County Court Claim Form - Smart Parking Limited / DCB Legal Ltd - Defence

big_mover90

Evening all - first post here, looking for some assistance.

I received a PCN for not paying to stay in hotel car park on 12/10/21. At the time, I was a guest, checked in to the Dolphin Hotel - St Ives, for business purposes. My booking at the hotel was as follows - checking in on 11/10/21 and check out on 13/11/2021. 

Upon entering the hotel I registered my vehicle on both occasions. Nevertheless I received a PCN, I initially tried calling the hotel multiple times, but had no response. I then requested the hotel to address the issue via email - although had no response. My my wife eventually spoken with the hotel on the phone and we were advised it would be sorted. I did not hear anymore on the matter thereafter, until mid-2025, when I started receiving various letters from debt collectors, to which I ignored.

I have now received a county court claim form dated 27/10/2025 (as per below) and since reading the great advice within the forum, submitted my Acknowledgement of Service on 04/11/2025. The AoS was received through the MCOL on 05/11/2025.

I am now asking for some assistance with writing my defence. Has anyone fought a similar case with DCB Legal / Smart Parking? 

Thanks in advance

hxxps://photos.app.goo.gl/48P6z5v44Rq6aAeEA

Coupon-mad

Just copy the defence by @Micky2022 as they are all the same, save for the date of parking.

No need for us to check it. 

These Smart Parking cases are literally all the same and we've done this hundreds of times this year already. you'll have 11 paragraphs and in 2026, DCB Legal will discontinue before the hearing.

big_mover90

Thanks for your prompt response @Coupon-mad. 

I have amended paragraph#3 in readiness for uploading to MCOL. Any comments before uploading:
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3. Referring to the Particulars of Claim, paragraph 1 is denied. The Defendant is not indebted to the Claimant. Although the Defendant is the registered keeper, paragraphs 3 and 4 are denied. The Defendant is not liable and has been provided with no evidence of any breach of clear or prominent terms. The Defendant denies the claim in its entirety. Any stay at Best Western Dolphin Hotel was as a guest and the vehicle registered accordingly. Given the passage of more than four years and the lack of detail in the inadequate Particulars of Claim, it is impossible for the Defendant to provide a full response. Signage at the material time may also have been unclear or insufficient. The claimed sum is grossly inflated, as no private parking charge can lawfully amount to £170, and no loss or damages were incurred.

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Kind Regards

Coupon-mad

No need to show us a Smart defence as long as you have the extra para 4 (again please don't show us; hundreds of cases are here).