DCB Legal - Judgement before deadline

DiscountsRgreat

Hi all,

Long time reader, first time poster. I'm aware on reflection that I've missed opportunities to handle this better, but hoping to improve following this thread.

I received a claim form with issue date 14 Jan 2026.
I tried to use MCOL to acknowledge, but the claim no. and password didn't work on MCOL, so I phoned the court for support and to acknowledge. They gave me the MCOLITassistance@justice.gov.uk e-mail to ask for support with getting access to MCOL, accepted my acknowledgement (verbally, over the phone) and said that I then had 14 days to file a defence. I then spent the following 10 days formulating a defence based on the "Template defence" sticky…

The following week I received a "Judgement for Claimant (in default)" letter.
"To the Defendant
You have not replied to the claim form
It is therefore ordered that you must pay the claimant £188.26 for debt [and interest to the date of judgement] and £107 for costs [less £0 which you have already paid]

You must pay the claimant a total of £295.26 forthwith

Dated 10-FEB-2026"

Info relating to the original claim.
Date of contravention 28/09/2024
Insufficient Paid Time
I was the registered keeper, but not the driver.
I paid for parking, and have an e-mail receipt showing the period.
Their early letters counted payment due from the time the car park was entered, not the time when parking was paid. Payment was made through the app, and was made within the grace period.

I was torn between filing the N244 form to set aside (and paying £313 fee) and just paying the fee to avoid keeping a CCJ on my record.

However, I saw on a recent thread that there is another option about contacting DCB legal directly.

Keen to heard the advice of this very learned forum

Thanks in advance

Coupon-mad

There is that option but surely you just complain to CNBC immediately?

DiscountsRgreat

So,
1) Still submit the defence
2) Write a complaints email
3) Send to "AOS.CNBC@JUSTICE .gov.uk" or "ClaimResponses.CNBC@JUSTICE .gov.uk" or someone else?

Don't fill out N244 or pay the fee yet?

Coupon-mad

You can't defend until the CCJ is reversed. Complain to Claim Responses and a separate complaint email explaining the position, to HMCTS.

No way should you have to file a N244 if the CNBC verbally accepted your AOS.