Aytoun Street Manchester - LOC Replied - DCBLegal

AlphaWhiskey

Hello,

Struggling and looking for guidance and wisdom here.

Received a Euro Car Parks parking charge issued 16/08/2024.

Have previously always gotten away with leaving parking charge chases a couple times in the past, but on 18/06/2025 DCBLegal wrote to me with a letter of claim.

I replied by email on 30/06/2025 with a PDF containing the Coupon-Mad template.

Today I received the below reply, but I'm confused on what to do at this stage in defense having read the newbies thread multiple times and getting lost (I have minor learning difficulties, so in advance thank you for your patience with me)

Am I just to wait for them to issue me the claim now?

DCBLegal email response:

We write in response to your correspondence received in our office.

The parking charge has been issued as the P&D/permit purchased did not cover the date and time of parking. The signs on site would have clearly outlined the terms and conditions of the site.

When parking on private land, the contractual terms of the site are set out on the signs. You are entering a contract and agreeing to the terms by parking and staying on the site. Parking in breach of the terms as stipulated on the signage means that you are then breaking the terms of the contract.

The Notice to Keeper was issued to you on 16/08/2024. A copy is attached. You were afforded the opportunity to; appeal the parking charge, transfer liability to the driver (if it was not you) or make payment. Neither a successful appeal, nor an adequate nomination were received, yet payment remains outstanding.

The Reminder Notice was issued to you on 15/09/2024. A copy is attached. This notice reiterated that payment was outstanding and confirmed that legal action may be taken, and additional costs incurred if the parking charge was not paid.

The amount owed is a genuine pre-estimate of the losses incurred in managing the parking location to ensure compliance with the clearly displayed terms and conditions. However, in Parking Eye Ltd v Beavis, it was found, both at County Court and Court of Appeal level, that appealing a Parking Charge on the basis that the amount is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss is, in fact, not a successful legal defence.

The sum added is a contribution to the actual costs incurred by our Client as a result of your non-payment. Our Client’s employees have spent time and material attempting to recover the debt. This is not our Client’s usual business and the resources could have been better spent in other areas of the business. Had you of paid as per the Contract, there would have been no need for recovery action so the amount due would not have increased. 

For the avoidance of doubt, the outstanding balance consists of £100.00 for the breach in contract as per the signage displayed on site, and £70.00 debt recovery fee. 

The HMRC ‘VAT Supply and Consideration manual’ (VATSC06140), confirmed that parking charge falls out of the scope of VAT.

You now have 30 days from the date of this email/letter to make payment of £170.00. Failure to make payment will result in a Claim being issued against you without any further reference.
Payment can be made via bank transfer to our designated client account: -

• Account Name: DCB Legal Ltd Client Account
• Sort Code: 20-24-09
• Account Number: 60964441

You must quote the correct case reference (REDACTED) when making payment. If you do not, we may be unable to correctly allocate the payment. If further action is taken by us as a result of an incorrect reference being quoted, you will be liable for any further fees or costs incurred.

Alternatively, you can contact DCB Legal Ltd on 0203 838 7038 to make payment over the telephone or online at *DCB web address*

Gr1pr

Yes you wait for the N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL to arrive in the post 

Car1980

The amount owed is a genuine pre-estimate of the losses incurred in managing the parking location to ensure compliance with the clearly displayed terms and conditions. 

However, in Parking Eye Ltd v Beavis, it was found, both at County Court and Court of Appeal level, that appealing a Parking Charge on the basis that the amount is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss is, in fact, not a successful legal defence.

Part 1 is new. Has the work experience kid faffed with their template?

It's either a contractual charge (as initially stated) OR a genuine pre-estimate of loss. It can't be both.

You can very well argue that it is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss if that's what they're arguing it is! You can't argue it is if they are arguing it's contractual.

Pretty moot since they'll just discontinue the claim anyway, but puzzling to watch DCB Legal tie themselves up in knots.

AlphaWhiskey

Thank you both.

I find delight in the legal people here in this community who genuinely get stuck into the tearing apart of language from the "solicitors" firms issuing these charges.

AlphaWhiskey

Claim pack came through.
I'm suffering chronic migraines, so I basically cannot think straight, yet alone get my head around bureaucracy and an abundance of text. It's a blessing that you guys are here to help (being asked the same questions repeatedly). I'm happy to have things explained to me like I'm a child.

At this stage I am only to submit acknowledgement, within the next few days, correct?

Do I use the paper form sent, or am I supposed to register and respond online as per: "money-claim-online-How-to-Acknowledge.pdf"

And in the meantime, I prepare my defense using the template here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6108153/suggested-template-defence-to-adapt-for-all-parking-charge-cases-where-they-add-false-admin-costs/p1

How soon must I send back the defense after submitting acknowledgement?
Is this also on the online claim portal?

As for paragraph 3 of the template, all I can fall back on is a statement of not being able to recall who was driving the vehicle at the time of contravention, to submit in place of myself as the keeper and this is not revealed in the ANPR photograph supplied by Euro Car Parks.

Which stage do we expect them to typically back off and discontinue the claim?

Le_Kirk

With an issue date of 04/09/25 and providing you complete the AoS after 09/09/25 and before 23/09/25

your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 07/10/25

Gr1pr

Login to MCOL and do your AOS online,  today if possible,  or this week sometime when convenient 

Le Kirk has given you the deadlines above 

No paperwork is involved,  file away in a drawer 

Draft your paragraph 2 cant remember ending,  plus paragraph 3, based on other recent similar cases on here over the last 7 weeks 

The POC gives the reason for issuing the pcn, so standard defence,  no Chan and Akande references 

They usually discontinue just before the hearing fee needs paying,  so probably in 6 to 12 months time 

Ps, your password is on show,  unredacted 

Coupon-mad

Just copy & tweak para 3 from any DCB Legal ECP thread this Summer. It is that easy!

AlphaWhiskey

Thanks all, AOS has been complete. I'll get the defense in as soon as I can.