Letter of Claim from DCB Legal

SpudNugget

Hi Everyone!

I've been lurking these forums recently and have read through the Newbies thread on this. I just wanted to ask for some advice relevant to my situation before I send off anything, in case I need to do anything different to the ordinary.

My case below:
____

Back in 2020 I received a PCN from Euro Car Parks (ECP) for the reason: "NO valid pay and display/ permit was purchased". This was at Cardinal park in Ipswich which is a retail park.

I did buy a ticket but I got the first two characters wrong of my reg number when at the ticket machine. I had got my car's reg partly mixed up with a family member's car (they are the same make and model of car and at the time I was using both cars). Otherwise though, I had paid the £6 and displayed the ticket on my dashboard.

I appealed the PCN and they explained it was a major keying error and that I could pay a £20 admin fee to drop it. I refused at the time, thought that was ridiculous.

The case then went to POPLA and they sided with ECP stating I had broke the contract (apparently ECP allows 1 character keying mistake, but not 2). This was all back in 2020 and from my memory I seem to remember the POPLA's response said something about me having confirmed I was the driver (big no no I have learned since). I'm not exactly sure what my appeal was, nor can I see POPLA's message to me as I can't get onto their system now. It seems my case has expired and my verification code doesn't work. So I can't confirm this.

I then started getting the usual debt collection letters from DCBL (Direct collection bailiffs ltd) back in 2020 to 2021 and then they stopped for around a year. Then In 2022 I moved address and the letters started coming through to my new address again from 2024! It seems ECP/DCBL are desperately trying to get anything they can from me 4.5 years on with their automated messages. I've ignored these letters throughout

A couple of days ago I then got a Letter Of Claim, this time from DCB Legal. Not a claim form yet.
____ (end of story)


As the newbie thread says, plan A is to always try and get it cancelled by the landowner. From Googling, I've found that the landowner is a large asset management company (Legal & General Investment Management Limited) so I'm not sure what chance I have of them helping.

Otherwise, plan B is to email DCB Legal using the template in the newbies guide. My question is: should I mention anything else about my case at this stage or should I be non-specific and just use the template?

Also do I need to be worried if I had admitted to being the driver in my POPLA appeal?

Of course it's important that they update my address too as they've sent letters to both my previous and current address now.

Big thanks in advance for any help/advice. This forum is golden and I've already learnt a lot here.

Many thanks,

SpudNugget

Gr1pr

Non specific,  just use the template at this pre court stage,  no stories, save your ammunition for the right time,  when their true offensive starts

No worries about them knowing you were the driver,  your account would be more credible as witness number 1

Correct,  ensure that the DPO and dcb legal have your correct address for the service of papers

Keep looking at plan A,  regardless 

Email the DPO at Popla  ( Ombudsman  ) to try to obtain the details regarding the case

The £20 offer was correct for a major keying error,  its in the BPA CoP 

Nellymoser

PPCs first get your details from DVLA so it's important your V5C address is current (driving licence too)

You could also complain to your MP. Ask them to join the MPs and campaigners who are calling for statutory regulation for the private parking industry as the present voluntary measures are failing to protect motorists.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81193608/#Comment_81193608

Please join the motorists call by signing/share petition demanding the re-launch of a Govt-backed Parking Code of Practice. 🙏

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/701453

Car1980

Your only option now is to email DCB Legal and copy in Sarah Ensall sarah@dcblegal.co.uk and try to scare them off. They'll probably ignore you and make the court claim, but considering they know nothing about any of the cases they're handed and just discontinue 99% of every single ticket case you might be able to make them see that this would be £30 down the drain for them.

Just say that the debt is denied, it's a ridiculous minor key error and that any court claim would be defended. Point out that they would look dimly on such a ridiculous claim clogging up an already stretched legal system.

SpudNugget

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your responses. It's greatly appreciated.

I'm actually having a bit of luck with plan A at the moment. LGIM have put me in touch with the management team of Cardinal Park and I've explained my case. Just waiting to hear back from them now, so fingers crossed they may help me get the charge cancelled!

@Nellymoser I have also signed the petition.

Nellymoser

Thank you so much for signing.
Good luck getting your pcn cancelled.

SpudNugget

Just to update this thread - after being passed around to various people within the Landlord's firm, someone was able to help. They have now confirmed that my PCN has been cancelled!

I should have gone straight to the landlord sooner.

Thanks for the responses and help within this thread.

Coupon-mad

SpudNugget said:

Just to update this thread - after being passed around to various people within the Landlord's firm, someone was able to help. They have now confirmed that my PCN has been cancelled!

I should have gone straight to the landlord sooner.

Thanks for the responses and help within this thread.

Yay!

You won and can spread the word to friends & family that this approach is ALWAYS Plan A.

Please post about this success and a link to this thread, stating which PPC you beat and who to contact at which location, in Successful complaints about private parking tickets - how to get them cancelled! 

That thread helps to encourage others. You'll be doing more victims a real service (unlike parking firms)

  

jellybaby25

Hi everyone, I’m looking for some advice.. 

I received a claim form today for a parking charge back in December 2022. This is the 3rd charge I have received from DCB legal for the same McDonald’s car park. The first 2 were in 2021 but I didn’t actually receive the letters until 2023 as they had been sending them to my old address. I explained that I wasn’t aware there was a time limit and the signs were not clear. I also explained that the letters had gone to my previous address so I wasn’t aware that I had received parking fines. Who in their right mind would keep doing the same thing if they knew they would be fined?! They were having none of it so I eventually agreed to pay them £340 for the first 2. The 3rd one came through not long after that but was dated back to 2022 and I refused the pay the charge. To me it’s obvious I had no clue that I had entered into a contract. If I had seen the signs or received the letters I definitely would not have done it for a 3rd time. It’s just ridiculous. I even called them today and offered to pay £20 a month to clear the 3rd charge which is now £284 with court fee and they said they need £57 a month over 5 months so they turned down my offer. Since I received the letters I have not over stayed in the McDonald’s car park as I am obviously now aware of the contract. Please can I get some help on what to do next? To be honest I want to defend all of the claim considering I have already paid them £340. It would total £624 if I was to go ahead and pay the 3rd one and I just think it’s out of order. 

Le_Kirk

Best advice is to read the NEWBIE sticky and then, if you still have questions, start your own thread.  It can become confusing trying to answer more that one poster per thread.