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.

crumbs2323

Gr1pr said:

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

I completely forgot about changing it when moving properties just skipped my mind unfortunately, but will not be making this mistake again.

Here is the contents of the letter from BW legal:

“We have been instructed by Britannia Parking Group Limited t/a Britannia Parking in relation to the balance due for the above Parking Charge Notice (“PCN”). The balance due includes the £170.00 of PCN charge(s), inclusive of our client’s debt recovery costs of £70, which were detailed in the PCN and/or our client’s terms and conditions. The terms and conditions were accepted by you when you “parked” / “remained at the contravention location. As you have failed to either make a payment, or raise a valid appeal that resulted in your appeal being upheld, the balance due remains outstanding and we require payment in full by 17 October 2025.

We appreciate this may have been an oversight, or you may have experienced some difficulties that have meant you have not paid our client. We want to work with you to prevent this matter escalating to legal proceedings and if any account information to pay the balance in full, we can find the right repayment plan for you. We have numerous methods available for you to contact us, from our contact centre, webchat and also our Customer Portal. However, if you fail to make a payment or contact us to discuss repayment, or provide reasons for non-payment by 17 October 2025, further collections activity (which could be, where relevant, letters, emails, calls, SMS) will continue.

Pre-approved monthly plan

With our client’s authority, we are able to offer a pre-approved monthly repayment plan; we have considered what disposable income you may have available and the amount has been agreed based on what may be affordable for you. You can repay the balance by a pre-approved monthly instalment amount of £42.50 if set up by 17 October 2025.

What makes it even easier to get set up and resolved is that you do not need to call us to accept this offer. Just log in, or register to use our Customer Portal at portal.bwlegal.co.uk. The pre-approved plan is ready for you to accept on our portal, however if you struggle to register, please call us on 0113 487 0430 and we can assist you.

Next steps if we do not hear from you

If you do not make payment of the balance in full or accept the pre-approved offer by 17 October 2025 then your case may proceed to our legal process and the next letter from us would be a Letter of Claim. We want to assist you and avoid any unnecessary legal action, so it is important that you contact us within the specified time so that we can work with you to resolve your account. Call us today on 0113 487 0430; we are keen to assist you and settle this matter without the need for your case to escalate to the legal process.”

Coupon-mad

No please show the LiveChat not the template letters.