DCB Legal Letter of Claim

peaswan123

I have received a letter of claim from DCB Legal LTD about a parking fine. The alleged breach was in June 2023. Now I have to pay £170 “fine”.

And I have received letters from other companies previously asking for money too but I ignored it ( Euro Car parks, DCBL, debt recovery plus etc.) and apparently now is the time to respond according to you guys as it’s DCB Legal.

I am autistic and to be honest I’d rather pay the £170 than to go to court etc. because I have a really hard time trying to recreate the defence template etc. I would be easier for me to pay that that’s the end of… it’s too tiring for me to go through a long process having then send me forms etc.

(Image removed by Forum Team)Would anyone be able to help me through this, I wouldn’t mind paying someone a few quid for help with my issue…

peaswan123

The letter quotes: 

RE:

Our Client: Euro Car Parks Limited

Parking Charge Refs): Please see overleaf.

Amount Due: £170.00

We act for Euro Car Parks Limited and write in respect of an unpaid parking charge(s). This is a formal Letter of Claim in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.

Basis of Claim

The vehicle with registration number W1XXXX

("Vehicle") was parked on private land ("Land") managed by our Client. The

signs displayed on the Land set out the Terms of parking (i.e. "the Contract"). The Vehicle was parked in breach of the Terms and as such the Contract was accepted and a Parking Charge(s) was issued. You are liable as the Keeper or Driver. The details of the Parking Charge(s) can be found in the schedule at the bottom of this letter. Payment was due within 28 days of the Parking Charge(s) being issued but remains outstanding.

The amount of the debt is £170.00, which includes the Parking Charge(s) and debt recovery costs. If a claim is issued, further costs will be sought, together with accruing interest at 8% above base rate per annum pursuant to s69 of The County Courts Act 1984.

Next Steps

Within 30 days of the date of this letter, you should either make payment using one of the methods detailed overleaf or complete the Reply Form and financial statement. Failure to do so is likely to result in a claim being issued without further notice. Please visit www.dcblegal.co.uk/response to complete and submit the reply form and financial statement. You will also find an additional information sheet summarising your rights and responsibilities under the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.

Your attention is drawn to the Civil Procedure Rules 1998 and the Court's power to impose sanctions if you fail to pay or respond. Any such failure will be brought to the attention of the Court when considering costs. Any non-compliance with the Rules can increase liability for costs. The BPA Code of Practice requires us to make the customer (driver/keeper) aware of the implications of non-payment including, should the Court find against them, the risk to their credit rating.

We suggest you deal with this as a matter of urgency to avoid a claim being issued. You may wish to seek independent legal advice from a Solicitor or other free money advice organisation.

If you would like a 'dispute resolution call' with our team, or a paper copy of the information sheet, reply form or financial statement, please call our office on 0203 838 7038.

Yours faithfully,

DCB Legal

LOCATION(S) Emily Street Middlesbrough REASON(S). NO Valid Pay And Display/permit Was Purchased

Gr1pr

Just email the response seen in the second post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad,  no additions apart from your name and address and the reference number on that letter 

We will guide you through the process,  so rely on the people here to help you for free 

peaswan123

Gr1pr said:

Just email the response seen in the second post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad,  no additions apart from your name and address and the reference number on that letter 

We will guide you through the process,  so rely on the people here to help you for free 

Do you want me to send this:?


Dear Sirs,

Your Ref. ############
Proposed Legal Proceedings
Claimant: xxxxxx xxxxxxxx Ltd

I refer to your your letter of claim.

I confirm that my address for service for the time being - assuming you don't faff about and delay any claim - is as follows, and any older address must be erased from your records:
[Correct address here]

The alleged debt is disputed and any court proceedings will be vigorously defended.

I am sourcing and seeking independent debt advice and as such, I formally request that this matter be put on hold for an additional 30 days, in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims 2017 ('the PAP').

I note that the amount being claimed has increased by a hugely exaggerated amount which the Government called "extorting money from motorists".

