ECP DCB LEGAL claim 2025

BigToad31

Brief Backstory:

Parked in a ECP car park and paid for parking. Changed address so didn't get notice until passed to DCBL. DCBL ignored and now received Letter of Claim through from DCB Legal.

Reason for 'Parking Charge' given:

‘No valid Pay And Display/permit Was Purchased’

I have all the evidence to support I paid for parking, no correspondence has mentioned if a time frame was breached just that a valid pay and display was purchased. I have the original ticket from the time of parking as well as bank statements showing a successful payment and also receipts of where I was in the area.

I am about to send them the template as per the NEWBIES thread (template below) so I am posting this to provide further updates (if any). As you can see I have added the advised additional content outlining why I am disputing the charge

Dear Sirs,

Your Ref. XXXXXXXXXX
Claimant: Euro Car Parks Ltd

I refer to your letter of claim.

I confirm that my address for service for the time being - assuming you don't faff about and delay any claim - is as follows, and any older address must be erased from your records:

XXXXXXXX

The alleged debt is disputed and any court proceedings will be vigorously defended.

I am sourcing and seeking independent debt advice and as such, I formally request that this matter be put on hold for an additional 30 days, in accordance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims 2017 ('the PAP').

I note that the amount being claimed has increased by a hugely exaggerated amount which the Government called "extorting money from motorists".

 

Furthermore, I dispute the charge purely based on the fact it is false. The reason(S) given is as follows:

 

‘No valid Pay And Display/permit Was Purchased’

 

I have evidence to support the fact that at the time parking was paid for in full at the date and time stated on all correspondence.

Don't send me your usual blather about that.
I have two questions, and under the PAP I am entitled to specific answers:

1. Am I to understand that the additional £70 represents what you lot dress up as a 'Debt Recovery' fee, and if so, is this nett or inclusive of VAT? If the latter, would you kindly explain why I am being asked to pay the operator’s VAT?

2. With regard to the principal alleged PCN sum: Is this damages, or will it be pleaded as consideration for parking?

Yours faithfully

N.B. Conveniently the LoC is dated 20/08/2025 stating I have 30 days to make payment but the letter only landed on my doorstep on 09/09/2025 meaning I have 10 days to send a response

Coupon-mad

Drop the last 3 paragraphs, which I might remove from the template soon anyway. Then it makes more sense.

Replace them with a concise, time-bound ending, pointing the way forward: what do you want their client to do about it and by when?

Then please do the public consultation which is only open for a couple more weeks.

BigToad31

Coupon-mad said:

Drop the last 3 paragraphs, which I might remove from the template soon anyway. Then it makes more sense.

Replace them with a concise, time-bound ending, pointing the way forward: what do you want their client to do about it and by when?

Then please do the public consultation which is only open for a couple more weeks.

Thanks for the response I've already sent the initial email but will add that in a follow up.

Regarding the public consulatation, is this referring to the survey found here:

consult.communities.gov.uk/off-road-parking-team/private-parking-code-of-practice-consultation/

BigToad31

BigToad31 said:

Coupon-mad said:

Drop the last 3 paragraphs, which I might remove from the template soon anyway. Then it makes more sense.

Replace them with a concise, time-bound ending, pointing the way forward: what do you want their client to do about it and by when?

Then please do the public consultation which is only open for a couple more weeks.

Thanks for the response I've already sent the initial email but will add that in a follow up.

Regarding the public consulatation, is this referring to the survey found here:

consult.communities.gov.uk/off-road-parking-team/private-parking-code-of-practice-consultation/

for refererence I have recalled the email and replaced the last 3 paragraphs with the following:

I request your client review payments made for this vehicle on 16/10/2024 to see that the initial parking fee was settled and satisfied for the registration of my vehicle and to also revoke the proposed legal proceedings against me as this is unjust due to the above evidence I have to support my case. I expect this to be done within the next 30 days from the date of this email.

Coupon-mad

BigToad31 said:

Coupon-mad said:

Drop the last 3 paragraphs, which I might remove from the template soon anyway. Then it makes more sense.

Replace them with a concise, time-bound ending, pointing the way forward: what do you want their client to do about it and by when?

Then please do the public consultation which is only open for a couple more weeks.

Thanks for the response I've already sent the initial email but will add that in a follow up.

Regarding the public consulatation, is this referring to the survey found here:

consult.communities.gov.uk/off-road-parking-team/private-parking-code-of-practice-consultation/

Yes (you didn't need to google for it). I was hoping all posters would have hopefully seen the thread of guidance that's been current on page one or two, since July:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-now-extended-closes-friday-26th-september/p1

We understand that you may need some pointers, 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 to help focus new posters on the issues. I've 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 26th SEPTEMBER.

BigToad31

Just as an update to the thread I'm yet to receive a response from DCB Legal regarding the above in case anyone was wondering

BigToad31

Further update, never got a response from DCB Legal but a court summons has just landed on my door troday. Looks like I'll be compiling a defense.

Gr1pr

BigToad31 said:

Further update, never got a response from DCB Legal but a court summons has just landed on my door troday. Looks like I'll be compiling a defense.

Definitely not a summons,  it's a Money Claim N1SDT pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

Post the Issue date from the top right of the claim form below and also post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below after hiding the VRM details first 

Study the second post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad and also the DEFENCE TEMPLATE   ( no s  ) thread

BigToad31

Gr1pr said:

BigToad31 said:

Further update, never got a response from DCB Legal but a court summons has just landed on my door troday. Looks like I'll be compiling a defense.

Definitely not a summons,  it's a Money Claim N1SDT pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

Post the Issue date from the top right of the claim form below and also post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below after hiding the VRM details first 

Study the second post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad and also the DEFENCE TEMPLATE   ( no s  ) thread

Issue date is 23/09/2025

Images below, i'll have a read of the defence guide

Gr1pr

Do the AOS online first,  then study other recent similar ECP cases and crib their defence draft,  because your claim form is a typical one

Please edit your thread title to something more suitable like 

ECP DCB LEGAL claim 2025

BigToad31

Okay so I will process the AOS on Sunday 28th as that's 5 days from issue.

Reading the defence template I can see paragraphs 1 - 10 are pretty sunstantial. For paragraph 3 I will enter something siomilar to the following:

I the defendant deny that the Claimant is entitled to the sum claimed, or any sum at all.

The Claimant alleges that the Defendant is liable for a parking charge on the basis that no valid pay-and-display ticket or permit was purchased.

I the defendant deny dispute this allegation. On the date in question (16/10/2024), I purchased and displayed a valid pay-and-display ticket for the duration of the stay.

I the defendant retain the original pay-and-display ticket, as well as contemporaneous evidence of payment, including a bank statement confirming the transaction. This documentary evidence demonstrates that the parking fee was duly paid in accordance with the terms of parking.

As the parking fee was correctly paid, there was no breach of contract or parking terms. Accordingly, no debt arises, and the Claimant has no cause of action.

The Defendant further avers that the bringing of this claim despite clear evidence of payment is unreasonable and amounts to an abuse of process.

I the defendant therefore invites the Court to strike out the claim in its entirety and to award the Defendant their costs for having to defend a meritless action.