DCBL Notice of Debt Recovery - Unpaid parking charge £170

penniejane

Hi - I have read the NEWBIES section but I have a question or two.

1. When I received the NODR letter today, I did call DCBL as I wanted to know how to get hold of their client, in this case Euro Car Parks ltd.  Have I made a major FU by calling them?  I also gave them my email address (face palm).  (The date of contravention occurred in December 2022.  I recall appealing, but I cannot find evidence, especially as at the time I was moving home).
2. I have emailed the manager of the location premises to ask them to cancel, with a cover note saying I am a regular customer and reasons for overstaying on that date - but am I too far into the process?  I don't think I am, if I am reading NEWBIES correctly.
3. Now, I just ignore?

penniejane

This is my letter via email:

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to complain directly to the store manager for the harassment I am receiving from Euro Car Parks, who act as agents for your free car park.  They sent me a letter shortly after the event below, which I appealed.  However, I have no evidence to show that I appealed and today 01/11/2025, I have received a letter from dcbl Direct Collection Bailiffs ltd whereby they are seeking the sum of £170.  I have tried searching my letters and emails to trace my appeal, to no avail.

On 07/12/2022, I had been driving for over an hour when I became unwell shortly before reaching my new home on Pinehurst Estate.  I had begun feeling dizzy and very weak – I have myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), which can affect me at any time – so as advised by my daughter, I pulled in to your garage.  It was clear that I needed to fully rest, and I was unsure of where to park, other than at the front area of your garage.  My main concern at that time was to get to a place of warmth where I could sit down to try and gather my energy in order to recover enough to complete my journey.  I have no idea how long it took me to recover, but my daughter bought something from the garage while I rested in McDonalds, and then my daughter sat with me.  I now realise, being a regular customer at your garage, that McDonalds has its own car park where I could have parked, but at the time, I did not see it and, as explained previously, I was not well enough to make adequate decision.

Please could I appeal to you to investigate this charge?  I am registered as disabled, and have a valid Blue Badge, and at the time of this event, I was quite unwell.  Again, as I said previously, since moving to Pinehurst, I am a regular customer to your garage, either when walking my dog and popping in for one thing or another or topping up my car once or twice a month with petrol.  I would like to think that BP would understand that this event was unprecedented.

Please would you give this matter your full and immediate attention.

Your sincerely

Gr1pr

1)  never contact the powerless debt collectors,  lesson learned

2) correct,  never too late to try plan A,  especially before any court claim using MCOL 

3) correct,  you await an LoC from DCB LEGAL in the post