Help - Letter of Claim - DCB Legal Ltd

SeaTurkey16

Coupon-mad said:

But if you paid in full before leaving why was there a PCN? Was there a typo in the VRM?

I don't know why they issued the PCN. I'm putting it down to some technical issue of theirs, as I have bank statements clearly showing payment to Parkmaven on the day. No, not that I am aware of. All the correspondence has the correct VRN.

Car1980

Their claim will be the usual one liner template, so they won't even reveal all until witness statement stage. 

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

"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."

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

SeaTurkey16 said:

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... blah blah (irrelevant payment crap clipped).

SeaTurkey16 said:

As i said. I paid on the day, at the car parks machine with debit card. I have bank statements and Screenshots of bank transactions to verify this. Surely they cant expect me to pay this £60! 

Are they just trying to scare me into paying?

Oh yes, this is EXACTLY what they are doing! And I have NEVER seen such scammery in my time here.

They are basically saying:

"we want our piece of the pie even though you've proved there's no debt".

So Parkmaven seem to have claimed that "you didn't pay by card quickly enough" and now DCB are compounding this by saying "you didn't dispute it within 28 days, so now it's too late"

YOU COULD NOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP!

Can you tell me:

- what time you arrived?

- what time you paid & how long was paid for

- what time you left, presumably captured by cameras?

I want to share this with the Government because it looks like a '5 minute rule case' which has no validity in law (it's unfair term) but even worse, DCB's reply beggars belief!

This looks sooooo much like debt assignment a la MIL Collections that DCB need banning, IMHO. They don't appear to have to make any money per PCN case. Looks very much like batch debt purchase to me. Not allowed.

Coupon-mad said:

But if you paid in full before leaving why was there a PCN? Was there a typo in the VRM?

SeaTurkey16 said:

I don't know why they issued the PCN. I'm putting it down to some technical issue of theirs, as I have bank statements clearly showing payment to Parkmaven on the day. No, not that I am aware of. All the correspondence has the correct VRN.

Right, so it's a 5 minute rule case then (allegation that you 'paid too late' because you paid before leaving) and you need to flush this out.

Their claim will be the usual one liner template, so they won't even reveal all until witness statement stage. 

I hope they will, because I've advised the OP exactly what to ask now:

Coupon-mad said:

Email them and ask for the timings and you wish to understand whether this is a '5 minute rule' case because you will now involve your MP. Tell them you want the time of arrival, time of payment and time of leaving past the camera.

It's a complete joke that DCB want their fake DRA fee for failing to recover a debt that they acknowledge never existed, but they are blaming the OP for not using the 'blink and you miss it' appeals window then they have closed all doors on valid disputes.

This despite the FCA CONC rules forbidding this level of scammery in other (normal) DRA models.

Coupon-mad

SeaTurkey16 said:

Coupon-mad said:

But if you paid in full before leaving why was there a PCN? Was there a typo in the VRM?

I don't know why they issued the PCN. I'm putting it down to some technical issue of theirs, as I have bank statements clearly showing payment to Parkmaven on the day. No, not that I am aware of. All the correspondence has the correct VRN.

I've sent you a pm. The BPA trade body want to investigate your case.