PCN escalated to debt collector– never got original notice, what next?

crumbs2323

I recently received my first letter from debt collectors about a Britannia Parking “contravention” at Broadway Plaza Birmingham in July 2025, asking for £170. I never got the original PCN because it was sent to my old address (I’d updated my licence but not my logbook at the time). The allegation is that my car was parked over the bay lines. In reality, when I arrived another car was straddling the bay to my left and the bay to my right had a bollard blocking its entry, so I had no choice but to park slightly off-centre. It caused no obstruction or loss as the bay to the right was in use due to the bollard. I was also a genuine cinema customer and have the receipt. The debt collectors keep repeating the same points: that the PCN was correctly issued, it was my responsibility to update DVLA, the £70 “debt recovery” is on the signage so it’s enforceable, and that I should either set up a payment plan or risk further collections/legal proceedings. They’ve told me to seek legal advice. I’ve disputed the debt in full and asked for written contact only. Would appreciate advice on how best to proceed.

Gr1pr

Ignore the powerless debt collectors letters,  post 4 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements 

Keep all your paperwork etc for a possible future claim via MCOL 

Come back to this thread if or when you receive a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice,  from a legal company or solicitors

Coupon-mad

Got any emails from the DRA in reply to you? Not the standard daft letters (that you should have ignored) I mean the replies to your dispute. Please show their fob offs  here, redacted of your data, VRM and PCN ref.

If you were phoning them, for goodness sake STOP!

crumbs2323

Sorry guys my mistake. It is actually from a legal firm (BW legal) but this is my first awareness of this fine as PCN letters were sent to my old address.

How does this change the advice?

patient_dream

If it's not a letter before claim, it's a bog standard try on adding a fake £70

You can still ignore it and if you get a letter before claim, come back here

The FAKE £70 added by BWLEGAL is not a LAW, it's called the OSNER SCAM, as debt collector called ZZPS

Don't contact BWLEGAL on the basis of the letter

Coupon-mad

crumbs2323 said:

Sorry guys my mistake. It is actually from a legal firm (BW legal) but this is my first awareness of this fine as PCN letters were sent to my old address.

How does this change the advice?

'Legal firm', LOL! They are acting as debt collectors. Changes nothing.

You don't have a fine.

You didn't phone BW Legal thinking they were a normal law firm who would listen?
If you emailed them show us their replies please.

Did you tell them to erase the old address?

crumbs2323

Coupon-mad said:

crumbs2323 said:

Sorry guys my mistake. It is actually from a legal firm (BW legal) but this is my first awareness of this fine as PCN letters were sent to my old address.

How does this change the advice?

'Legal firm', LOL! They are acting as debt collectors. Changes nothing.

You don't have a fine.

You didn't phone BW Legal thinking they were a normal law firm who would listen?
If you emailed them show us their replies please.

Did you tell them to erase the old address?

Just assumed they were because of the name!

They do not have an email box so it was all in their live chat. I can show you the transcript with my details redacted if that helps? I never phoned them.

I have tried contacting the parking company for some help but no reply yet.

Honestly, I was just using chatGPT to help formulate my responses (after asking it to reply using advice from the newbies page here).

The weird thing is BW legal sent it to my current address (whats on my driving license), but the PCNs all went to my old address (where my logbook is assigned to). My friend still lives in my old address but he never told me about any letters in my name, he is going to check through the house but hes currently abroad so will have to do it when he returns.

Gr1pr

Ensure that your logbook is updated, a legal requirement,  missing letters due to old addresses is your problem,  not theirs. The same applies to your driving licence 

Use the newbies sticky thread in announcements to deal with these matters,  not AI

These legal firms can act as debt collectors,  or as lawyers,  the content of their letters tells you what each letter is

Coupon-mad

Please show us the LiveChat.