NPC/DCB Legal - Civil National Business Centre Claim

Heywood_Jablowme

Hi All,

I've received a claim form from DCB Legal asking for £353.92 (£453.92 with court fee's) for a parking fine i appealed back in June 2023. I was off on stress leave at the time and parked at my local gym. I entered the registration details in the gyms parking system but it seems they didn't register. When i was presented with the fine by NPC in July i appealed and stated i was a member of the gym however i received a rejection letter 2 mins after my appeal was submitted (which seems like it hadn't been considered).

I'm still struggling with stress so this isn't great but wondered how to reply? I forgot about this tbf and didn't chase the gym (it's a national gym and no customer service due to being a budget gym) but i am doing now however its seems impossible to speak with someone and the staff are just PT's.

I'm unsure how to appeal these things and i was hoping i have ground as it's the gym's carpark, the appeal would seem like it wasn't considered and they are asking for an unreasonable amount.

Also if i have to attend the court can I claim for time?

Any advice would be most welcome.

Many thanks.

KeithP

What is the Issue Date on your Claim Form?

Have you filed an Acknowledgment of Service?
If so, upon what date did you do so?
Your MCOL Claim History will have the definitive answer to that.

Coupon-mad

if i have to attend the court can I claim for time?

Yes a small amount but don't worry, if it's DCB Legal there won't be a hearing! All over by the Summer.  No hearing. No payment.

Heywood_Jablowme

KeithP said:

What is the Issue Date on your Claim Form?

Have you filed an Acknowledgment of Service?
If so, upon what date did you do so?
Your MCOL Claim History will have the definitive answer to that.

Hi @KeithP, many thanks for your reply. The issue date is the 22 Jan 2024 however i go the letter last Friday (weirdly non signed for). I'll respond today for the Acknowledgment of Service.

Heywood_Jablowme

Coupon-mad said:

if i have to attend the court can I claim for time?

Yes a small amount but don't worry, if it's DCB Legal there won't be a hearing! All over by the Summer.  No hearing. No payment.

Hi @Coupon-mad. Thanks for your reply. Having looked it seems i was told the wrong place to park by the Gym employee however when i said why i was parked there the Parking company didn't correct me in my response nor did the lady when i called up.

When you mentioned a hearing is there some law coming in to stop this?

KeithP

Heywood_Jablowme said:

KeithP said:

What is the Issue Date on your Claim Form?

Have you filed an Acknowledgment of Service?
If so, upon what date did you do so?
Your MCOL Claim History will have the definitive answer to that.

Hi @KeithP, many thanks for your reply. The issue date is the 22 Jan 2024 however i go the letter last Friday (weirdly non signed for). I'll respond today for the Acknowledgment of Service.

With a Claim Issue Date of 22nd January, you have until Monday 12th February to file an Acknowledgment of Service but there is nothing to be gained by delaying it. 

To file an Acknowledgment of Service, follow the guidance in the Dropbox file linked from the second post in the NEWBIES thread.

Having filed an Acknowledgment of Service in a timely manner, you have until 4pm on Monday 26th February 2024 to file your Defence.

That's four weeks away. Plenty of time to produce a Defence, but please don't leave it to the last minute. 

To create a Defence, and then file a Defence by email, look again at the second post on the NEWBIES thread - immediately following where you found the Acknowledgment of Service guidance.

Don't miss the deadline for filing an Acknowledgment of Service, nor that for filing a Defence.

Do not try and file a Defence via the MoneyClaimOnline website. Once an Acknowledgment of Service has been filed, the MCOL website should be treated as 'read only'.

Coupon-mad

Heywood_Jablowme said:

Coupon-mad said:

if i have to attend the court can I claim for time?

Yes a small amount but don't worry, if it's DCB Legal there won't be a hearing! All over by the Summer.  No hearing. No payment.

Hi @Coupon-mad. Thanks for your reply. Having looked it seems i was told the wrong place to park by the Gym employee however when i said why i was parked there the Parking company didn't correct me in my response nor did the lady when i called up.

When you mentioned a hearing is there some law coming in to stop this?

No.  DCB Legal will discontinue so there won't be a hearing.  Dead easy, you'll be wearing this virtual t-shirt by the Summer:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations/p56

Heywood_Jablowme

Thanks everyone. My defence is in and DCLegal sent me their questionnaire and the opportunity to settle which i'm tempted to ask how much they wish to give me. Still waiting on the court.

In the mean time i've also received another claim from the same company for £177.04. Not sure why this is different but i never even received a parking fine for this one. I can't see any evidence for it to counter as the first thing i have received is a claim form? I may have parked there, i'm not sure (this is dated before i got the first fine and still understood this to be the Gym Car parking). 

Do i got through the same procedure and state this the claim is the first time i was aware of the fine?

Coupon-mad

Yes and add the usual defence wording seen in multiple claim threads, about Henderson v Henderson and the doctrine of cause of action estoppel. 

Nellymoser

You may want to support this since your missing letters regarding a pcn.

So many people don't receive 1st and/or 2nd pcn but the £170 payment due letter often manages to drop through letter boxes. PPCs always claim discounted/full rate pcns, court claim/discontinuation letters were sent as dated though they offer no evidence to prove this.

Since they CHOOSE NOT to provide evidence of their posting we must continue to press gov to ensure they do and see it included in the new Parking CoP. Please sign/share @jmccabe petition closes 22nd june 2024.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/652355
Require communications from Private Parking companies to be traceable/trackable

Thank you and good luck fighting those unjust claims.

nopcns

Heywood_Jablowme said:

...however when i said why i was parked there the Parking company didn't correct me in my response nor did the lady when i called up.

Heywood_Jablowme said:

In the mean time i've also received another claim from the same company for £177.04. Not sure why...

This is a classic example of why we tell everyone to never, ever, call these scammers. By having called them, you were marked as low-hanging fruit on the gullible tree and ripe for the picking. At least you have discovered this forum and are receiving advice on how to fight the scammers.