Parking fine/ Liverpool/ Myrtle Parade - Original fine not received - now I have a letter from dcbl

Roldiex

Hi all,  I will no doubt be needing some advice for this one in the near future and as a minimum I wanted others to be aware of what I believe is a scam.

Overview:

I received a debt collection notice from DCBL for parking in Myrtle Parade, Liverpool, for 17 minutes. The blurry image provided just about shows my car's registration (reg), and I likely was the driver as I occasionally visit the local shops (including the Tesco).

I was unaware that this car park now charges customers, having parked there for years without seeing any signs about fees. Had I known, I would have paid or parked elsewhere. The fact that I didn’t notice any restrictions suggests the signage is unclear, and more should be done to inform customers of the charges.

Upon contacting dcbl via email they failed to verify my identity and instead responded to the email with a copy of a letter containing my name, address and car reg.

Full breakdown - 

14.01.2025 - dcbl letter received dated 06/01/25 titled FINAL REMINDER - unpaid parking charge £170. 
Client - National Parking Control Group Ltd (NPC).
Contravention date 25/10/24.

16.01.2025 - email sent to dbcl explaining I had never heard of this fine until now and asking for a copy of the charge notice from NPC, details of when and how it was sent and any other correspondence they claim to have sent out.

05.02.2025 - email received back from dbcl stating the letter was sent from NCP on 01/11/24 and they provided a copy of the original letter from NCP, they also explained that because I had not confirmed who the driver was or made an appeal I owe £170.  




06.02.2025 - email sent to NCP as follows:

I am writing to formally request information regarding the personal data you hold on me, in accordance with my rights under Article 15 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). I recently received a communication from DCBL Ltd that included personal details relating to an outstanding parking charge. However, I have never received any direct communication from your company, National Parking Control (NPC), regarding this charge. The only communication I have received has been from DCBL, which I understand is supposed to have been preceded by a notice from you.

Please provide me with the following information:

1. A copy of all personal data you hold on me.
2. A detailed explanation of the lawful basis under which my personal data was processed, particularly in relation to the parking charge.
3. Confirmation of whether you have shared my personal details with DCBL Ltd or any other third parties.
4. Copies of all communication that you claim to have sent to me regarding this parking charge.
5. Evidence of the postage or delivery of any communications you claim to have sent, including tracking details, if applicable.
6. If my details were passed to DCBL Ltd, I request proof of the communication between NPC and DCBL, including any notice informing me that my data would be shared.
7. Any relevant records regarding the handling of my personal data, including notices, payment reminders, and any communications related to the debt collection process.

I want to reiterate that I have not received any direct communication from NPC prior to the letter from DCBL. Therefore, I request the above documentation to verify the validity of your claims regarding the processing of my personal data.

Please provide the requested information within the statutory 30-day period, as required under the UK GDPR. If you are unable to fulfil this request, please provide a clear explanation for the delay or refusal.

If I do not receive a satisfactory response or the requested data, I will consider escalating this matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further investigation.

07.02.2025 - email sent to dcbl as follows:

I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding the handling of my personal data. I recently contacted DCBL Ltd via email, and I was alarmed to receive a response containing an attachment that included my personal details, address, and vehicle registration without any prior verification of my identity. This raises serious concerns about your data security practices and compliance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

As a data subject, I have the right to expect that my personal information is handled securely and responsibly. However, your failure to verify my identity before responding suggests a potential breach of Article 5(1)(f) of UK GDPR, which requires personal data to be processed securely to prevent unauthorised access.

Request for Action

I formally request the following actions:

1. A written explanation of why my identity was not verified before responding with an attachment containing my personal data.
2. A copy of your data protection policy and details of the measures you have in place to ensure compliance with UK GDPR.
3. Confirmation of the steps you will take to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Request for Data Deletion

Under Article 17 (Right to Erasure) of UK GDPR, I request the immediate deletion of all personal data relating to me from your records, as you no longer have a lawful basis to process it. Please provide written confirmation that my data has been erased, or a legal justification if you refuse this request.

Lack of Trust in DCBL’s Processes

Furthermore, I have made direct contact with the parking company, National Parking Control (NPC), and will be pursuing this case with them directly, rather than continuing with DCBL, due to my lack of trust in your processes. Given this, I request that DCBL cease all processing of my personal data, including erasure of the data you currently hold on me.

Given the distress this has caused me, I expect a written response within 14 days. If I do not receive a satisfactory response, I will escalate this matter to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further investigation.

I appreciate your urgent attention to this matter and request an acknowledgment of receipt as soon as possible.

07.02.2025 - email received from NPC asking for my ID (passport or driving licence).  I responded and explained I would rather keep my ID safe and as an alternative could they send the document to the address they have on file for me instead.  They responded and explained they would need to verify my identity and said a utility bill will be accepted.  I sent them a copy of a payslip and a copy of my vehicle registration book (showing only the car reg, name and address).  

11.02.2025 - Response received from NPC is below and they also uploaded a copy of the original letter from them dated 01/11/24 and some basic info which could have been created at any point relating to the post out.

In regard to processing your data, under Article 6 of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) we must establish a lawful basis for processing your personal data. Our lawful basis for processing your personal data is our legitimate interest and the fact it is necessary for the processing in order to recover outstanding monies in relation to a parking charge.

