Received PCN from First Parking – POPLA Rejected – Now DCBL Letter for £150

longcathead

Hi all,

Looking for advice on my situation as I’ve read the newbie guide but want to make sure I’m on the right track. I've only just come across this wonderful website. 

Timeline of events
- October 2024: Parked at my university’s car park (managed by First Parking). Tried multiple times to pay via the JustPark app, but it wasn’t working. The physical machine had been removed a few days earlier, so no option to pay by cash.

- Received a PCN from First Parking—£40 if paid within 14 days, rising to £80.

- Appealed to First Parking with evidence (screen recording of app failing) and provided my university email & accommodation address as they requested. Appeal rejected.

- Appealed to POPLA, arguing that I attempted to pay but was unable to due to technical failure. POPLA sided with First Parking, who submitted a 40+ page response with signage and payment alternatives (e.g., phone or text). I didn't save the document FirstParking sent for their appeal or save my initial message to POPLA which I really should have done. Appeal rejected in January 2025.

- Did nothing after that, as I forgot about it.

Now, February 2025 - DCBL Ltd letter demanding £150.

- Just received a debt collection letter from DCBL saying they want to recover £150.
- I understand from the forum that DCBL is just a debt collector at this stage, not bailiffs—so I should ignore them?
- However, I’m unsure if I’ve weakened my position by identifying myself as the driver during my appeal.

Questions:

1. Since I’ve already lost at POPLA, is ignoring DCBL still the right move?
2. If this escalates to a Letter Before Claim (LBC), what should my main defence be? I assume I can argue frustration of contract (I attempted to pay but couldn’t due to their system failing).
3. Do I need to do anything about my address? I still live at my university accommodation, but will be moving back home in June.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Gr1pr

1) yes, ignore the powerless debt collectors letters,  see post 4 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum 

2] you don't need a defence at the LoC stage 

3) definitely let the DPO of the parking company know about any address changes,  with a Data Rectification Notice by email to that DPO

Identifying as driver means that you cannot use pofa 2012 as keeper,  but means that you would defend as the driver 

Fruitcake

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP, and it is never too late to do so.
The inability to pay was caused by faulty payment systems that resulted in a frustration of contract. 
Debt collectors are powerless and can safely be ignored.
Your position has not been weakened by revealing the driver's identity.

Send a rectification notice to the DPO of First Parking (LLP?) when you move but not before, instructing them to erase your data and replace it with your new address for service. Make sure you use the word I have highlighted as it has a specific meaning with regards to data processing.

Come back to this thread if you get a Letter of/before Claim or a court claim.

Please also sign the petition below and get all your friends and family to do the same.

Bring the Parking Code of Practice into law, as per the 2019 Act of Parliament. - Petitions

longcathead

Fruitcake said:

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP, and it is never too late to do so.
The inability to pay was caused by faulty payment systems that resulted in a frustration of contract. 

Thank you for your response. So just to clarify, I should send a letter to my university parking office explaining how first parking rejected the appeal, POPLA rejected the appeal, I now have DCBL Ltd contacting me, causing stress etc etc. I tried paying didn't work and was unreasonable to move vehicle as I was already in my lecture.

Would they still be able to cancel the charge if the DCBL Ltd is now dealing with the charge rather than FirstParking?

And if the university says they're not going to cancel the charge, I just wait for the LoC?

longcathead

Update: My university came back and basically said they can't do anything. Said "In the event there is a problem with the app, a phone number is provided on carpark signage to enable payment by over the phone."

Responded back saying that is unreasonable and that they do have power to intervene and if they could pass me on to another decision maker who would be able to help. Don't think they'll help though, so waiting for the LoC.

Le_Kirk

longcathead said:

I now have DCBL Ltd contacting me, causing stress 

Did you read the advice by @Gr1pr and @Fruitcake and did you read about the ineffectual debt collectors in post 4 of the NEWBIE sticky which includes DCB Ltd.  Is it DCB Ltd or is it DCB Legal Ltd.  

longcathead

Le_Kirk said:

longcathead said:

I now have DCBL Ltd contacting me, causing stress 

Did you read the advice by @Gr1pr and @Fruitcake and did you read about the ineffectual debt collectors in post 4 of the NEWBIE sticky which includes DCB Ltd.  Is it DCB Ltd or is it DCB Legal Ltd.  

Of course. Just needed to add emphasis to the letter to make it clear to the parking office. 

longcathead

Le_Kirk said:

longcathead said:

I now have DCBL Ltd contacting me, causing stress 

Did you read the advice by @Gr1pr and @Fruitcake and did you read about the ineffectual debt collectors in post 4 of the NEWBIE sticky which includes DCB Ltd.  Is it DCB Ltd or is it DCB Legal Ltd.  

Also letter is from DCB Ltd. Sorry wrote DCBL Ltd earlier by mistake. 

KeithP

longcathead said:

Le_Kirk said:

longcathead said:

I now have DCBL Ltd contacting me, causing stress 

Did you read the advice by @Gr1pr and @Fruitcake and did you read about the ineffectual debt collectors in post 4 of the NEWBIE sticky which includes DCB Ltd.  Is it DCB Ltd or is it DCB Legal Ltd.  

Also letter is from DCB Ltd. Sorry wrote DCBL Ltd earlier by mistake. 

Nothing more than a boring debt collector's letter.

The fourth post of the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with debt collector's letters, but to summarise that post - ignore them.

But that same suggestion has been made in every reply you've received on this thread.   

longcathead

Just need a little bit of help as I'm moving home. I'm aware I need to send a DRN specifically using the words erase and also tell them to make their agents, sub-contractors, and third parties aware.

I'm still receiving letters from DCB Ltd so I'm presuming I will need to send the data rectification notice to them NOT DCB Legal. The email I've found for them is dpo@dcbltd.com.

However I'm unable to find an email for First Parking LLP. Would sending the email to just DCB Ltd be ok or would I also need to make First Parking aware? If so how do I contact them?

Gr1pr

You should email the DPO at both companies with those new details , so a DRN to both 

But,  I couldn't find their dpo details,  so maybe use the complaints email address   ?

First Parking LLP's Data Protection Officer (DPO) does not have a publicly listed email address. Complaints should be directed to First Parking LLP via postal mail to their registered office at 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, or via email to complaints@firstparking.co.uk. First Parking LLP outlines their complaints policy, which includes the postal address and email for submitting complaints. 

Their privacy policy page seems to require a postal letter