PARKINGEYE & DEBT COLLECTION BAILIFFS LTD

Juliety

Subject: Dispute Regarding Parking Charge – First Notice Received via DCBL

Dear Sir/Madam,

I recently received an enforcement letter from Debt Collection Bailiffs Ltd (DCBL) demanding payment of £170.00, allegedly relating to a Parking Charge Notice issued by ParkingEye in July 2024.

This DCBL letter is the very first correspondence I have ever received regarding this matter. No prior notice, reminder, or opportunity to appeal was received before this stage.

I fully acknowledge that we did park at the hotel car park in question, where we had lunch. Unfortunately, we forgot to enter our registration details into the hotel’s parking system. Had we received the original Parking Charge Notice, I would have promptly appealed and provided proof of our visit to the hotel, which would likely have resulted in a reduced or cancelled charge.

Since receiving the DCBL letter, I have written to both ParkingEye and DCBL, by email and recorded delivery, requesting that:

• All collection activity be suspended immediately while the matter is investigated.

• Written confirmation be provided that the account has been placed on hold pending review.

• Full evidence and documentation be supplied, including:

  • Copies of all prior correspondence allegedly sent to me

  • The original Parking Charge Notice issued by ParkingEye Ltd

  • Evidence of the alleged contravention (photographs and timestamps)

  • Written confirmation of DCBL’s authority to collect on behalf of ParkingEye

ParkingEye responded stating that they cannot consider an appeal because the matter has been passed to DCBL.
DCBL in turn advised that I must contact their client, ParkingEye.

This circular response has left me unable to resolve the issue, and I am extremely concerned that this enforcement demand is the first and only communication I have received regarding the charge.

I would appreciate clarification on the proper process: if an appeal deadline is missed, is it standard practice for ParkingEye to refer the debt directly to DCBL without issuing any further correspondence or reminders?

I am at a loss as to how to proceed, and the situation feels very unfair.
Has anyone encountered a similar issue, or can you advise on the next appropriate steps?

ChirpyChicken

Yes ignore DCBL
Await the court claim

Juliety

Hi ChirpyChicken - when  you say await the court claim - does that not mean more cost - £170.00 is a hugh amount the small coffee we had in the hotel!!  Please explain when you say await the court claim?  Thanks 

Le_Kirk

Complain to the hotel and require them to have it cancelled - Plan A in the NEWBIE sticky.  Don't automatically assume it was your fault for forgetting about inputting your VRM into their keypad; it could have been faulty; it cannot have been very prominent if you weren't reminded about it as you walked to the hotel reception and/or restaurant and/or coffee bar.  If it is that important that you had to do it, surely the hotel staff should have reminded you!

ChirpyChicken

Juliety said:

Hi ChirpyChicken - when  you say await the court claim - does that not mean more cost - £170.00 is a hugh amount the small coffee we had in the hotel!!  Please explain when you say await the court claim?  Thanks 

Because unless you get a landowner cancelation(unlikely to happen)  its the only way of dealing with it at this stage, that is the only option
Sorry to say you wasted your money sending a letter by recorded delivery as non of that will achieve anything

Car1980

You contacted them a little naively. Don't talk to debt collectors. Don't waste money on signed for delivery. There is no genuine appeals process and there is no fairness. It's only an invoice at the end of the day. 

They quite often "forget" to post out charges because they can immediately jump to £170 and lots of people are daft enough to pay, thinking they must just have missed the original letter.

But double check your car's V5 form is up to date for your current correct address.

Wait for a court claim from DCB Legal, which you will need to defend (all online and very easy). Virtually all tickets are discontinued as they just use the court system as a cheap debt collection service. Most people just pay when they see a court claim form. Don't be one of them.

Juliety

Hi Carl1980. Virtually all tickets are discontinued as they just use the court system as a cheap debt collection service. Most people just pay when they see  claim form. Don't be one of them.

just want to understand when you say use the court system as a cheap debt collection service?   If this is pursued does the fine not increase and I eventually end up paying more?

ChirpyChicken

Juliety said:

Hi Carl1980. Virtually all tickets are discontinued as they just use the court system as a cheap debt collection service. Most people just pay when they see  claim form. Don't be one of them.

just want to understand when you say use the court system as a cheap debt collection service?   If this is pursued does the fine not increase and I eventually end up paying more?

