylee

Thank you both, I am a bit overwhelmed with conflicting info. I even spoke to my insurers legal thingy and they told me something different. I will give them a read.

But it was Jess Harley Carpark in Liverpool on Justpark. I read the reviews after I got the fine and everyone seemed to be getting fines from them.

My logic was... they suffered no financial lose, how could they win in court but I hear people just end up with CCJ's without them knowing which freaks me out.

Coupon-mad

hybridhaylee said:

Thank you both, I am a bit overwhelmed with conflicting info. I even spoke to my insurers legal thingy and they told me something different. I will give them a read.

But it was Jess Harley Carpark in Liverpool on Justpark. I read the reviews after I got the fine and everyone seemed to be getting fines from them.

My logic was... they suffered no financial lose, how could they win in court but I hear people just end up with CCJ's without them knowing which freaks me out.

Only happens to people daft enough to move house and stupidly NOT tell the parking firm they are already aware are writing to them OR not update their V5C when they move, then wonder why all the letters and claim form went to the 'old' address so they never knew about a PCN.

Go on, give us a laugh...

What exactly did the legal advisers at you insurers say about private parking scam PCNs?!

They aren't 'fines' by the way.

Grizebeck

Your insurance legal help line were wrong I would say

hybridhaylee

Only happens to people daft enough to move house and stupidly NOT tell the parking firm they are already aware are writing to them OR not update their V5C when they move, then wonder why all the letters and claim form went to the 'old' address so they never knew about a PCN.

Go on, give us a laugh...

What exactly did the legal advisers at you insurers say about private parking scam PCNs?!

They aren't 'fines' by the way.

So one debt agency who I thought dealt with parking 'fines' would help, she told me to just pay it or you will end up with a CCJ if they take you to court.

The legal aid gave me 3 options, pay the fine in protest but take them to small claims court, negotiate the fine with the debt people to see if you would reduce it and then pay that and lastly, allow them to take me to court in which I could incur legal fees and a CCJ. 

I haven't acted on these letters yet and out of shear principle I refuse to pay these scammers. My fear is mostly the CCJ. 

fisherjim

Stop phoning idiots and take advice on here, you don't have a fine it's a speculative invoice, you don't have a debt, and you certainly cannot just get a CCJ drop on you out of the blue.

You cannot negotiate with debt recovery idiots if you try they will stamp your file "sucker" and keep up the pressure, if you pay them you've basically given up and can forget taking them to the SCC you will get nowhere.

Follow the advice from the regulars on here they know far more than those you have so far contacted.

hybridhaylee

Since I have obviously skipped stages from the newbie thread as I have only just found this place, should I approach the landowner with a complaint?

Grizebeck

Oh my why do people suggest people pay something they don't owe and sue to recover the money
That's awful advice 

Coupon-mad

hybridhaylee said:

Since I have obviously skipped stages from the newbie thread as I have only just found this place, should I approach the landowner with a complaint?

Yes.  It is never too late.
  
You do this, but they are wrong about the bit in bold, honestly!  We do this EVERY DAY.

"allow them to take me to court in which I could incur legal fees and a CCJ."