Assistance with dealing with ParkingEye & DCBL

VelvetCircuit7

I’m supporting a lady with a brain injury and mobility issues who holds a Blue Badge. She received several parking tickets from ParkingEye even though she displayed her Blue Badge. I contacted them on her behalf, explained her disability, and they agreed in writing as a gesture of good will that if she paid £120 the matter would be closed.

When she went to pay, the online system only allowed her to pay £60. She took a screenshot of this, and I emailed ParkingEye asking how she could pay the remaining £60. They never responded.

Instead, she was sent a Letter Before County Court Claim. We filled out the Reply Form exactly as instructed, attached proof of her £60 payment and the screenshot, and explained again what had happened. This was ignored.

The case has now been passed to DCBL, who are demanding £1,530. I’ve spoken to DCBL multiple times, who admit they can see the error and understand the circumstances, but say they can’t get in touch with ParkingEye and will keep chasing the £1,530.

This is causing huge stress for the lady, who has done everything in good faith. It also raises bigger concerns about ParkingEye’s practices: ignoring correspondence, not honouring agreements, and letting debt collectors pursue vulnerable people for inflated amounts.

Has anyone experienced something similar, or know the best route to challenge this?

Thanks in advance

Coupon-mad

Instead, she was sent a Letter Before County Court Claim. We filled out the Reply Form exactly as instructed, attached proof of her £60 payment and the screenshot, and explained again what had happened. This was ignored.

The case has now been passed to DCBL, who are demanding £1,530.

That sum of money sounds like she failed to defend a claim and has HCEOs after her. Show us the letters demanding 4 figures, redacting her data, VRM, Claim/Pcn number and all refs.

VelvetCircuit7

Coupon-mad said:

Instead, she was sent a Letter Before County Court Claim. We filled out the Reply Form exactly as instructed, attached proof of her £60 payment and the screenshot, and explained again what had happened. This was ignored.

The case has now been passed to DCBL, who are demanding £1,530.

That sum of money sounds like she failed to defend a claim and has HCEOs after her. Show us the letters demanding 4 figures, redacting her data, VRM, Claim/Pcn number and all refs.

I have attached the redacted letter. But how has she failed if they sent her a gesture of goodwill? All very confusing

James_Poisson

Well the error seems to be that they had two PCN's in the system but the others had been sent to debt collectors so wouldn't show up on their portal, then one of the two you had a communication about dropped into the debt collection portal too leaving one at the discounted rate.

I think that the error on your friends part is that she is probably thinking her blue badge gives her free parking everywhere, it doesn't, especially in private car parks, and increasingly with cash strapped councils not in authority car parks either.

She must check the signage in the car parks for the terms and conditions!

There may be more of these in the pipeline, Parking Eye are greedy scammers like most PPC's there will be little sympathy there!

This now looks potentially like an expensive mess, Coupon-Mad will be your best bet on here to wade through this with you.

VelvetCircuit7

James_Poisson said:

Well the error seems to be that they had two PCN's in the system but the others had been sent to debt collectors so wouldn't show up on their portal.

I think that the error on your friends part is that she is probably thinking her blue badge gives her free parking everywhere, it doesn't, especially in private car parks, and increasingly with cash strapped councils not in authority car parks either.

This now looks potentially like an expensive mess, Coupon-Mad will be your best bet on here to wade through this with you.

Yes, exactly this which is why I got involved to try help her sort it. But the fact that ParkingEye sent her a gesture of goodwill for the tickets, we used the reference number they provided, and yet here we are. If there were a telephone number to call, I would have done that as soon as the payment didn't accept the full amount and we wouldn't be here now, but that would be too easy 

Coupon-mad

That letter says she has 9 PCNs. It's not an expensive mess as she won't be likely to pay a penny. For goodness sake don't try to ring! You don't speak to these sharks on the phone - eeeek!

Look at Trustpilot reviews to see why not!

Just ignore that letter and wait for the LBC.

Is there a page 2 listing all the PCNs? Show us that. They have added £630 for a couple of Template letters. Only in parking.

Even a LBC only costs a fiver from other non-parking legals!

This looks like extortion to right thinking people. Wake up & smell the rat, MHCLG.

VelvetCircuit7

That is ridiculous! This is what was attached to the letter, she has received 2 now. 

Coupon-mad

Coupon-mad said:

That letter says she has 9 PCNs. It's not an expensive mess as she won't be likely to pay a penny. For goodness sake don't try to ring! You don't speak to these sharks on the phone - eeeek!

