Smart Parking / DCB Legal county court claim

BazukaThatVerruca

Hi everyone,

I am the registered keeper and the defendant (my husband was driving and I was not present). We have just received a few days ago, a County Court Claim Form from the Civil National Business Centre (CNBC).

Details: - Claimant: Smart Parking Ltd - Solicitor: DCB Legal Ltd - Location: Cardiff Gate Retail Park – Service Yard 1 - Alleged contravention: stopped for ≈10-15 minutes to let the dogs out for a wee - Car park was almost empty, no one was inconvenienced - Did not see any signs at all - Original PCN was £100, now they want £278.88 including the usual £70 “debt recovery” add-on

I have already acknowledged service on MCOL tonight (ticked “defend all”, left jurisdiction box blank).

I understand this is a “Service Yard 1” – which is a lot of people say is a forbidding area (no parking at any price), so no contract can be formed. Also, I was definitely not the driver on the day, and Smart Parking’s wording is the usual non-POFA rubbish.

Please could one of the regulars give me the latest 2025 template defence (or tell me which paragraphs to add/remove) for a Smart Parking “Service Yard” case where keeper liability does not apply and the keeper was not driving?

Happy to post up redacted photos of the claim form if needed.

Thank you so much in advance – really appreciate the help!

Gr1pr

Post the Issue date from the top right of the claim form below 

Post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below after hiding the VRM details first 

Study the recent Smart Parking DCB Legal group thread 

BazukaThatVerruca

Thanks for the quick response!

The claim date is 24/11/2025

Particulars of claim:
1. The defendant (D) is indebted to the claimant (C) for a parking chage (PC) issued to vehicle ******* at Cardiff Gate Retail Park, Service Yard 1.
2. The date of the contravention is 9/3/25 and the D was issued PC by the claimant.
3. The defendant is pursued as the driver of the vehicle for breach of the terms on the signs (contract). Reason: Unauthorised Parking.
4. In the alternative is pursued as the keeper pursuant to POFA 2012, Schedule 4.
AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS
1. £170 being the total of the PC and damages.
2. Interest at a rate of 8.00% per annum pursuant to s.69 of the County Courts Act 1984 from the date hereof at a daily rate of £0.02 until judgement or sooner payment.
3. Costs and court fees

BazukaThatVerruca

Thanks for the quick response!

The claim date is 24/11/2025

Particulars of claim:
1. The defendant (D) is indebted to the claimant (C) for a parking chage (PC) issued to vehicle ******* at Cardiff Gate Retail Park, Service Yard 1.
2. The date of the contravention is 9/3/25 and the D was issued PC by the claimant.
3. The defendant is pursued as the driver of the vehicle for breach of the terms on the signs (contract). Reason: Unauthorised Parking.
4. In the alternative the Defendant is pursued as the keeper pursuant to POFA 2012, Schedule 4.
AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS
1. £170 being the total of the PC and damages.
2. Interest at a rate of 8.00% per annum pursuant to s.69 of the County Courts Act 1984 from the date hereof at a daily rate of £0.02 until judgement or sooner payment.
3. Costs and court fees

BazukaThatVerruca

Thanks for the quick response!

The claim date is 24/11/2025

Particulars of claim:
1. The defendant (D) is indebted to the claimant (C) for a parking chage (PC) issued to vehicle ******* at Cardiff Gate Retail Park, Service Yard 1.
2. The date of the contravention is ***** and the D was issued PC by the claimant.
3. The defendant is pursued as the driver of the vehicle for breach of the terms on the signs (contract). Reason: Unauthorised Parking.
4. In the alternative the Defendant is pursued as the keeper pursuant to POFA 2012, Schedule 4.
AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS
1. £170 being the total of the PC and damages.
2. Interest at a rate of 8.00% per annum pursuant to s.69 of the County Courts Act 1984 from the date hereof at a daily rate of £0.02 until judgement or sooner payment.
3. Costs and court fees

BazukaThatVerruca

Hi guys.
I'm now able to upload a photo, here it is 😀

Coupon-mad

Just copy the defence from the Smart Parking Group thread. Don't show it here to check (please spare us!). There's nothing to check!

We are trying to avoid hundreds of exact same threads. Read a few first.

No links needed. The forum is awash with same old Smart claims.