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threatening debt recovery unpaid parking charge letter- please help


Hi, I would massively appreciate some hive mind help! I've received this morning a threatening notice of debt recovery from DCBL for an unpaid parking charge of GBP 170. I never received any PCN's, the only thing I received was the debt recovery letter. The date of contravention happened 30/07/24. Slightly complicating matters is I changed house beginning of August but I was very vigilant in updating both my V5C (log book) and my license immediately. Moreover I had Royal Mail redirection from the day of the move so I can't understand how the (or any) PCN didn't arrive. I've never had a PCN before (been driving decades) and it feels so frustrating to be threatened with such a huge sum with no chance to appeal when I tried to do everything right with the move.
I spent the morning reading up on your amazing advice on this forum and sent the following email to the client: National Parking Control Group. The car park I used is just a standard city car park and not linked to a retail centre.
Dear Sir/ Madam
I received a notice of debt recovery today from DCBL acting on behalf of National Parking Control Group Limited with parking charge notice number: XXX. I am the registered keeper of XXX but no NTK was received, DCBL has gone straight to debt demand. I would like to complain that no NTK was received and now that this error has come to light, the PCN must be re-issued (if one ever existed) at the original rate/discount/appeal deadline as per the new Feb 2024 BPA CoP. I would like to receive a POPLA code, as so far, I have been denied the fair chance to appeal.
As a note, I have changed address at the start of August but did immediately update both my licence and my V5C (log-book). Additionally I had Royal Mail redirection from the date of move so there is no reason for the NTK's not to have been received. Please erase the old address XXX and please use XX for future correspondence.
Yours Sincerely,
Loopin
I got a quick and pretty short shrift reply and don't know what to do next! Here is the reply:
Thank you for your email,
Please see attached for notice to keeper sent out on the 06/08/2024
I have looked into the charge and events around the issuing of this PCN.
We have followed our procedures and sent the Notice To Keeper to the address your vehicle is registered to with the DVLA. As no response was received to these letters, the charge was passed onto DCBL after 42 days. We are not responsible if you choose not to update your address with the DVLA.
Unfortunately, there is nothing further we can do, and you will need to contact DCBL on collections@dcbltd.com or 0203 434 0423.
Kind Regards
Any advice on what to do next? I DID update my address with the DVLA and I DID have royal mail redirection but they seem to ignoring that. Not sure what more I could have done. Its such a lot of money to pay for a 20 mins stay in a car park. Please please help!
Comments
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Hi there, great that you're challenging them...
But, I'm not surprised you got anything other than short shrift from NPC - bottom dwellers sadly...as you can see from their reply - they will not listen to reason nor common sense. I have an ongoing debate with them about their general practices...however as you can see once they have blindly got your details and handed them over to DCBL, they really don't give a monkey's. BTW, they are part of IPC trade association not BPA, so IAS (rather than POPLA) - and based on the advice I've seen on here, not worth wasting your time with.
Go back to the Newbies thread and check out Plan A, this can still work as appealing to the owner of the car park (rather than their lousy parking agent) may get it cancelled, feel free to share the NtK suitably redacted - you can normally use their portal as though you are going to pay to see what evidence they have in the form of pictures too (normally are a few more online).
Any signs on the site at all (or lack of) and pictures of these is useful - it will show as to what extent they made you aware of T&Cs etc.
Don't pay whatever you do...I suggest if Plan A doesn't work, you will continue to receive 4 lots of DCBL letters, then it will get passed to DCB Legal - none of this is a threat to you, nothing to pay, and no extra costs etc...When you finally get a Letter of Claim/Letter before Claim come back here and follow the advice again in the newbie process.
Other folk on here are working towards guidance to shut this nonsense down as much as possible, in the interim sit back and let them scurry - you've got this under control.2 -
You won't be paying anything and just need to read the FOURTH then SECOND posts of NEWBIES PLEASE READ THESE FAQS FIRST.PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD2 -
Thank you so much for both of your advice. Very kind of you to help a stranger and massively appreciated. I've re-read the newbies forum several times and its helping me stay strong. I'm now on the final notice of debt recovery. Despite me providing my new address (and telling them to erase the old one), DCBL continue to write to my previous address which takes time to be redirected, making me nervous I'll miss the legal action.Plan A- Unfortunately the car park is not owned by a retail store. I can find an address for an individual on Company House but its not linked to any nearby shops. I'd have to physically send them a letter or go round to their house- is it worth it?NPC claim they sent a NTK less than a week after the incident (they have now emailed over "a copy" and it has photo evidence of the car- not the driver). But I definitely did not receive it in the post. Or any reminder. Just the letters from DCBL demanding £170 which are all being received fine (albeit delayed as its being redirected). How can you prove something was not received (or sent?)I went (on foot) to the car park to check signage. I'll attach a photo of the nearest sign. It is a big sign saying ALL customers MUST register and pay via 'ringo' but on the other side of the car park (bizarrely hidden behind a parking spot) there are 2 pay and display machines (albeit it 1 is not in service). As ringo is problematic in a town with bad signal, it would have been great if the pay and display option had been visible or signs had said it was an option but obviously the signs from the area of the car park my car was parked in didn't list pay and display as an option.Just out of interest, in terms of keeper liability, are the PCP able to pursue the keeper, even if the keeper states they were not driving? The NTK they emailed over said "if we do not know both the name of the driver and a current address for service for the driver, we will have the right to recover from you, so much of that Parking Charge as remains unpaid."Thank you again for any help provided, massively appreciated.0
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this is the sign closest to where the car was parked0
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And this parking sign and pay and display is hidden from view (behind a parking spot) so blocked from view0
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DCBL continue to write to my previous address which takes time to be redirected, making me nervous I'll miss the legal action.If you didn't email a Data Rectification Notice to dpo@dcbltd.com to instruct them to erase old address and give them your current address for service do it now. If you did this, complain to them.2
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Yes they can hold a keeper liable.
Send a data Rectification about the address and insist DCB erase the old address.
Use those words. Not similar words. Those exact words.PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD1 -
Nellymoser said:DCBL continue to write to my previous address which takes time to be redirected, making me nervous I'll miss the legal action.If you didn't email a Data Rectification Notice to dpo@dcbltd.com to instruct them to erase old address and give them your current address for service do it now. If you did this, complain to them.2
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@lizzieloopinloo Sorry to hear this progressing, you are not alone at this site, seems the infestation that is NPC has plagued here, read the reviews left for the site on Parkopedia
https://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/carpark/southgate/po19/chichester/?arriving=202411210000&leaving=202411210200
Pretty damning!!
I'd also say those signs are contradictory, at least confusing as they seem to offer 2 forms of payment and then only one, so it feels like it's set up to NOT be clear (no surprise there).
One thing I would mention is not to state who was driving at this stage, to anyone (until, and if, it gets to court) - but furnished with the advice on here it will most likely be discontinued by DCB Legal (this is a theme).
2 -
Just another note, I can see that there is an ANPR/CCTV camera on a pole outside the car park
Does your NtK include pictures of you entering & leaving or is it from a warden?
Also I cannot see any indication on those signs that ANPR is being used if it is!!
Asking the experts - does this need planning permission? - as a quick search of Chichester district council shows no such application!!2
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