DCB legal threat of county court proceedings

mrg1968

Hi there, I'm looking for some advice please that's specific to my case - I've already worked myself through the advice listed here for other cases, although this hasn't worked it seems and my actions has perhaps worsened the prospects of not having to pay.

I received a PCN from Smart Parking (UK) Limited on 20.01.24 for being nine-minutes over my parking ticket. I was initially harassed by Debt Recovery Plus, which I stupidly phoned and received proof of the car entering and leaving the car park via email.

No communication was then had for over a year, until a letter from DCBL on 12/11/25 for a 'NOTICE OF DEBT RECOVERY - Unpaid parking charge £170.' I initially ignored this letter having read advice on MSE.

I then received a FINAL REMINDER letter from DCBL on 3/12/25. I again ignored this letter.

A 'Letter of Claim' from DCB Legal was received on 11/12/25, to which having read advice here I replied via email with the following. Apologies if I misunderstood the advice given.

My reply: 
"Dear DCB Legal,

In response to your Letter of Claim on behalf of your client, Smart Parking Limited, I do not accept any alleged debt owed to Smart Parking Limited. Please be advised that if you proceed with issuing a claim, I will defend it robustly.

As a regular visitor to the MoneySavingExpert Parking Forums, I am fully aware of your modus operandi and well-informed on how to handle your scattergun approach to issuing claims. I also know that your claims are typically baseless and rely on intimidating recipients into paying. I can assure you that I am not intimidated and will defend myself in full.

Therefore, I suggest you stop wasting time on a claim that we both know will be discontinued before reaching court. Save your client the court fee and focus on other, more gullible targets of your robo-claims instead of pursuing me.
I will not make any payment or engage in negotiation regarding this matter. Should you proceed with a claim on behalf of Smart Parking Limited, I will defend it and seek to recover all costs incurred as a result of any baseless action.
A complaint has already been made to the Deiniol Centre landowner, who is unlikely to support the charge and will likely be contacting Smart Parking Limited to cancel it. No patron should be penalised by the opaque system Smart Parking has implemented.
Additionally, I am seeking debt advice, so this case must be placed on hold.
Finally, I am aware that you routinely discontinue template claims at the witness statement stage. You may as well save the court fee now because this claim will not succeed."

Today, I have just received the following reply from DCB Legal.
"We write to acknowledge safe receipt of your formal response to our Letter of Claim sent to you in respect of this matter.

Having considered your response, our position in respect of this matter remains as per our Letter of Claim. We note that despite your points of dispute, there is an absence of any evidence in support of the same so that we may consider this with our Client. If you do have evidence which you believe supports your dispute, please furnish us with the same within the 30 days afforded to you.

As it stands, the initial 30 day timeframe under the Pre-Action Protocol remains, and County Court proceedings will be issued following expiry of this 30 day period, without any further reference to you.

We strongly recommend that you contact a member of our dispute resolution team on 0203 838 7038, as a matter of urgency so we may discuss this matter with you and avoid a Claim being issued against you.

If you are at all unsure of your legal position, you may wish to seek independent legal advice"

Can I please ask what steps I should take now? I'm feeling very stressed being harassed for money. Any advice would be appreciated and apologies if I've not understood your advice correctly.

Thank you.

Gr1pr

Once the Letter of Claim stage has been responded to,  sit back and wait for the inevitable N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL to arrive in the post 

Then follow post 2 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum,  plus the 8 steps in the defence template thread in announcements too 

Your defence has already been written for you in the Smart Parking DCB LEGAL group thread by member sluzz

mrg1968

Gr1pr said:

Once the Letter of Claim stage has been responded to,  sit back and wait for the inevitable N1SDT court claim pack from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL to arrive in the post 

Then follow post 2 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum,  plus the 8 steps in the defence template thread in announcements too 

Your defence has already been written for you in the Smart Parking DCB LEGAL group thread by member sluzz

Thanks for the quick reply. So best thing to do is wait for the next stage and then use the sluzz defence? Will this have any impact on my credit rating at all? Thanks again.

Gr1pr

Correct 

No effect on your credit file if you follow our advice 

Meanwhile,  study post 2 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements 

mrg1968

Thanks again. How much stress and time will this require over the coming months do you reckon to come out successful against them? Between juggling two young kids, work, and this hassle I'm having with repeated letters, I'm not sure if I can be successful against them.

Gr1pr

Very little,  if you follow our advice over the next 6 to 12 months 

If handled correctly,  DCB LEGAL will discontinue just before the hearing fee is due to be paid 

Coupon-mad

mrg1968 said:

Thanks again. How much stress and time will this require over the coming months do you reckon to come out successful against them? Between juggling two young kids, work, and this hassle I'm having with repeated letters, I'm not sure if I can be successful against them.

No CCJ is risked.

Zero stress and mere minutes of time:

Copy the Smart Group thread Defence.

A couple of months later you fill in a form the CNBC posts to you (very easy, we walk you through it) then you (or a robust friend) takes one phone call & tells the court 'Mediator' to tell the Claimant to get lost. Do not admit to driving. No offer of money. Phone down.

Then you get a hearing date and DCB Legal try to contact you by phone (ignore them) then they discontinue.

Scam over this year!