Look at Trustpilot reviews to see why not!

Just ignore that letter and wait for the LBC.

Is there a page 2 listing all the PCNs? Show us that. They have added £630 for a couple of Template letters. Only in parking.

Even a LBC only costs a fiver from other non-parking legals!

This looks like extortion to right thinking people. Wake up & smell the rat, MHCLG.

VelvetCircuit7 said:

That is ridiculous! This is what was attached to the letter, she has received 2 now. 

Yep so you can see they've added NINE fees! £630 for a couple of letters!

Extortion in anyone's book. £900 (without fees) would be more than enough for a DRA to be chasing in the normal way with a % cut, which is what DCB Ltd do when they act as a DRA for dentists, vets and nursery schools for similar size alleged debts.

Only on parking do they get away with adding money that isn't even specified on signs and that's because the industry themselves invented this model and are currently passing it off to the Government as if this is normal.

It's especially abnormal (and clearly LIIKELY to cause poor conduct) when a trader stands to make more than face value of a 'debt' by letting it go to this stage.

It's also not normal (and clearly LIKELY to cause poor conduct) for a DRA to only make money when they engage in unfair treatment of consumers, by only or primarily existing to demand payment because they make no money otherwise.

No-win-no-fee debt collection isn't illegal but is plainly wrong in this sector unless the DRAs add nothing and instead take a % cut, as DCB Ltd do in other sectors.

MHCLG:
This must be banned completely. If the Government can't see this, for God's sake ask the FCA and CMA. Jeez!

VelvetCircuit7

Coupon-mad said:

Coupon-mad said:

That letter says she has 9 PCNs. It's not an expensive mess as she won't be likely to pay a penny. For goodness sake don't try to ring! You don't speak to these sharks on the phone - eeeek!

Look at Trustpilot reviews to see why not!

Just ignore that letter and wait for the LBC.

Is there a page 2 listing all the PCNs? Show us that. They have added £630 for a couple of Template letters. Only in parking.

Even a LBC only costs a fiver from other non-parking legals!

This looks like extortion to right thinking people. Wake up & smell the rat, MHCLG.

VelvetCircuit7 said:

That is ridiculous! This is what was attached to the letter, she has received 2 now. 

Yep so you can see they've added NINE fees! £630 for a couple of letters!

Extortion in anyone's book. £900 (without fees) would be more than enough for a DRA to be chasing in the normal way with a % cut, which is what DCB Ltd do when they act as a DRA for dentists, vets and nursery schools for similar size alleged debts.

Only on parking do they get away with adding money that isn't even specified on signs and that's because the industry themselves invented this model and are currently passing it off to the Government as if this is normal.

It's especially not normal when a trader stands to make more than face value of a 'debt' by letting it go to this stage.

It's also not normal for a DRA to only make money when they engage in unfair treatment of consumers, by ONLY existing to demand payment.

MHCLG:
This must be banned completely. If the Government can't see this, for God's sake ask the FCA and CMA. Jeez!

How they can get away with this is unbelievable!

You said to wait for an LBC, but she received and LBC from ParkingEye with a reply form, we sent that back and then she got this letter from DCB Ltd. What do we do now?

Coupon-mad

Wait for the DCB Legal LBC.

But pleeeeease do the government Survey this week. Takes an evening but it closes Friday. These add-ons must be banned outright.

FIGHTBACK ALERT - just days to go!

Please do the government's Public Consultation. We need every poster to complete this vital survey before the deadline. 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 THIS FRIDAY. For inspiration read the Which? response they've just published:

https://www.which.co.uk/policy-and-insight/article/private-parking-code-of-practice-which-response-aMnXo1g7Dr2F

Coupon-mad

Just had another thought: ask her to sign & date a letter allowing you to make complaints on her behalf and make an urgent complaint and plea for help to her constituency MP.

Set out the facts and her vulnerability and say that DCB Ltd are in breach of 'rules about vulnerable debtors' and ask the MP to please send a complaint x 3 on her behalf to:

- ParkingEye

and

- the BPA

and

- the Credit Services Association.

Make sure you ask the MP to include this:

"This is causing huge stress for the lady, who has done everything in good faith. It also raises bigger concerns about ParkingEye’s practices: ignoring correspondence, not honouring agreements, and letting debt collectors pursue vulnerable people for inflated amounts."