Don't send me your usual blather about that.
I have two questions, and under the PAP I am entitled to specific answers:

1. Am I to understand that the additional £70 represents what you lot dress up as a 'Debt Recovery' fee, and if so, is this nett or inclusive of VAT? If the latter, would you kindly explain why I am being asked to pay the operator’s VAT?

2. With regard to the principal alleged PCN sum: Is this damages, or will it be pleaded as consideration for parking?

Yours faithfully

peaswan123

I found this one. Would this be better to send instead?

“ Dear DCB Legal,

Your reference 000000000

In response to your Letter of Claim on behalf of your client, Euro car parks limited, I do not appreciate your need to pursue any alleged debts owed to Euro car parks limited. We must inform you that if you do issue a claim, We will be defending it robustly.

We confirm that oooooooooo is the vehicle's hirer and keeper for the purpose of the corresponding definitions under Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 ("POFA") and we write to dispute this claim.

As a regular visitor to the MoneySavingExpert Parking Forums, I am well aware of your modus operandi and educated enough to know how to handle your scattergun approach to firing off claims. I am also aware that your claims are usually baseless and that they rely on the hope that the recipients will be intimidated into paying the demanded amount. However, I can assure you that I am not intimidated and will fully defend myself.

Therefore, I suggest that you stop wasting our time with what we both know will result in a discontinuation before any claim reaches court. You may as well save your client the court fee and concentrate on other, more gullible victims of your robo-claims instead of chasing after me.

I will not be making any payment to you or engaging in any negotiation with regard to this matter. Should you proceed with a claim on behalf of Euro car parks limited, I will defend it and seek to recover all costs incurred as a result of any baseless claim.

Yours sincerely,

00000000”

Gr1pr

If you are the Registered Keeper with the DVLA  and posess your own V5c log book,  use the first template above 

If you are a hirer or lessee,  not the RK , then maybe email the second one instead

peaswan123

Gr1pr said:

If you are the Registered Keeper with the DVLA  and posess your own V5c log book,  use the first template above 

If you are a hirer or lessee,  not the RK , then maybe email the second one instead

I am the keeper of the car. 

So I should email them the first template to question them about the charges? Is that correct?
And I just wait for their reply? How likely are they going to carry on with this… I really don’t want to go to court and all that…


I thought it was to tell them that I will not pay for anything and to fight this…? 

Just a little confused.

Gr1pr

Yes, email the first template response 

It wont stop the juggernaut,  but they should reply 

The claimant and the lawyers will carry on with this,  but it's mainly paperwork and even if a court claim arrives,  it's still a long way from a court,  just paperwork. Many don't even see a courtroom,  not with our help

With our help it should eventually be discontinued,  so we help people to get them discontinued,  like you

Coupon-mad

peaswan123 said:

Gr1pr said:

If you are the Registered Keeper with the DVLA  and posess your own V5c log book,  use the first template above 

If you are a hirer or lessee,  not the RK , then maybe email the second one instead

I am the keeper of the car. 

So I should email them the first template to question them about the charges? Is that correct?
And I just wait for their reply? How likely are they going to carry on with this… I really don’t want to go to court and all that…

You will get a claim form.

You will defend it easily. Use the template.

You won't be going to court.

peaswan123

Coupon-mad said:

peaswan123 said:

Gr1pr said:

If you are the Registered Keeper with the DVLA  and posess your own V5c log book,  use the first template above 

If you are a hirer or lessee,  not the RK , then maybe email the second one instead

I am the keeper of the car. 

So I should email them the first template to question them about the charges? Is that correct?
And I just wait for their reply? How likely are they going to carry on with this… I really don’t want to go to court and all that…

You will get a claim form.

You will defend it easily. Use the template.

You won't be going to court.

The reason I’m worried is because I don’t know how to defend it.
i was in the car park for about 40 minutes when the ANPR got my number plate and I didn’t get a pay and display ticket. The ticket machine you have to put in your number plate. I don’t know what I can say for them to consider me to have a valid reason…

Gr1pr

You may not know,  but the people here do, so you are in the right place for assistance,  same as any other newbie 

You will be told what to write at the appropriate time