Letter Before Claim DCB Legal

Jwills1984

Hello, 

Thank you for all the good work you do. 

I received multiple letters from Smart Parking. Ignored as per the advice on this forum. They then sold my debt etc. 

I have now received a Letter Before Claim from DCB. I read the second part of the newbies thread and have sent the standard letter template to info@dcblegal (see below).

I have a specific question about contacting the landowner. The landowner was my dad's local pub, when he was well enough to visit, and when I initially went in with the parking charge letter threatening bailiffs they told me they had sacked smart parking because they were unhappy with the service and that they felt they couldn't do anything about it now. I'm wondering if I should now go in with the LBC and ask them again to give some kind of written waiver (as they are the landowner that DCB are supposedly acting on behalf of). 
Would this help? 
They have no skin in the game as they no longer employ Smart Parking and seemed reasonable enough.

I'm also wondering what the next step is after sending the response below. I know I have requested a 30 day delay but what now? 





Dear Sirs,

Your Ref. 7*************

Proposed Legal Proceedings

Claimant: DCB Legal Ltd

I refer to your 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:

1********

C********

North *****

********

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".

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

Gr1pr

They have definitely NOT sold the alleged debt, it stays with them, always 

DCB legal are acting on behalf of Smart Parking,  not the landowner ( its almost always the private parking company that is contracting out obtaining the outstanding amount to a legal company or solicitors,  standard practice in most cases, including yours  )

Wait for their template reply and file it

Then await the inevitable N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL to arrive in the post in the next couple of months 

Coupon-mad

The landowner was my dad's local pub, when he was well enough to visit, and when I initially went in with the parking charge letter threatening bailiffs they told me they had sacked smart parking because they were unhappy with the service and that they felt they couldn't do anything about it now. 

OK so landowner complaint is too late. So just await the claim, defend it and they'll discontinue in 6 months. Game over!

But this is the urgent thing!

FIGHTBACK ALERT:

Please do the government's Public Consultation. We need every poster to complete this vital survey before the deadline next week.

See this thread:

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. 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 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 over 18 million times per annum. Motorists need your voice added please.

CLOSES ON FRIDAY 26th SEPTEMBER.