Advice on adding defence for letter of claim DCL Legal

MrZinc

Hi

I was about to send an email to DCB Legal, with Letter of claim template (generic one) from the newbie forum. 

In the guide under the template its written 'You can briefly also state (ABOVE those two questions) your reasons for disputing the claim and/or state (if true) it was so long ago you have no idea what it's about and/or (if true) that you were not the driver and do not believe their client can hold the keeper liable.'

I was going to add the following,

"Defence:
‘Euro car parks Parking Machine wasn’t working as it should be’’
‘Paybyphone app wasnt working and Paybyphone SMS was not working, which was stated on parking sign as a method of paying/parking’

Evidence of the above recorded"

please advise if its a good idea or not. For more information regarding my parking claim please see bottom of this message.

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Ill try to keep this short to not waste anyone’s time.

I can see a load of DCBlegal forum posts, it seems they are going after a whole load of old parking charges from Euro car parks limited.

I need advice on how to respond to a ‘Letter of Claim’ from DCBLegal Ltd acting on behalf of Euro car Parks Limited.

Parking Charge issue date **/05/2021.

Reason : The PandD/permit Purchased Did Not Cover The Date And Time of Parking.

 

In may 2021, I parked at a euro car park.

I initially attempted to use the pay and display machine at the carpark however I had some issues, or I may have only been able to pay for 1 hour, I cant recall exactly.

I took a photo of the pay and display sign which had information on their stating I could text a number to pay. ‘REG’ and number to pay. I still have this photo of the sign. I’ve then left the carpark on foot.

 

At some point later it looks like I tried using the paybyphone app but without success, it must have not worked.

I then tried paying by using the text message service, however I received a text message response saying ‘Paybyphone SMS registrations is no longer supported. To register please download the iOS/Andoid APP or use ’paybyphonewebsite’. (I have proof of this as I still have the text messages, bonus for keeping my phone this long )

 

As I couldn’t pay by text message this points to the parking sign being incorrect.
Recevied parking charge from eurocarparks, I appeal the parking charge in may 2021, I would have stated that I couldn’t pay using the app/text message and issues with machine etc (reading forum now I should have waited).  Appeal denied with some of the response from euro car parks below,

 

A pay and display ticket/pay by phone session matching your vehicle registration was purchased for £1.50 - this would have entitled your vehicle to park for up to 1 Hour according

to the clearly displayed tariff.

 

Your vehicle entered at **:**:** and exited at **:**:**, a total stay of 1 hours and 19 minutes.

 

Ignored everything untill now - Fast forward to today Ive recevied letter of claim from DCB Legal (£170 debt), at the start of JAN 2025. It will be 30 days on 5th of February.

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

** Is information omitted by myself.

Coupon-mad

Yep.  Add those words. 

It probably won't stop the claim form in March, but my goodness what great evidence to force someone to eventually look at the facts and discontinue!

You'll have a fun 'official Court Mediation' phone call in a couple of months. You could offer a fiver (the price of parking plus one or two first class stamps!) via the court mediator, if you want to have fun with DCB.

MrZinc

Thank you for the prompt reply, I shall post updates.

The only email for DCB Legal I could find through google was 'info@********.co.uk. Emailed them and got a auto reply.

Ill keep that fiver offer in mind 

Nellymoser

Rip-off pcns need to go an MP recently told Parliament. Statutory regulation is needed as 
evidence proves the voluntary measures and sector's recently introduced new code are still failing to protect and treat motorists fairly.

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

Ask your MP to support this. It's an easy email with poster Smoof's template letter, just copy/alter to suit and sign petition 🙏

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6583618/ive-written-to-my-mp