Smart Parking DCB Legal County Court Claim

HateSmartParking

I’ve read Post 2 and reviewed all eight steps in the Newbies thread before posting 

 I was just checking if the answer I’ve written for Question D1 is appropriate 

Will it make any difference to the outcome @Gr1pr? 

H : )

This claim involves disputed material facts, including non-compliance of the Notice to Keeper with the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Schedule 4), and therefore is not suitable for determination without a hearing.

Coupon-mad

That'll do.   

HateSmartParking

Hiya  Coupon-mad and folks..

Quick update.

I’ve been given a telephone mediation appointment on 12 March 2026.

I’m not sure what the best thing is to say during the mediation call.

If I offer £0, will this automatically go to court?

I really don’t want the anxiety of having to attend a court hearing.

Part of me just wants to pay up just to get them off my back.  (they've been on it for over 4 years)

I thought I read on here that DCB Legal may discontinue in early 2026, are they? will that make them go away lol

best wishes 

H: )

Coupon-mad

I’m not sure what the best thing is to say during the mediation call.

That's disappointing, given that I include no less than 3 examples linked in the 8 steps.

Of course you don't offer money nor spend more than 5 minutes on this call - you should be laughing and telling the Mediator: "it's a scam and hugely exaggerated claim and will be discontinued so why is their service flipping well propping up DCB Legal cases? Tell DCB Legal I have them sussed and to hurry up and discontinue the claim, Mr/Mrs Mediator. Thanks. Now I have better things to do and must wash my hair. Byeeee!"

They'll discontinue when they always do.

Read half a dozen examples in Umkomaas' DCB Legal discontinuances thread. You'll see when it happens. It WILL happen.

HateSmartParking

Thanks for the reply. Coupon-mad

Please don’t be disappointed. I have read the 8 steps over and over..

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. The point I was trying to make is this.

If I offer £0 at mediation and say what you suggested,

“it is a scam and a hugely exaggerated claim, so hurry up and discontinue the claim, Mr/Mrs Mediator.”

Is there still any risk this could go to a court hearing that I would need to attend?

Thank you!

 H : )

Gr1pr

If it did eventually go to a court hearing  ( very unlikely. )  then YES you definitely should attend  !

But given their track record in the thread by Umkomaas,  its not going to happen,  it will be discontinued by summer 

Coupon-mad

HateSmartParking said:

Thanks for the reply. Coupon-mad

Please don’t be disappointed. I have read the 8 steps over and over..

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. The point I was trying to make is this.

If I offer £0 at mediation and say what you suggested,

“it is a scam and a hugely exaggerated claim, so hurry up and discontinue the claim, Mr/Mrs Mediator.”

Is there still any risk this could go to a court hearing that I would need to attend?

Thank you!

 H : )

No because it's Smart Parking & DCB Legal. Paying a legal rep to attend hearings isn't in that business model.

Trust us and the 755 examples collated by @Umkomaas

  

HateSmartParking

ok thank you ..

trust the process 😊

Coupon-mad

HateSmartParking said:

ok thank you ..

trust the process 😊

And I do! 

HateSmartParking

Hiya, Just finished a telephone mediation appointment.

It went a bit like this:

Mediator:
“Hi This is a confidential call to see if an agreement can be made to avoid a hearing. If agreed, I'll make it legally binding. If not, it proceeds to a judge. Claim is for one parking charge notice. Amount now £313.64 with interest/fees. Their opening offer to settle today is £250.

Defendant:
“I dispute the claim in full. Smart Parking’s notice to keeper didn't comply with POFA and the claim is hugely exaggerated. I suggest Smart Parking discontinue it . But just to get these monkeys off my back, willing to offer £20. And can you also tell me the full name and position of Smart Parking's representative?”

Mediator:
“Okay, I'll go back to them, call you back in a few minutes.”

Mediator:
“Hello, the name of the representative was Elliot Norman. And his position was a Litigation Associate. I gave them your counter of £20. They can't accept but lowered from £250 to £170. That's their counter.”

Defendant:
“No.”

Mediator:
“Okay, we'll mark today as not settled. You'll get email confirmation. Follow any court directions. Was that it for today?”

Defendant:
“Yes.”

Mediator:
“ok Have a nice day. Take care. Bye-bye bye bye

So mediation ended not settled, and the claim now proceeds….

What do you think I will hear next from the court?

I'm hoping for a Notice of Discontinuance Coupon-mad : )