Letter from DCBL the first notification of a penalty

y8c

Hiya,

Yesterday I received a letter from Direct Collections Bailiffs LTD (DCBL) acting on behalf of UK Parking Control Limited. They allege that on 29.10.23 I parked in a disabled bay without displaying my blue pass. I'm certain this wouldn't have been the case. The car at the time was a courtesy car which I had while mine was being repaired. The company that provided the car were in contact before Christmas (I can't remember the exact date) as they charged me an 'admin fee' to pass my details on but they didn't pay the fine or say who had contacted them. There hasn't been any correspondence from UK Parking Control Limited since and then this is the first letter I have received asking for £170. When I contact UK Parking Control Limited (automated), it just says my time to appeal has expired.

This is quite stressful as I suffer from both ME and a neurological disorder so I don't process information as well as I used to be able to do. After Googling I have read a few similar cases on this forum but none we while driving a car they didn't own. The templates I've looked at say things like:

"I dispute your 'parking charge', as the keeper of the vehicle."

But I'm not the keeper, so that doesn't seem to be right. The templates for the hire, lease cars, etc seem to be about stopping the hire company from paying the fine then passing it on.

I'm so confused!

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks

y8c

I should probably also add that there wasn't anything posted on my windscreen at the time and my address is up-to-date on my licence etc. 

Le_Kirk

If you had a courtesy car, did you swap your BB from your regular car to your courtesy car?  Where did this parking event occur?  Have you complained to the landowner/shop/pub etc?  Plan A is in the NEWBIE sticky.  The fact that your V5C is up-to-date is irrelevant if you parked a courtesy car as the PPC would be finding the keeper's details from DVLA and sending their PCN to the keeper of that car not yours.

Coupon-mad

So did the owners of the courtesy car not give the scammers the right address for you? Ask them - the garage - for a copy of the PCN they got, and a copy of their reply naming you, and when they did that.

Then show us a redacted version of that PCN.

You won't be paying a penny.

Ignore DCB Ltd if they are only asking for £170, except you could ask for a copy of the Notice to Hirer that UKPC reckon was sent to you...

Obviously NOT phoning them.

y8c

Thanks for the replies.

A quick update.
The garage where I got the courtesy car from has been emailed asking for the information specified.
Yes, the blue pass had been moved into the courtesy car and it was in a retail car park (cinema + restaurants).
No, I haven't complained to the landowner.

Coupon-mad

You could have this cancelled tomorrow if you do. The site managing agent's name & contact details are invariably on a retail park's colourful welcome plinth at the entrance or roadside corner, advertising the shops inside.

y8c

I could take a ride out to the car park in question at the weekend to get the details of the landowner.

Meanwhile...

I had a reply from the hire company this morning with scans of the PCN. They received that on the 14th of November and the infringement was on the 29th of October. They filed a Transfer of Liability with my details on the 15th and then received an Appeal Confirmation on the same day - addressed to me but sent to the hirer. They then provided in the email copies of two letters addressed to me from UKPC that I never received.

I then emailed back and asked how an appeal had been logged as it had been confirmed on the same day as the ToL and I couldn't have known about it, yet appealed at that point, and also said that I had never received the two letters shown.

This afternoon they replied that they suggested the appeal was logged automatically by them issuing a ToL. They also said that they received both letters via email, then printed them out and sent them on to me. To date, I have never received mail from UKPC, neither directly or from the hirer.

Below are the scans of all correspondence - all of which I have never seen before today.


 

Coupon-mad

In the ToL did they provide your name and postal address?

Yet UKPC sent a POPLA Code to the lease firm's own email address?

You need to complain to the BPA about this but first you have to formally complain to UKPC (WITHOUT SUGGESTING WHO WAS DRIVING).  When I say 'complain' I mean use their complaints page NOT 'appeal'.

Then if you get no fresh POPLA Code, you complain to the BPA.  Come back here first.

But - why was the car in a disabled bay?  Was there a Blue Badge holder travelling in the car?

KeithP

Where exactly did this alleged parking event take place?

y8c

In the ToL did they provide your name and postal address?

Yes, I probably covered up a bit too much in the scan above for you to tell.

Yet UKPC sent a POPLA Code to the lease firm's own email address?

It seems that way.

But - why was the car in a disabled bay?  Was there a Blue Badge holder travelling in the car?

Yes, I have a Motability car because of my condition.

Where exactly did this alleged parking event take place?

Mansfield Leisure Park, Mansfield. NG18 1BU.

---

You need to complain to the BPA about this but first you have to formally complain to UKPC (WITHOUT SUGGESTING WHO WAS DRIVING).  When I say 'complain' I mean use their complaints page NOT 'appeal'.

Yes, I've seen the complaints address on the website. I'll complain there. Should I use a template letter or just say what's happened so far? (And don't say who was driving).

Coupon-mad

Complain that you were named as the hirer (attach proof of the Transfer of Liability) but were never sent a Notice to Hirer to appeal, and as per the new Feb 2024 BPA CoP UKPC must reissue the NTH to the postal address the lease form provided, and pause the debt demands, so you can appeal.