Help - Letter of Claim - DCB Legal Ltd

SeaTurkey16

Good afternoon all,

I really could do with your help and advice.

Today I received a letter of claim from DCB Legal Ltd about a parking fine. The alleged breach was in August 2024. Stating a reason of "NO valid parking reservation" They want me to pay a £170 fine. My wife paid for the parking on the day and has proof on her bank statement.

I received letters previously asking for money but I ignored them as I hoped it would just go away, but now that I have recieved this letter from DCB Legal, I understand that i should no longer ignore this and need to respond.

What is my next course of action, how do I respond to all this?

Any help really would be appreciated.

DE_612183

1. It's not a fine - it's an invoice
2. read the newbees thread
3. complain to the landowner

SeaTurkey16

The letter quotes: 

RE:

Our Client: Parkmaven Limited

Parking Charge Refs): Please see overleaf.

Amount Due: £170.00

We act for Parkmaven 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 xxxxxxx

("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) Cornmill Shopping Centre, Priestgate, DL1 1NH REASON(S). NO Valid Parking Reservation

Gr1pr

Email the response template in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum,  second post,  to DCB Legal 

Then wait for a court claim to arrive in the next few months 

The letters wont even mention the word fine,  not allowed,  so you made that part up, it was a Parking Charge Notice from Parkmaven , so an Invoice for the alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property 

SeaTurkey16

Gr1pr said:

Email the response template in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum,  second post,  to DCB Legal 

Then wait for a court claim to arrive in the next few months 

The letters wont even mention the word fine,  not allowed,  so you made that part up, it was a Parking Charge Notice from Parkmaven , so an Invoice for the alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property 

Thank you for the quick reply,
Sorry, wrong choice of words using the phrase Fine.

What should I expect once I recieve the court claim? 
Do I need to do anything now in preparation?

Nellymoser

Read NEWBIES Post 2 Small Claim

Gr1pr

we will help you progress your defence through the process

study other recent threads from this year to see how it works, study any ongoing case from January, the more you read, the more you learn, like us , so maybe a dozen or more

the newbies sticky thread and the defence template thread both have free but valuable information

SeaTurkey16

*UPDATE*

I followed all the excellent advice given by you all and DCB Legal eventually got back and requested the evidence of parking fees paid (which i supplied - all clearly showing that i had indeed paid all my parking fees on the day).

They (DCBL) have now emailed me stating they appreciate the evidence I provided, and it is their Client’s position that as I failed to lodge an appeal and provide this evidence sooner, I remain liable for the additional fees and costs now incurred, due to their Client having to instruct debt recovery.

They also stated that their Client would be agreeable to the original sum of £60.00 in full and final settlement of this Claim. The current outstanding balance is £170.00.　　 

Should I be agreeable to this offer, they are giving me 14 days from the date email sent to make the payment.  

Upon receipt of the settlement sum of £60.00, they will update the matter as settled. If I dont find this agreeable, and payment is not made, however, further legal proceedings may be issued against me without notice.

My question now is where do i stand, I still dont want to pay £60. As I see it, I have not done wrong and paid in the first place.

All advice/guidance greatly appreciated.

DE_612183

SeaTurkey16 said:

*UPDATE*

I followed all the excellent advice given by you all and DCB Legal eventually got back and requested the evidence of parking fees paid (which i supplied - all clearly showing that i had indeed paid all my parking fees on the day).

They (DCBL) have now emailed me stating they appreciate the evidence I provided, and it is their Client’s position that as I failed to lodge an appeal and provide this evidence sooner, I remain liable for the additional fees and costs now incurred, due to their Client having to instruct debt recovery.

They also stated that their Client would be agreeable to the original sum of £60.00 in full and final settlement of this Claim. The current outstanding balance is £170.00.　　 

Should I be agreeable to this offer, they are giving me 14 days from the date email sent to make the payment.  

Upon receipt of the settlement sum of £60.00, they will update the matter as settled. If I dont find this agreeable, and payment is not made, however, further legal proceedings may be issued against me without notice.

My question now is where do i stand, I still dont want to pay £60. As I see it, I have not done wrong and paid in the first place.

All advice/guidance greatly appreciated.

Tell them that - you have already paid

Coupon-mad

"They (DCBL) have now emailed me stating they appreciate the evidence I provided, and it is their Client’s position that as I failed to lodge an appeal and provide this evidence sooner, I remain liable for the additional fees and costs now incurred, due to their Client having to instruct debt recovery."

Hahahaahahahahahahaha!!!

Please show us that email so I can use it as evidence to the Government. Is this a 5 minute rule case (were they saying you paid in full but paid 'too late'?).

SeaTurkey16

Dear **********,  

We write in response to your correspondence received in our office concerning the Parking Charge issued on 22nd August 2014.  

As we appreciate the evidence you have now kindly provided, it is our Client’s position that as you failed to lodge an appeal and provide this evidence sooner, you remain liable for the additional fees and costs now incurred, due to our Client having to instruct debt recovery.   

WITHOUT PREJUDICE 

We confirm our Client would be agreeable to the original sum of £60.00 in full and final settlement of this Claim. The current outstanding balance is £170.00.　　 

Should you be agreeable to this offer, we will give you 14 days from the date of this email to make the payment.  

Upon receipt of the settlement sum of £60.00, we will update the matter as settled. If you are not agreeable, and payment is not made, however, further legal proceedings may be issued against you without notice. 

Payment can be made via bank transfer to our designated client account: - 

• Account Name: DCB Legal Ltd Client Account 
• Sort Code: ****** 
• Account Number: ******

You must quote the correct case reference (********) when making payment. If you do not, we may be unable to correctly allocate the payment. If further action is taken by us as a result of an incorrect reference being quoted, you will be liable for any further fees or costs incurred. 

Alternatively, you can contact DCB Legal Ltd on 0203 838 7038 to make payment over the telephone or online at ******