DCBLegal (Euro Car Parks Limited) Letter of Claim for Parking Charge in 2022 - please advise.

ZeroSugar7Up

Hello,

I couple of months ago I started receiving letters from DCBL (representing Euro Car Parks Limited) asking for £170 for a Parking Charge issued back in second half of 2022, of which I have no recollection. These letters also did not include a reason for the charge.

I ignored these letters, and now I have received an LoC from DCBLegal. It looks to be the standard letter which others have already posted elsewhere on this forum. On the back it says that the reason for charge is: "Your Vehicle Was Parked Longer Than The Maximum Period Allowed". From what I understand an actual claim is imminent.

I have read the NEWBIES thread and understand I need to find the DCBLegal solicitor email on these forums and send the LoC response template, but before I do I wanted to also share some particulars to see if there's anything else I should include based on the information below.

1. I am no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle and cannot honestly recall if I was indeed the driver at the time.
2. The car park in question used to belong to a Supermarket which had shutdown a couple of years prior to the charge. Throughout the years since shutting down the car park was in a state of limbo specially coming off the back of Covid, with parking meters having covers over them, outdated signage etc, broken glass in bays, urine etc. But when Supermarket was there - there was a free parking period, though I don't recall how long it was.
3. The date of issue of the Parking Charge was probably the last time I've been to that car park, but currently on google street view the signage looks totally different (Avalon branded), and there is no longer a free parking period.
4. I have no idea how long the vehicle had allegedly overstayed, but as I mentioned to the best of my memory since Supermarket closing the parking meters had covers over them.

I am dreading dealing with these claims, but looking through the forums it seems that I am far from alone. But I am also in half a mind to propose a settlement amount of £35 (the court claim fee from what I understand), but I don't know if it's a good idea to do so in response to LoC, or recommended in general at all.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

Gr1pr

The dcb legal email is in other threads on here,  very common item

Email the LoC response template to DCB Legal 

No offers,  no nothing,  just the template 

Compulsory mediation stage is where any offers could be made,  starting at £10, rising to maybe £20, possibly £30, but no more 

Or if you cannot negotiate a mediation settlement,  they will probably discontinue near the hearing fee deadline 

Coupon-mad

I am no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle

That's irrelevant.

And this is NOT A TIME TO OFFER SETTLEMENT. There will be a Mediation phone call during the claim process where you could offer a fiver or tenner but we wouldn't!

DCB Legal always discontinue defended Euro Car Parks claims before hearings. Bring it on!

ZeroSugar7Up

Thanks for the advice! 

I have sent the LoC template to info@dcblegal.co.uk. I guess I'll sit tight and wait for a response / claim pack to come through. 

I'll keep this thread updated.

SickBrain

I have the exact same LOC for the exact same place that happened again in 2022. I am emailing info@dcblegal.co.uk and will follow this thread in case you have an update. Good luck!

ZeroSugar7Up

Update:

I received a response from DCB Legal, which is the standard response that can be viewed by searching the forum for VATSC06140, claiming that Parking Charges fall outside of scope of VAT.

As a result, I have reported DCB Legal to HMRC as VATSC06140 explicitly states:

Excess charges subject to VAT

Where the terms and conditions make it clear that the driver can continue to use the facilities after a set period upon payment of a further amount without being in breach of the contract - for example, no charge for an initial three hours parking but £70 if that period is exceeded - then the payment will be consideration for use of the facilities and subject to VAT.

Waiting for small claims pack now.

Coupon-mad

And when you search the forum for that VAT acronym?!

  

ZeroSugar7Up

Oops, sorry - yeah I see this is standard response  . I will report to HMRC, and keep this thread updated

ZeroSugar7Up

Updated post above to remove their standard response and reported to HMRC

ZeroSugar7Up

As expected the claim packs has come through. Here's what's on the claim:

I've done the AOS, and am working on paragraph 3 for the defence. I'd love to get some feedback on it please, so far I have something like:

3. The Defendant has no clear recollection of events in 2022, when the site had long been vacated by <supermarket name> and was in a state of neglect following Covid. Parking machines were covered, the car park was poorly maintained, and there was no clear or visible signage to indicate enforceable terms. When trading, <supermarket name> had allowed a free parking period, but it is unknown what, if any, arrangements applied once the site closed. Current signage is materially different, showing terms have since changed.

Many thanks in advance.

Coupon-mad

Yep that'll do. Submit it.

Then - without delay, think if this as 'required' as part of the process so you definitely see it through -  we hope you are able to fit in the couple of hours needed to join us and do the Public Consultation?

We need every poster to complete this vital Consultation before the deadline.

See this thread: -

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-8-weeks-from-11th-july-2025/p1

We understand that you may need some pointers. It looks laborious, we get that. It doesn't matter; no knowledge is needed except re your own experiences so you can call out a scam industry and you'll protect millions of motorists and help change the law.

I've written some guidance on that thread. I have covered almost every question, providing ideas if you agree with our stance on things like DRFs, which we say must be banned.

Ordinary people like you are falling victim to this scam 15 million times per annum. Motorists need your voice added please.

CLOSES ON FRIDAY. Just days to go.