DCBL letter on behalf of Smart Parking UK help please?

hayleyrums

Hello,

Firstly, thankyou for reading my thread. I have read the newbie information but it was very overwhelming. I'm hoping someone can advise on the best way forward.

Today, I received a letter from DCBL with a notice of debt recovery of £170 for a PCN from 04/07/2021. This is the first letter or any correspondence I have had regarding this fine and has come as a shock to say the least. They are claiming that insufficient paid time occurred at Montgomery Way Car Park in Carlisle.

The letter reads " You have an unpaid parking charge and direct collection bailiffs Ltd (DCBL) have been instructed to collect the outstanding balance on behalf of our client. The parking charge was issued because the vehicle was parked in contravention of the terms and conditions outlined on the signage as agreed to by the driver when the vehicle entered and parked on private land.

To ensure no further action is taken, you should make immediate payment by scanning the QR code below. Details of other ways to pay are on the reverse of this letter. To discuss your case please call 0203 540 8707.

At this point you are no longer able to appeal the parking charge. Your next opportunity to dispute the charge would be if the matter was taken to court.

You have 14 days from the date of this letter, 28th may 2025, to either pay the outstanding amount or call us to discuss repayment. This case is not subject to high court or bailiff action, however, should you fail to contact us, we will recommend to our client the commencement of legal action against you."

As I said, this is the FIRST letter ever recieved. I wasn't made aware of any parking charge 4 years ago!

With help of ChatGPT, I learnt not to call them, but email them instead, CC-ING Smart Parking complaints too.

My email I sent read:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing as the registered keeper of the vehicle in question, in reference to your letter dated 28 May 2025 regarding an alleged unpaid parking charge from 04 July 2021.

This letter is the first and only correspondence received regarding this matter. I was never made aware of this parking charge until now and have not received any previous notification from Smart Parking or any third party.

I am formally disputing this alleged debt and request that you provide the following information:

1. A copy of the original Parking Charge Notice (PCN).

2. Full photographic evidence of the alleged contravention, including timestamped photos.

3. A full record of all prior correspondence, including when and how it was sent.

4. Proof that your client complied with the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (if they are seeking to hold the keeper liable) and the BPA Code of Practice.

Please confirm that this case will be placed on hold while the requested information is provided and reviewed.

Sincerely,

***

I am aware that no admission of driving the vehicle or being in the area should be made. 

Have I done the right thing? What do I need to do if not, and what is the next course of action? All of the jargon is pretty overwhelming to be honest , and this is the first parking charge that's ever been received at such an escalated stage! It states no appeal is even allowed, which seems unfair as I wasn't even made aware of the original Parking Charge.

Any help would be greatfully received as this is fairly scary.

Many thanks 😊

Gr1pr

As long as Smart Parking have your correct address,  you can leave it for now,  because it wont be resolved at this stage and there is no need to worry or be scared,  it's just a minor dispute over money 

You should definitely IGNORE the powerless debt collectors letters,  especially from DCBL , they only want your money,  but only a naive or foolish person would pay them,  so dont be that person,  you are in the correct place here 

Come back to this thread if or when you receive a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice,  probably from DCB LEGAL   ( not from DCBL ) , or from Moorside Legal 

Or 

If you receive a court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

No need to post or worry about the interim debt collectors letters 

We can assist you at the correct times,  which is not right now,  but good that you asked for advice here

hayleyrums

Gr1pr said:

As long as Smart Parking have your correct address,  you can leave it for now,  because it wont be resolved at this stage and there is no need to worry or be scared,  it's just a minor dispute over money 

You should definitely IGNORE the powerless debt collectors letters,  especially from DCBL , they only want your money,  but only a naive or foolish person would pay them,  so dont be that person,  you are in the correct place here 

Come back to this thread if or when you receive a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice,  probably from DCB LEGAL   ( not from DCBL ) , or from Moorside Legal 

Or 

If you receive a court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

No need to post or worry about the interim debt collectors letters 

We can assist you at the correct times,  which is not right now,  but good that you asked for advice here

Thankyou, i really appreciate your response. I hear you saying ignore them, but I have already emailed them disputing the charge and asking for evidence as that seemed like the correct thing to do, considering this is the first I have heard about any parking charge and I haven't purposely ignored an appeals stage.

Do I just wait for a response and then continue to ignore? A CCJ would hugely impact my career, and this is the first experience for me in the field of PCNs so as you can imagine, I'm a bit of a fish out of water at the minute.

Nellymoser

Check address on your V5C is it correct?

Gr1pr

hayleyrums said:

Gr1pr said:

As long as Smart Parking have your correct address,  you can leave it for now,  because it wont be resolved at this stage and there is no need to worry or be scared,  it's just a minor dispute over money 

You should definitely IGNORE the powerless debt collectors letters,  especially from DCBL , they only want your money,  but only a naive or foolish person would pay them,  so dont be that person,  you are in the correct place here 

Come back to this thread if or when you receive a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice,  probably from DCB LEGAL   ( not from DCBL ) , or from Moorside Legal 

Or 

If you receive a court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

No need to post or worry about the interim debt collectors letters 

We can assist you at the correct times,  which is not right now,  but good that you asked for advice here

Do I just wait for a response and then continue to ignore?

 A CCJ would hugely impact my career, and this is the first experience for me in the field of PCNs so as you can imagine, I'm a bit of a fish out of water at the minute.

Correct 

There is zero chance of a CCJ if you follow our advice here,  do what we tell you and don't miss important deadlines 

You may be new and out of water, like Baby Shark , but volunteers here have been swimming in these shark infested waters for over a decade,  so trust us to keep you safe and CCJ free

hayleyrums

Nellymoser said:

Check address on your V5C is it correct?

Yes, correct and has been for years.

hayleyrums

Gr1pr said:

hayleyrums said:

Gr1pr said:

As long as Smart Parking have your correct address,  you can leave it for now,  because it wont be resolved at this stage and there is no need to worry or be scared,  it's just a minor dispute over money 

You should definitely IGNORE the powerless debt collectors letters,  especially from DCBL , they only want your money,  but only a naive or foolish person would pay them,  so dont be that person,  you are in the correct place here 

Come back to this thread if or when you receive a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice,  probably from DCB LEGAL   ( not from DCBL ) , or from Moorside Legal 

Or 

If you receive a court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

No need to post or worry about the interim debt collectors letters 

We can assist you at the correct times,  which is not right now,  but good that you asked for advice here

Do I just wait for a response and then continue to ignore?

 A CCJ would hugely impact my career, and this is the first experience for me in the field of PCNs so as you can imagine, I'm a bit of a fish out of water at the minute.

Correct 

There is zero chance of a CCJ if you follow our advice here,  do what we tell you and don't miss important deadlines 

You may be new and out of water, like Baby Shark , but volunteers here have been swimming in these shark infested waters for over a decade,  so trust us to keep you safe and CCJ free

Okay, Thankyou.