DCB Legal, Parkmaven , WS stage , September

GJR2591

Hi! Firstly some background information. I parked in a car park three times during May (all in the space of 5 days) to go fishing. I have done this for years but they had recently installed cameras and a pay and display system run by Parkmaven. I decided to take my chances the first time (as it was late in the afternoon and the actual venue which owns the car park had closed) and thought I had gotten away with it so parked there again on two other occasions within the next few days. I then recieved the usual letters (both from Parkmaven and DCB Legal) and foolishly ignored all of them, now I have recieved a claim form for £700 (amount claimed, court fees and legal costs). 

Claim form issued on the 26th Nov 2025, so I have until the 15th December to respond if I've understood correctly. Based on the newbie thread, I should submit an AOS and prepare a defence which I am keen to do, but I'm not sure if I actually have a valid defence? Can anyone recommend a defence to use in this case or a template I can use? Even if I have no valid defence, am I right in thinking that I'm better off taking my chances and submitting the AOS rather than paying the amount on the claim form now?

To add to my problems the MCOL website is saying my claim number or password is incorrect (which they aren't) so I can't access the claim online and will have to do it by post. I have contacted their email help desk but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Le_Kirk

With an issue date of 26/11/25 and providing you complete(d) the AoS after 01/12/25 and before 15/12/25 your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 29/12/25

Use the standard defence template.
Check the password you are using as there is often a error with lowercase L being confused with upper case I also between 0 - the number and O the letter.

GJR2591

Thanks! I'll have a look at the defence thread this afternoon. The password does indeed have a capital L at the end, I have tried changing this to lower case with no luck. Looks like I'll just have to do it by post.

ChirpyChicken

try an i etc
if not then email the AOS and then the defence , or just email the defence straight of if ready

Gr1pr

Avoid snail mail,  the chances are a misread typo, otherwise use emails 

Coupon-mad

GJR2591 said:

Thanks! I'll have a look at the defence thread this afternoon. The password does indeed have a capital L at the end, I have tried changing this to lower case with no luck.

Looks like I'll just have to do it by post.

Absolutely NOT!

Black hole. It'll be mislaid by the CNBC.

DO NOT POST IT.

Are you sure there are no O or I in the password?

GJR2591

Hi all, AOS now submitted. I had missed a sneaky capital i in the password. I'll prepare my defence now over the next 2 weeks.

Coupon-mad

Show us the POC please.

GJR2591

POC attached. I was parked there on three seperate times between 25/05 and 30/05. 

GJR2591

DCB Legal Ltd working on behalf of Parkmaven (Claimant)

Coupon-mad

OK so you can include in your para 3 the fact that the Claimant has failed to specify the facts including 3 different dates of 3 purported events. Stating vaguely: 'dates of contravention between two dates' (5 days apart) leaves at least one of the charges unpleaded, and fails to comply with Part 16. The MCOL system is word-count restricted there is no excuse because there would certainly be sufficient room to state 3 dates.