Letter of Claim from DCBL for old parking tickets – confused what to do next

BA1919

Hi all,

I’m hoping for some advice please.

I received three private parking tickets within 3 weeks at the same location back in 2020. I know it was my fault how I parked, but I’d only just started driving at the time and was genuinely clueless.

I ignored the tickets at the time and didn’t hear anything for a long while. DCBL started chasing me around mid-2025, and they’re now asking for £510, which feels excessive.

I’ve ignored the previous debt collection letters based on advice I’d read on older threads, but I’ve now received a “Letter of Claim” stating:

“Failure to do so is likely to result in a claim being issued without further notice”

They’re asking for payment within 30 days.

This is where I’m confused. Some advice says to still ignore, others say a Letter of Claim is different and needs a response.

I genuinely don’t understand:

What a Letter of Claim actually means

When court action really starts

How CCJs work and at what point they happen

What I should do now, step by step

I’m not trying to dodge responsibility, I just don’t want to make things worse by doing the wrong thing.

Any clear guidance would be massively appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Gr1pr

Which parking company. ?

Who issued the Letter of Claim  ?  ( its not DCBL. )

A Letter of Claim gives you 30 days notice and includes financial forms  ( anything else is a powerless debt collectors letter. )

BA1919

Gr1pr said:

Which parking company. ?

Who issued the Letter of Claim  ?  ( its not DCBL. )

A Letter of Claim gives you 30 days notice and includes financial forms  ( anything else is a powerless debt collectors letter. )

Smart Parking Limited

Letter of Claim sent by DCB Legal

The back page is ways to pay

Le_Kirk

Read the NEWBIE sticky, which will take you through receipt of a PCN to appeal, letter of claim, response to letter of claim, N1SDT claim form and standard defence, including a specific Smart Parking group thread.

Gr1pr

Do not pay 

Either,  respond with the LoC response in the 2nd post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum 

Or

Don't bother,, ignore them instead,  waiting for the inevitable Money Claim to arrive in the post from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

Then you can start fighting back,  with our help 

The latter will happen anyway,  regardless of your decision today,  its inevitable 

But it won't get to a court hearing 

BA1919

Gr1pr said:

Do not pay 

Either,  respond with the LoC response in the 2nd post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum 

Or

Don't bother,, ignore them instead,  waiting for the inevitable Money Claim to arrive in the post from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

Then you can start fighting back,  with our help 

The latter will happen anyway,  regardless of your decision today,  its inevitable 

But it won't get to a court hearing 

Cheers for your advice mate, would you recommend responding with the LoC response of just ignoring them for now?

BA1919

Gr1pr said:

Do not pay 

Either,  respond with the LoC response in the 2nd post in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum 

Or

Don't bother,, ignore them instead,  waiting for the inevitable Money Claim to arrive in the post from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL 

Then you can start fighting back,  with our help 

The latter will happen anyway,  regardless of your decision today,  its inevitable 

But it won't get to a court hearing 

Is the following the correct response? 

Dear Sirs,

Your ref: [insert reference number]

Proposed legal proceedings

Claimant: [insert name of parking company]

I refer to your letter of claim.

I confirm that my address for service for the time being is as follows, and any older address must be erased from your records:

[Insert correct address here]

You should revert to your client because the 'propensity to pay' score in my case is zero, so any claim is hopeless and a waste of the court fee (whether 'fronted' by your firm or not). Move on to weaker victims.

The alleged 'debt' is disputed and any court proceedings will be vigorously defended.

Yours faithfully,

Gr1pr

That is your choice,  as I mentioned 

Neither option will stop a Money Claim in the future,  so responding delays the Money Claim for about a month 

So you either delay it,  or you don't 

patient_dream

AS ABOVE, it really does not matter which way.  WHATEVER YOU DO ... DO NOT PAY.


How many tickets @ £100 each ???

Smart clearly have cleared out their rubbish bin again

BA1919

patient_dream said:

AS ABOVE, it really does not matter which way.  WHATEVER YOU DO ... DO NOT PAY.


How many tickets @ £100 each ???

Smart clearly have cleared out their rubbish bin again

3 tickets £170 each

Nellymoser

BA1919 said:

How CCJs work and at what point they happen

For your info an explanation is given in this thread:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81382407/#Comment_81382407