DCB Legal LoC (1 of 3 PCNs) Doncaster

JML22

​Hi everyone,

​I’m starting this new thread as I reported my previous post for removal due to some confusion and incorrect information. I want to make sure I’m following the expert tactical advice correctly.

​The Situation:

• ​Location: "Pull-in Bay" at White Rose Retail Centre, Doncaster (Greggs/Subway site).
• ​Operator: The Parking Group Ltd.
• ​Total PCNs: 3 separate PCNs. I have received 3 NTKs and 3 "bailiff threat" letters.
• ​Current Status: I have received ONE formal Letter of Claim from DCB Legal for the 1st PCN only (£170). The other two have not reached the LoC stage yet.
• ​Context: I'm a local regular and used the "pull-in bay" to stay close to my young son in the car. I've seen many others using it and didn't realize the severity of the restrictions.

​My Revised Plan (based on Coupon-mad's advice):

1. ​Regarding the 1st LoC: I am going to NOT reply to this Letter of Claim. I understand the strategy is to wait for the actual Claim Form (N1SDT) to arrive so this can be handled as a single, low-value PCN.
2. ​No Consolidation: I will not ask for the three PCNs to be combined into one claim. Keeping them separate forces DCB Legal to decide if it's worth their while to pursue a single £170 claim, which they often discontinue before a hearing.
3. ​Plan A (Landowner): I am still contacting Moss Properties (on-site) and Craven Wildsmith to see if they can cancel all three charges at the source.

​My Questions:

1. ​What should I be doing right now? Am I just waiting for the Claim Form to arrive in the post?
2. ​Is there a specific "technical" defense for the layout of these "pull-in bays" at White Rose? They feel like a trap for people staying close to their vehicles.
3. ​Are there any known POFA 2012 compliance issues specifically with The Parking Group Ltd that I should look for when the claim form eventually arrives?

​I'm feeling much more focused now. Thank you for the "Bring it on!" encouragement, although naturally I am somewhat anxious about the prospect of a claim being imminent due to lack of action at this stage!

Cheers 🙏

JML22

Is it recommended to send emails to the businesses in site rather than visiting?

Is this following email ok? Should I add anything else?

​I am writing to you as a local Doncaster resident and a regular, loyal customer of the businesses at White Rose Retail Centre, including Greggs and Subway.

​I am currently being pursued by The Parking Group Ltd (via their legal representatives, DCB Legal) for three separate parking charges incurred in the "pull-in bay" area. One of these has now escalated to a formal Letter of Claim, which is causing me and my family significant distress and financial anxiety.

​I used the pull-in bay in good faith while visiting the site with my young child. The layout of this bay, which many other customers clearly use as a convenient drop-off/pick-up point, felt like a safe place to stop momentarily while keeping my child in view. I honestly did not realize the severity of the restrictions in that specific spot until these notices began to arrive.

​I am aware that other visitors have raised similar concerns about this "trap" layout, and pursuing a local parent for nearly £500 (including added legal fees) for a simple misunderstanding is, in my view, entirely disproportionate and harmful to the reputation of the Retail Centre.

​As the site managers/agents, I am pleading with you to intervene. I ask that you instruct The Parking Group Ltd to cancel all three charges ([List PCN numbers if known]) as a gesture of goodwill. I would much rather continue supporting the local businesses on your site than be forced into a stressful County Court process over a layout misunderstanding.

Coupon-mad

Yep very good. Bung that in.

JML22

I've heard back from site management:

Thank you for your email and for taking the time to outline your concerns.

 

I appreciate the frustration this situation has caused you.

 

However, the parking facilities at White Rose Retail Centre are operated and enforced entirely independently by The Parking Group. As such, site management has no involvement in the administration, issuance, or cancellation of parking charges, and we are not able to intervene in individual cases.

 

I’m sorry I cannot be of more assistance on this matter.

 

Kind Regards,

Any advice on how I can proceed with this correspondence?

They are denying capability of assistance, is this correct as site management?

Coupon-mad

Tell them that they do have the right to client cancellations if they contracted with the Parking Group. They are the principal and the Parking Group are merely agents with no title or rights in the land. Parking firms do not operate without landowner authority.

Finish by asking which of their Directors is nominated to attend court in due course, because you will call them to attend and answer as a witness in the event that they do nothing to resolve this dispute, despite having the right to cancel PCNs in the agreement they signed.

JML22

My reply;

Hi

Thank you for your response. However, I must respectfully disagree with the claim that you have "no involvement" or ability to intervene.

​The Parking Group Ltd operates on your site as your Agent. As the Principal (landowner/managing agent), you retain the ultimate authority and right to client cancellations if you have contracted with them. Parking firms do not operate without landowner authority, and you have the right to cancel PCNs as part of the agreement you signed.

