SMART PARKING, DCB LEGAL court claim 2025

tir21

Coupon-mad said:

Anyone can say those words on behalf of the Defendant.

Or the Defendant can, which is the norm of course. It's only a two minute call!

Or nobody bothers to answer and nothing is affected. It is sooooo unimportant.

So are you saying this letter can be ignored?

Coupon-mad

No, reply with a phone number but (just so you know) not answering the call affects NOTHING and that info is not passed on to a judge.

But if it were me, I'd answer it and ask why they are wasting her time!

I can't wait to tell a mediator what a scam industry and hopeless case they're supporting.

They are likely to be intelligent people, so surely they must have realised by now and feel ashamed of what they do on behalf of parking claimants (because their job is to make the Defendant fold and pay). If the penny hasn't dropped it flipping well should have by now. I'd be personally embarrassed about my role, if I was them in a parking case. 

Honestly - stand up and be counted - the message needs to filter through to that publicly funded court service until they can't ignore the noise and the common theme with parking cases and start talking about the problem in every meeting they have with management.

tir21

Is it unusual for it to get to this stage? We were hoping for it to be over by now

Gr1pr

Not unusual, standard stuff, part of the long process as mentioned in the 8 steps in the defence template thread in announcements

Any discontinuation comes just before the hearing fee deadline date in several months time

6 to 12 months from the claim form issue date is the norm

You should be researching the over 800 cases in the thread by Umkomaas

Coupon-mad

Yes, if you think this is unusual please re-read the 8 steps. It is normal. Every case goes waaaay further than this tedious call.

tir21

Went through meditation. The claim was for £312. We offered 75 they wanted £170 so it will obviously progress to court stage. Was just wondering would I be able to represent my partner if it did go to court?

Coupon-mad

If your partner attends as well, yes you can speak as their lay rep. I've done it myself. No permission needed but - relax - you won't have a hearing! ALL SMART CLAIMS ARE DISCONTINUED.

The D will pay nothing but tell them NOT TO ANSWER THE PHONE TO DCB LEGAL because - my goodness - you don't offer money and they'll now hound the D for £75 or less and frighten & intimidate to push for 'settlement'. No.

Bring on the Discontinuance.

NO PAYING, NO ANSWERING!

Gr1pr

No, but there are 2 options for you whilst with your partner, in court, if it ever got that far. ( many don't. , especially Smart Parking cases. ! ) what makes you believe that it would actually get to a hearing. ?

Lay representative, or , Mckenzie friend

tir21

She is so concerned about having to take time off work that she'd rather rule out any possibility of it going to court and just paying now. If I persuade her not to and it went to court and we lost and paid the £312 I would be in big trouble

Gr1pr

Its not going to a court hearing, but even if it did and she lost, it would be £100 less than what you said above