DCBL defending their claim

Cantstopwontstop

Hi there. I am a private hire driver in London. I am currently on the latter stages with DCBL over two separate parking fines that was sent to me back in 2012 & 2022. The first one I was picking up a client during the second lockdown at Holiday inn hotel in Acton. I sent them a representation stating that I was picking up and included a job sheet. They obviously rejected it but did not send me any avenues to argue my case. After a while, I received a letter from DCBL demanding inflated payments. So I ignored them repeatedly  deciding to go to court to argue my case. 4 years down the line, I find my self N180 letter to fill out and file it by 27/1/2025. Do you think I have a strong case or shall I go for mediation?  

 The second one was I was dropping off a client  who was moving to an apartment. He asked me to wait for him with his stuff in the trunk until he got his keys from the concierge. I waited , completed my job. I received a ticket from First parking demanding payment. I made a representation, included  a job sheet. I didn’t get a reply for almost 3 months and I was hit with another DCBL extortion letter. 3 years down the line DCBL decided to defend their claim. Shall I do all the way or opt for  mediation? 

Please help as soon as possible as I only have 3 days to fill out and send. Thank you

Gr1pr

Dcbl are debt collectors 

The lawyers dealing with you now are not Dcbl,  they are DCB Legal,  so name the parking company involved,  the actual claimant 

If you are at the N180 stage then you already filed a defence,  so please post a redacted copy below,  also posting a picture of the POC on the lower left of the claim form after hiding the VRM details first. 

Mediation has been compulsory for about 8 or 9 months, you dont have a choice, so Mediation is covered in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum,  plus check the 12 steps in the defence template thread as well,  both are in announcements 

Is it one claim for 2 pcns  ? Or 2 separate claims  ?

Cantstopwontstop

Thank you for your prompt response. The same firm is chasing me for two separate penalties. One of them is First Parking LLP and the second one is Parkingeye LTD. 

With First Parking, I am not at N180 stage but had a voicemail from them asking to negotiate, which I have not replied to. The defense I filed to the court is as follows:

On the day of the alleged contravention, I picked up a passenger from Elephant & Castle with lots of luggage to go to St George’s wharf where the PCN was issued. He was a Chinese student moving to the property. He asked me to wait until he finished his paperwork at the reception so he can offload his belongings. So I found a parking at the top by the exit , waited, offloaded his staff and left. St George’s wharf is located on Wandsworth Road just by the junction of Vauxhall bridge. There is a bike lane immediately outside the property and 4 busy lanes on a one way system with no parking around for almost a mile or more. There is no other way I could have fulfilled my duties. I  have sent them a copy of the job sheet from Uber to prove that I was on a job and stating that I didn’t have any choice but to park there. I didn’t get a reply for Months. Then I received a letter from the bailiff. I wrote to first parking straight away stating that I didn’t receive a rejection letter. They said it’s too late to contest and I should pay the bailiff. They deliberately didn’t send a rejection letter until after the time has lapsed. This is how the company operates. There is a lot of complaints about this company for their unscrupulous practice. They have done this to a lot of people, not responding to letters and allowing people to make a representation. I opted for the court to hear my case as it is unfair for anyone to pay a penalty while they are doing their job and in this case helping their customer who is paying his rent to their clients. 

LDast

Don't worry. DCB Legal will issue a Notice of Discontinuation before it ever goes to a hearing.

Gr1pr

Cantstopwontstop said:

Thank you for your prompt response. The same firm is chasing me for two separate penalties. 

One of them is First Parking LLP and the second one is Parkingeye LTD. 

With First Parking, I am not at N180 stage but had a voicemail from them asking to negotiate, which I have not replied to. 

I doubt it,  those 2 companies issue PCNs, Parking Charge Notices

It may be the same legal company,  DCB Legal,  but 2 separate unconnected clients 

I suggest that you leave this thread as First Parking LLP and open a separate thread for the Parking Eye case

Coupon-mad

Agreed. We need two threads.

Bit of a shame that you didn't come here first and get help to improve that defence.  But DCB Legal always discontinue before hearings on single PCN cases anyway.

Cantstopwontstop

Thanks for the feedback. I will open another thread for Parkingeye. 

Coupon-mad

Cantstopwontstop said:

With First Parking, I am not at N180 stage but had a voicemail from them asking to negotiate, which I have not replied to. The defence I filed to the court is as follows:

On the day of the alleged contravention, I picked up a passenger from Elephant & Castle with lots of luggage to go to St George’s wharf where the PCN was issued. He was a Chinese student moving to the property. He asked me to wait until he finished his paperwork at the reception so he can offload his belongings. So I found a parking at the top by the exit , waited, offloaded his staff and left. St George’s wharf is located on Wandsworth Road just by the junction of Vauxhall bridge. There is a bike lane immediately outside the property and 4 busy lanes on a one way system with no parking around for almost a mile or more. There is no other way I could have fulfilled my duties. I  have sent them a copy of the job sheet from Uber to prove that I was on a job and stating that I didn’t have any choice but to park there. I didn’t get a reply for Months. Then I received a letter from the bailiff. I wrote to first parking straight away stating that I didn’t receive a rejection letter. They said it’s too late to contest and I should pay the bailiff. They deliberately didn’t send a rejection letter until after the time has lapsed. This is how the company operates. There is a lot of complaints about this company for their unscrupulous practice. They have done this to a lot of people, not responding to letters and allowing people to make a representation. I opted for the court to hear my case as it is unfair for anyone to pay a penalty while they are doing their job and in this case helping their customer who is paying his rent to their clients. 

Not a bad defence.  Let us know how you get on at Mediation.

Offer zero.

You owe nothing as you were picking up a passenger, not parked.  There is no 'overstay' that can relate to these circumstances of an Uber driver going about their work and merely 'waiting' when picking up or setting down passengers.

Please start that new thread about your ParkingEye Claim as well; the one at N180 stage in January.  Have you got a Mediation phone call arranged yet?  Offer zero for that one too.