Can I fight to get my money back from dcbl?

Spint

I'm not hoping for much but I wonder if I can try to get my money back.

Like so many other folks I received a PCN through the post from Euro Car Parks Ltd. Mine was back in April 2023. I can't remember whether I appealed or not. I certainly never got a reply. Since then I recently received two letters from dcbl the last one being the final reminder demanding £170.

Unfortunately I was going through severe depression at the time of these letters from dcbl, in fact, these letters made my condition worse. Because of this, my brother made me pay the amount and said I could then challenge them afterwards. I was in no state to argue and he was only trying to help me at the time. I am on the mend now as the antidepressants are kicking in.

The reason for the original fine was because I overstayed the given 2 hour limit by 20 minutes.

What infuriated me was firstly, their sign was next to a zebra-type crossing so you're too busy looking for pedestrians to notice any signs but most importantly is that they have since increased the 2 hour limit to 3 1/2 hours because no doubt the original time given was ridiculous.

The parking area is for a retail park that consists of Aldi, B&M, Argos, KFC, TK Maxx among others. I never gave it a moment's thought that you were only allowed 2 hours because you simply couldn't visit just some of them within that time especially trying on clothes and then grocery shopping at Aldi.

No doubt people or the retailers have since complained hence the increase of the time limit.

I am assuming that East Car Parks Ltd sold these fines to dcbl, but you would have thought that if they had any decency, they would have notified dcbl to cancel/refund the ones that were under 3 1/2 hours.

I want to complain and get my money back but is there any chance? Is it worth complaining to East Car Parks Ltd first or the retailers? How about asking for a goodwill gesture from dcbl or is there more chance of pigs flying? It's the fact that they were ripping off the customers and retailers with the initial stingy time that makes me so mad.

Thanks very much and hope you can help.

Coupon-mad

No. I'm so sorry. Your brother should never have told you to pay this scam, regardless of depression. Nothing you can do. It was wrong advice.

I am assuming that East Car Parks Ltd sold these fines to dcbl, 

Nope. Not allowed.

Car1980

You live and you learn. No decency from these parasites of society.

Don't make your condition worse by letting it eat you up. It's only money. If your car had needed £170 for a part at its last MOT you would have forgotten about it by now. Just think of it as the price of motoring.