Rang DCB legal before I read the Newbies thread about £170 PCN - am I doomed?

Umkomaas

greensmoke85 said:

Thanks both. They have to pay court fee by 27/01 and we have to get witness statement and evidence in by 15/01. 

In their latest email they say:
Despite this, we have been instructed to attempt to settle the case with you so that the matter can be brought to an early conclusion and in order that you may avoid a County Court Judgment (CCJ) being granted against you, should the Court award this in our Client's favour.  They are therefore willing to settle the case at this stage for a reduced sum of £60.00.

Is it true that if I lose I automatically get a CCJ? If so, will it be written off if I pay it within the 30 days or will it stay on my record for six years (this is what they are claiming later in the email). 

Standard DCB Legal guff, seen in every discontinuance case recorded here. 

Technically, they are correct. If a Judge finds in their favour, you have a CCJ against you. However, the critical point is this - it is only permanently (6 years) recorded against you if you fail to pay the full judgment within one month of the decision, in which case, should you fail to pay, the CCJ will cause you credit stress for 6 years. 

But it will never get to this, as DCB Legal will discontinue as long as you continue to follow forum advice. 

Coupon-mad

Nobody risks a CCJ. If this were true we wouldn't tell people to defend cases and nor would Martin Lewis in the MSE Guide to Fighting Private Parking tickets.

greensmoke85

Hello, they’ve discontinued. Can’t thank you all enough for your help, it was truly invaluable, I would never have known this was possible without this forum. 

Is there anything I can do to help change the law on this? It’s truly disgraceful these companies are allowed to operate in this way. I’ve written to my MP. 

Gr1pr

Yes, post a redacted picture of the N279 discontinuation document below so that your success can be added to the discontinuations thread by Umkomaas and available to coupon mad

And complain about it to your local MP too, as you seem to have done 

greensmoke85

Here is the N279 

Gr1pr

Great stuff,  another one for @Umkomaas

Umkomaas

Thank you @greensmoke85 for the copy of your NoD. I can now get this counted in the DCBL Legal thread of shame. 👍 

Coupon-mad

Yay, you won at last!

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST!

Ralph-y

"Is there anything I can do to help change the law on this?" may be not apart from contacting your MP and asking him/ her to support the ongoing drive to get the 2019 draft bill over the line ... oh and mentioning this forum to any work colleagues/  family / friends / Neighbors / people at the pub that you know