PCN from 2019 (G24 and DCBL)

perfection_run

Hello, hoping someone may be able to help.

I received a letter back in November 2024 from DCBL collections, threatening court action from an unpaid PCN (originally from G24) back in October 2019. It was just a letter, no evidence of the original letter sent in 2019, no picture, just a location and a time stamp saying I had exceeded the parking limit. I contacted them (call) to say this is the first I had ever been notified. They advised if I didn't pay they would just refer it back to their client for further action. I argued that I wasn't going to pay as there was no evidence and that this was a claim dating back over 5 years.

To note; The car I no longer owned, I had moved address (and updated DVLA) during this time and also changed my name during this time. 

They continued to send letters so I sent them an emailing as follows:

You sent a letter dated 28.11.2024 requesting debt recovery for an alleged unpaid parking charge on 16.10.2019. 

 As I have received no prior communication regarding this alleged matter over the duration of 5 years, I contacted your office upon receipt of the letter (02.12.2024 at 08:37) and spoke to one of your agents to request the following:

• Evidence to identify the alleged vehicle arriving at the alleged location, on the alleged date

• Evidence to support the alleged claim that the alleged vehicle exceeded the maximum duration of stay

• Evidence to support the identity of the alleged driver, within the alleged claim

I have received no evidence to date.

 You have sent a follow up letter, dated 17.01.2025 alleging a final notice of debt recovery.

 I am unable to respond further until I am in receipt of the supporting evidence that substantiates this claim.

They replied with the following:

Date of Contravention: 16-OCT-2019
Location of Contravention: B&M Durham Road Birtley Chester Le Street Durham DH3 2PF
Vehicle Registration: redacted
Reason for Contravention: Exceeding The Maximum Duration Of Stay Permitted

I then replied again saying this doesn't provide the evidence requested.

Today they have emailed attaching the original letter which was apparently sent (never received) in 2019, which as far as I can tell details all of the requirements under POFA schedule 4.

it reads and is accompanied with 2 images detailing the registration (issued 23.10.2019):

On 16 Oct 2019 you were the registered keeper of vehicle registration: redacted make: redacted which was parked on private property at: B&M, Durham Road, Birtley, Chester le Street, Durham, DH3 2PF. By entering and parking the vehicle on our client's private property the driver agreed, with G24 Limited ('the Creditor'), to be bound by the terms and conditions of parking shown below. The terms and conditions were clearly displayed at the entrance to, and in prominent places within, the car park. In accordance with the agreement, by leaving your vehicle in the car park in breach of the terms and conditions of parking, the driver is hereby required to pay a parking charge the sum of £90.00 within 28 days of the date of this Contractual Parking Charge Notice. Term breached: Exceeding the maximum duration of stay permitted at B&M, Durham Road, Birtley, Chester le Street, Durham, DH3 2PF. Term applicable: That a sum ("the Parking Charge") of £90.00 is payable. To date, the contractually agreed Parking Charge has not been paid in full and we do not know both the name of the driver and a current address for service for the driver. If the Parking Charge is paid within 14 days of the date of this Contractual Parking Charge Notice, it will be reduced to £50.00. If no payment is received within 28 days G24 Ltd will forward the outstanding debt to a debt recovery agency, and the driver may incur additional costs for late payment. YOU ARE NOW INVITED TO a) Pay the unpaid Parking Charge, OR: b) If you were not the driver of the vehicle, to notify us of the name of the driver and a current address for service for the driver AND pass this Notice on to the driver. Please be warned: that if, after the period of 28 days beginning with the day after that on which the Notice is given (i) the amount of the unpaid Parking Charge specified in this Notice has not been paid in full, and (ii) we do not know both the name of the driver and a current address for service for the driver, we have the right to recovery the unpaid Parking Charge from you, the registered keeper. Please see the reverse of this notice for further information on how to pay / how to make a representation against the Parking Charge. 

Permitted Free Parking (minutes): 60
Your Parking Period(minutes): 126
Entrance Time: 16 Oct 2019 12:05:51
Exit Time: 16 Oct 2019 14:11:42 

so not quite 126 minutes (although I'm being picky here!)

I can't see who was driving the vehicle in the picture and other than the letter sent to my new address in November 2024 and the subsequent letters/emails, I had no previous correspondence not even the original letter. Although I know it is assumed delivered according to POFA .

I genuinely do not know who was driving, it was a week day, so I have checked my calendar and I was away at an event so although I was the registered keeper, I wasn't the driver, however I cannot provide the driver details due to the time frame.

Apologies for the long post, just hoping someone may have some guidance on best next steps, how to respond... 

Thanks so much

Gr1pr

Do you have a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice   ?  Or not 

I cannot tell which stage you are at, nevermind telling you how to respond,  if at all,  it's not ping pong

My advice is no next steps,  no response,  unless you have received a dated official Letter of Claim giving 30 days notice 

Coupon-mad

But my advice is different:

Use delaying tactics to get the case to October without a court claim. It will be hard but might work. The way to do that is keep replying to DCB Ltd so they can't pass the file to DCB Legal.

Ask another question but in the LAST DAY DCB Ltd says to reply. Then repeat. Another slow question asking for something else, like the sign.

DO NOT LET THE CASE GO TO DCB LEGAL. Keep disrupting DCB Ltd. Finally try this tactic which can stretch it out for months:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81365654/#Comment_81365654

Slowly slowly catchee monkey.