​I am a local father and a loyal customer of the businesses on your site. Being pursued for hundreds of pounds over a "pull-in bay" misunderstanding is predatory. If you refuse to exercise your right to resolve this dispute now, I will have no choice but to defend the matter in court.

​In that event, please confirm which of your Directors (specifically  or ) is nominated to attend court. I will be calling them as a witness to answer for this refusal to resolve a clear customer dispute, despite having the contractual right to do so.

​I once again ask that you instruct your agent to cancel all three charges () immediately.




​Kind Regards,

Their reply;

Dear

 

Thank you for your email.

 

We note your comments regarding the Parking Charge Notices issued at White Rose Retail Centre. However, we must reiterate our position.

 

Parking enforcement at the site is managed by an independent specialist operator engaged to ensure that the car park is used safely, fairly, and in accordance with the clearly displayed terms and conditions. Those terms are prominently positioned throughout the car park and apply to all users without exception.

 

While the parking operator acts under contract to manage the site, the enforcement process, review procedures, and decision-making in relation to individual Parking Charge Notices sit with the operator in accordance with their regulated procedures. It would therefore be inappropriate for us to intervene in individual cases, particularly where the operator has determined that the vehicle was parked in breach of the displayed conditions.

 

We appreciate that you consider this a misunderstanding. However, motorists are responsible for ensuring that they comply with the signage and parking restrictions in place. The charges issued reflect the operator’s assessment that the terms were not followed, and we have no basis on which to instruct their cancellation.

 

We also note the suggestion that members of the property ownership or management team should be called as witnesses. At this stage, this matter remains between yourself and the parking operator, and the appropriate route for challenge is via the formal appeals process outlined on the Parking Charge Notices. That process exists specifically to ensure independent review and fair consideration of representations.

 

We would therefore encourage you to pursue the operator’s appeal route if you believe the notices were issued incorrectly.

 

This concludes our involvement in this matter, and we will not be entering into further correspondence regarding individual enforcement decisions.

 

Yours Sincerely,  

 

Property Manager  

Retail Management Company

Coupon-mad

I am going out but could not find The Parking Group Ltd on the BPA AOS list.

Have I missed it?

Their website carries the BPA AOS roundel:

https://www.parkinggroupltd.co.uk/about-us/

1505grandad

This the one (middle)?:-

Coupon-mad

Weird - I missed it earlier!

Anyway, the OP should ignore the LBC they have had and only delay the other two. Let this one move to a Claim: 

ONE formal Letter of Claim from DCB Legal for the 1st PCN only (£170)

JML22

Subject: URGENT UPDATE - 3 LoCs with "Progressive Accumulation" - Deadline 7th March

​Hi everyone,
​I need some urgent tactical advice as the 30-day window for my first LoC is almost up.

​The Situation:
​Deadline Looming: The first Letter of Claim is dated 5th February, so the 30-day response window expires this Saturday, 7th March.

​3 Letters of Claim: I have now received all three LoCs for the White Rose Retail Centre PCNs.
​Progressive Accumulation: While these are separate letters, the back of each shows a running total.
​LoC 1: Shows the 1st PCN (£170).
​LoC 2: Lists the 1st and 2nd PCNs.
​LoC 3: Lists all three PCNs, showing an incremental value totaling £510.

​Status: DCB Legal is clearly tracking these as one combined debt of over £500.

​Plan A Update:
I sent the "Principal/Agent" and "Witness" rebuttal to Craven Wildsmith. They are still refusing to help, claiming the parking is "enforced entirely independently" and they "are not able to intervene".

​My Questions:
​SAR Request: Should I send a Subject Access Request (SAR) to The Parking Group right now for all three PCNs, or wait until the Claim Form actually arrives?
​The 30-Day Deadline: Given the 5th Feb date, should I still NOT reply to the first LoC as previously suggested? Or should I send a "hold" request to stop them from issuing a claim form for the £510 immediately?
​The £600 Threshold: Does the "progressive accumulation" to £510 put me in the danger zone where they are likely to proceed to a hearing, or is it still "low-value" enough that they will likely discontinue a single PCN claim?

I'm getting nervous as the clock is ticking on that first letter. Any guidance would be hugely appreciated.

Gr1pr

Any SAR REQUEST is best left until after the case is transferred to your local civil court, or not at all, certainly not now

Doesn't matter if they add them all in one final Money Claim, the LoC stage is irrelevant, not worth thinking time

Unknown, because multiple pcns are more likely to go to a hearing, but its up to the claimant parking company to make the ultimate financial decision, hearings cost money