Running Out of Steam – Need Motivation to Take on I Park/DCBL

ribenacat346

I know I’ll probably get told off for starting a new thread on this, but I’ve genuinely spent hours today (and on previous days) reading through loads of similar posts. I’m really grateful for all the info that’s been shared, but just want to say for anyone new to this, it’s a massive overload - especially if you’ve never dealt with anything like this before. I know it’s meant to be stressful to put people off, and I keep flipping between wanting to fight it and just paying the £160 to avoid the stress over the next few months. It’s really hanging over me.

Here’s my situation as simply as I can put it:

• On 31st March 2025 I got a letter from DCBL about a £160 charge from I Park Services. It’s for Staithes Car Park, dated 10th April 2022.
• They’d been writing to an old address and used a tracing service to find me at my current one.
• The charge is for a 16-minute overstay (anyone who’s been to Staithes will know the steep hill sprint if you realise you’re late).
• I updated my driving licence when I moved in 2023, but completely forgot to update my V5C. I’ve sorted that now, but I’m worried how it looks if it ends up at a hearing.
• I ignored the original letters in 2022 from I Park - obviously wouldn’t have if I knew what I know now.
• After updating my address I asked for copies of all previous letters. They asked for ID which I pushed back on, and I think I annoyed them. They eventually said they’d send everything without ID but never followed through.
• I contacted my MP who wrote to both I Park and DCBL. It didn’t help much, but I Park did send him all the details - reg plate, date, time, location - which they wouldn’t send to me without ID. That feels like a GDPR breach?
• I’m now at the Notice of Intended Legal Action stage from DCBL only.

I’m really overwhelmed and struggling to find the energy to fight this. I’m angry at the process and the way it’s set up, but it’s mentally exhausting and I’m worried I won’t have time over the next few months to do this properly. I’m also scared I don’t actually have a defence - I made an honest mistake and didn’t update my V5C, plus I ignored the original letters. I’m worried that means I’ll lose in court.

£160 is already a big amount for me and I can’t afford it to go up any more.

Please reply with kindness. I just need a bit of support and maybe a nudge of motivation to push through this.

Gr1pr

You did the correct thing in starting a new thread,  no problem there 

Do I Park and the other companies involved have your correct address for the service of papers   ? Ensure that they do, because you don't want court claim papers going to an old address 

Are you at the DCBL debt collector stage   ?  Or the Letter of Claim stage  ? , or the N1SDT court claim pack stage   ?

There have been several recent discontinuations by I Park and DCB Legal,  so never got to court 

Stick with the advice from here,  do NOT pay,  we will guide you 

Umkomaas

Here's a 'motivator' to read. Some recent I Park cases there. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations/p1 

I’m now at the Notice of Intended Legal Action stage from DCBL only.

You're not at any court stage, at the moment. Wait for a Letter Of/Before Claim from the PPC's solicitors (likely DCB Legal), or a County Court Claim via the Northampton CNBC, come back to this thread for further advice. To get ahead of the curve, you could prepare yourself by reading the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post, and the Template Defence Announcement, both situated near the top of the forum thread list. 

As long as you follow the required procedures, the likelihood is that I Park and DCB Legal will discontinue somewhere along the line before any court hearing takes place. And it really is just making sure you hit court deadlines and send the necessary documentation when required.  

Your Defence (short of a couple of paras describing your parking situation) is already written for you; if you get as far as having to submit a Witness Statement later in the process, there are links to exemplar WS. The Template Defence Announcement contains an 8-step walkthrough of actions needed to be a constant aide memoire to ensure you miss no vital stage.

ribenacat346

Gr1pr said:

Do I Park and the other companies involved have your correct address for the service of papers   ? Ensure that they do, because you don't want court claim papers going to an old address 

I emailed I Park with a data rectification request to update to my current address (at the same time as asking for all previous correspondence). Checking through emails, I don't think I have sent the same to DCBL - should I do so? or is it advised not to speak to them at all? and if yes, is it just another general data rectification request I sent to them (obv still being careful not to admit liability etc.)
They have found my new address through the mentioned tracing, although guessing they could be sneaky and still send to old address?

Gr1pr said:

Are you at the DCBL debt collector stage   ?  Or the Letter of Claim stage  ? , or the N1SDT court claim pack stage   ?

Latest letter I've had is DCBL 'Notice of Intended Legal Action' from 17th June. Hence feeling the last min pressure to just pay up and make it all go away - as I imagine the next letters will follow shortly! 



Thank you both for your kind replies Gr1pr and Umkomaas - I will await further letters and do my best to understand the info on the newbies thread in the mean time! 

Gr1pr

Copy the data Rectification Notice to the DPO at DCBL, By email 

Wait for the Letter of Claim from DCB Legal giving you 30 days notice,  then email the Loc response to DCB Legal,  also confirming the correct address for the service of papers 

Car1980

Latest letter I've had is DCBL 'Notice of Intended Legal Action' from 17th June. Hence feeling the last min pressure to just pay up and make it all go away - as I imagine the next letters will follow shortly! 

3 letters from DCBL and 2 from DCB Legal is the norm.

The court claim is simply logging in online, filing your defence and filling in the directions questionnaire. Mediation is "complulsory" but nothing happens if you don't answer. Then they discontinue.

Car1980

• I ignored the original letters in 2022 from I Park - obviously wouldn’t have if I knew what I know now.

Why? I would have done and would do today. The only options are pay or defend a court claim that will be discontinued.