1. it isn't a fine.  Please stop calling that
2. Why do you assume you would lose the case (by saying you would pay)-  Please explain this
3. take the advice you have been given

Juliety

Re-worded version:

Thank you all for your advice. It’s absolutely scandalous that this kind of behaviour is even permitted. I called DCB Ltd to discuss the matter and was spoken to in an extremely abrupt and unprofessional manner. When I asked for a transcript or recording of the call, I was told this would only be possible after paying the £170.00 demand — which is outrageous.

Since then, I’ve contacted the FCA (who confirmed they can’t intervene in private parking issues), but they did advise me to reach out to the Credit Services Association. Audrey there recommended that I email them to report the call, and also suggested I contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to request access to the call recording, as I noted both the time and the staff member’s name.

I’m absolutely furious about this whole situation — it’s ridiculous. These parking companies should have a proper system where, if the first correspondence isn’t received, a recorded letter is sent, rather than passing the matter straight to a debt collection company issuing threatening “Can’t Pay, We’ll Take It Away!”-style letters. For anyone who suffers from anxiety, this approach is appalling.

The more I read, the more convinced I am that I won’t be paying this. I’ve seen references to template letters — could someone point me to where I can find them on this site?

Thanks again to everyone for your advice — I’m feeling much calmer now (instead of just completely fed up!).

Gr1pr

The government has been trying to change the system to a regulated system fir around 8 years or more,  especially when the Private Parking Bill 2019 was given Royal Assent in February 2019, but it's still in the process of the MHCLG trying to sort out a mandatory code of practice,  with a recent public consultation 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-2025-now-lets-see-what-happens/p1

You should also note that Coupon-mad is on the steering committee and has been helping to fight the system for 15 years or more,  including appearing on tv with Alex's Konran several years ago 

So we are well aware of the shortcomings of the incorrect,  corrupt, money grabbing system and abuse of the Money Claim system by Private Parking companies and Bulk Litigators 

Any template letters are in the 7 announcements at the very top of this forum, pluse read the up to date MSE advice by clicking on its advert  too, it was updated recently with the help of coupon mad 

prowla

Juliety said:

Re-worded version:

Thank you all for your advice. It’s absolutely scandalous that this kind of behaviour is even permitted. I called DCB Ltd to discuss the matter and was spoken to in an extremely abrupt and unprofessional manner. When I asked for a transcript or recording of the call, I was told this would only be possible after paying the £170.00 demand — which is outrageous.

Since then, I’ve contacted the FCA (who confirmed they can’t intervene in private parking issues), but they did advise me to reach out to the Credit Services Association. Audrey there recommended that I email them to report the call, and also suggested I contact the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to request access to the call recording, as I noted both the time and the staff member’s name.

I’m absolutely furious about this whole situation — it’s ridiculous. These parking companies should have a proper system where, if the first correspondence isn’t received, a recorded letter is sent, rather than passing the matter straight to a debt collection company issuing threatening “Can’t Pay, We’ll Take It Away!”-style letters. For anyone who suffers from anxiety, this approach is appalling.

The more I read, the more convinced I am that I won’t be paying this. I’ve seen references to template letters — could someone point me to where I can find them on this site?

Thanks again to everyone for your advice — I’m feeling much calmer now (instead of just completely fed up!).

You are dealing (or trying to) with unregulated and unscrupulous companies whose whole business model is sending out ersatz fines (ersatz = fake; they're just invoices for breaking a supposed contract) to people for transgressing their contrived rules.

It's not your fault - they just want your money and attempting to appeal to them is typically a forlorn cause.

The suggestion of contacting the business you patronised is a good one; the parking company is their agent (if you paid by credit card, the transaction would be on your statements).

When I say "supposed contract", there is an assertion that you implicitly accept their terms when you use the car park in question, but that is not the full story and there are obligations on their side regarding signage, "rules" and so-on; many times their signage doesn't meet the requirements which causes them to fail.

Just remember that you are not dealing with reasonable people.

The folks here have advice ready-to-hand on how to deal with the matter; yours is not a unique case.

An often repeated item of advice is to never identify the driver (though you may have done that in your aforementioned correspondence); if they've sent their demand (with threats) to "the keeper", then deal with it as the keeper and don't give them any information about you or identify the driver.

One of the ironies is that the parking operators ostensibly are acting on behalf of the businesses for whose the car parks exist, but I find them offputting and will often go elsewhere instead.