In regards to escalating the charge to DCBL, our signs do state that non-payment of a PCN will result in additional charges which will be added to the value of the charge and for which the driver will be liable on an indemnity basis. Please note that we follow the guidelines of the ICO and all companies we may share your data with our listed within our privacy policy. We are allowed to share information with DCBL as the represent us as our debt recovery company. We do only pass over the information we receive from the DVLA, DCBL recovery all other information themselves by doing additional traces.

 All correspondence with the DVLA/DCBL is done via API, which is described as a system for two or more computer programs or components to communicate with each other. We have no emails/letters to or from them.

12.02.2025 - postal letter received from dcbl tilted FINAL NOTICE OF DEBT RECOVERY dated 05/02/25.  Again stating I owe £170 and they have recommended their client begin legal action.

14.02.2025 - I am still waiting for the reply back from dcbl following my email sent to them on 07/02/25 (shown above).

I have read the Newbies post and this states that I do not need to do anything until I get the 'Letter of claim' or Letter Before Claim (LBC), let me know if I have missed any steps.

I have signed the petition relating to this car park and I am aware others have fallen foul to the lack of signage, I would be interested to know how many people did not receive the parking charge and instead a hefty £170 debt collection letter.  

I have not moved address in a long time and actually had a parking fine in relation to parking at a different Tesco, dated Oct 2024,  which I successfully appealed - showing I am not the type of person who will ignore these letters, (i.e. I will pay if I believe I am in the wrong or appeal).  In that instance, the company (Horizon) had no problem getting the first letter to me via post, allowing me to appeal but I was denied my appeal this time and instead they want to charge me £170 for 3 letters (1 of which was not even received)! 

Gr1pr

Private Parking companies dont issue fines,  magistrates do

These are all invoices for the alleged breach of contract by the driver on private property,  from private parking companies 

Ignore the powerless debt collectors,  see post 4 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements 

Come back to this thread if you receive a Letter of Claim followed by a court claim 

Umkomaas

And inform NPCG if you change your address in the next 6 years. You don't want any court claim going to an old address. 

ShirleyMez

Hi All
I'm a newbie however really need advice....
In March  2020 I was working for NHS in a call centre re covid call lines. One day i arrived at work to find no parking, I popped into B&M next door and explained i was working next door etc and asked if i could pay to park in their carpark (the car park was almost empty) The manager said i could park there no problem and actually thanked me for my request however told me there would be no payment. 
Earlier this year I received a letter off DCBL to my sons address (I've never lived there and the car was never registered there) The car is in my husbands name which is the same as my son. They have since started sending them to my address. 
I read on here to ignore the letter and now after receiving several letters they have sent me a letter saying it will go to court unless i pay £170.00 

Please help!!

Thank you in advance :-)

Le_Kirk

All the help you require is in the NEWBIE sticky but you really should start your own thread as trying to deal with two posters on same thread can become confusing.  Don't answer on this thread but consider: -
Did you contact B&M and ask what was going on?
Is your V5C up-to-date with the correct address?
See you on your new thread, just hit the +Create New

dino1852

@Roldiex here are the landowners contact details should you need to contact them (as recommenced in the Newby Sticky). Google: Companies House 08088514. Company is Liverpool Edge (Myrtle Street) LTD.

Coupon-mad

ShirleyMez said:

Hi All
I'm a newbie however really need advice....
In March  2020 I was working for NHS in a call centre re covid call lines. One day i arrived at work to find no parking, I popped into B&M next door and explained i was working next door etc and asked if i could pay to park in their carpark (the car park was almost empty) The manager said i could park there no problem and actually thanked me for my request however told me there would be no payment. 
Earlier this year I received a letter off DCBL to my sons address (I've never lived there and the car was never registered there) The car is in my husbands name which is the same as my son. They have since started sending them to my address. 
I read on here to ignore the letter and now after receiving several letters they have sent me a letter saying it will go to court unless i pay £170.00 

Please help!!

Start your own thread and we will gladly help!

blue_sky777

I had the same situation in Myrtle parade, went there for a pick up, and took a little bit longer than usual, 13 mins in total and get the letter from DCBL without the original letter asking me to pay £170. This is nasty company and set up everything for you to pay, should boycott this parking company!

Coupon-mad

blue_sky777 said:

I had the same situation in Myrtle parade, went there for a pick up, and took a little bit longer than usual, 13 mins in total and get the letter from DCBL without the original letter asking me to pay £170. This is nasty company and set up everything for you to pay, should boycott this parking company!

But you didn't pay, surely?! Not when you know they either discontinue claims or settle for a tenner at Mediation phone call stage.

blue_sky777

Coupon-mad said:

blue_sky777 said:

I had the same situation in Myrtle parade, went there for a pick up, and took a little bit longer than usual, 13 mins in total and get the letter from DCBL without the original letter asking me to pay £170. This is nasty company and set up everything for you to pay, should boycott this parking company!

But you didn't pay, surely?! Not when you know they either discontinue claims or settle for a tenner at Mediation phone call stage.

Glad I found this thread so I didn't pay any! I was bit panicing when I received the post to be honest. I am going to send a complain email to the landowner, can you kindly suggest what else should I do at this stage? Or just waiting for their Mediation phone call?

Le_Kirk

@blue_sky777 you now have more posts on this thread than the OP: can I suggest you send a message to the forum team to have it split into a new thread for you. It can be confusing trying to answer three posters on same thread!