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

Coupon-mad

Yep, use complaints@firstparking.co.uk

longcathead

Received an LoC. I know I need to use that base template and give a brief reason as to why I didn't pay. However, I won't have time to do the whole defence thing when it comes to that so do I have any other options? Can I message or email them and ask for a reduced amount (original fine) to pay to end this here or would I just need to pay the £150.

I really don't want to pay these scammers but I don't have the time in the coming weeks to write up a defence submit the paperwork do all those steps. 

Thanks 

Gr1pr

Save any offers for the compulsory mediation stage,  starting at £10

Use the LoC response template as is, no changes , no additions,  no reasons,  no excuses

There are no other options apart from plan A,  a landowner or landlord cancellation 

Le_Kirk

Why won't you have time to do a defence, which involves adjusting one paragraph and adding one more based on our template?  To gain more time send the LOC response in the NEWBIE sticky, ask for 30 days whilst you take debt advice amd during that 30 days, compile your defence.

Gr1pr

longcathead said:

Gr1pr said:

Save any offers for the compulsory mediation stage,  starting at £10

Use the LoC response template as is, no changes , no additions,  no reasons,  no excuses

There are no other options apart from plan A,  a landowner or landlord cancellation 

Like I said earlier I don't have time to drag this out and do the whole 12 steps for the defence so I think I'll just pay them £150 and move on. 

Is the wrong answer,  no volunteer here ( like myself   ) would agree with you ( frankly,  I am appalled   )

You found the time to write your initial post, a lot harder than just following the 12 steps and making an offer at the early mediation stage 

longcathead

Hi Guys. Received a response to my LoC reply. Everything look ok? I just wait for the CCJ now.

We write in response to your recent correspondence in response to our Letter of Claim (LOC) and will now respond as follows.

It is our position that the Letter of Claim (“LOC”) is compliant with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (“the Protocol”). The LOC provides adequate information for you to identify the debt that our Client is seeking to recover. We would respectfully draw your attention to paragraph 2.1(c) of the Protocol and remind you that both parties are expected to act reasonably and proportionately.

For the avoidance of doubt, please note that the timeframe in which to appeal the Parking Charge has expired. You were given the opportunity to lodge an appeal when the initial Notice was issued to you. Given that the case has been escalated to this firm for recovery action, the time to appeal has now elapsed and payment of the Parking Charge(s) is now required.

The amount owed is a genuine pre-estimate of the losses incurred in managing the parking location to ensure compliance with the clearly displayed terms and conditions. Further, in accordance with the British Parking Association (BPA)/International Parking Community (IPC) Code of Practice, where the Parking Charge becomes overdue and before Court proceedings have commenced, a reasonable sum may be added for the debt recovery fees. The correct recovery fees have been added and will not be removed, for completeness we would advise that the fee is not inclusive of any VAT, as it does not pertain to a supply of goods/services between you and our Client.

To clarify, when parking on private land, the contractual terms of the site are set out on the signs. You are thus entering into a contract (by way of conduct) and agreeing to the terms by parking and staying on the site. Parking in breach of the terms as stipulated on the signage means that you are then breaking the terms of the contract.

Attached are copies of evidence pertaining to the matter, however, if there are any documents that you have requested, but that are not attached, it is because we have deemed the request to be disproportionate and/or not relevant to the substantive issues in dispute. We respectfully draw your attention to paragraph 2.1(c) of the Protocol and remind you that both parties are expected to act reasonably and proportionately.

You now have 30 days from the date of this email to make payment of £XXX Failure to make payment will result in a Claim being issued against you without any further reference.

Gr1pr

Standard response 

You are definitely not waiting for a CCJ , you are waiting for an N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL to arrive in the post 

longcathead

Gr1pr said:

Standard response 

You are definitely not waiting for a CCJ , you are waiting for an N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL to arrive in the post 

Yes got mixed up. Thanks!

Coupon-mad

longcathead said:

"we would advise that the fee is not inclusive of any VAT, as it does not pertain to a supply of goods/services between you and our Client."

They are lying because the £70 relates to getting an alleged debtor to pay the 'VAT element' of the commission pertaining to a supply of services between them and their client.

Anyway, wait for the claim but on or before 5th September (end of next week) please please do the government's Public Consultation.

See this thread: -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-8-weeks-from-11th-july-2025/p1

We need every poster to come back & complete this vital Consultation before the deadline.

We understand that you may need some pointers. It looks laborious, we get that. It doesn't matter; no knowledge is needed except re your own experiences so you can call out a scam industry and you'll protect millions of motorists and help change the law.

I've written some guidance on that thread. I have covered almost every question, providing ideas if you agree with our stance on things like DRFs, which must be banned.

Ordinary people like you are falling victim to this scam 15 million times per annum. Motorists need your voice added please!

Tell the MHCLG how this unsolicited scam has affected you.