Help and Advice Needed with Smart Parking PCN

XUD1

Hi All.

I have read through a lot of stuff on here but still haven't been able to come to a conclusion if I should try and fight a PCN. I probably have done the wrong thing by ignoring correspondence but now have received a CLAIM FORM for the alleged offence, prior to the Claim letter we got two letters from Debt Recovery Plus one dated the 28th Jan 2025 and one 12th March 2025, we never responded to those either. We had nothing other than those except for the claim notice a few days ago. I understand I have 14 days to decide my next move.

The alleged offence took place in December 2024, the original letter which was dated 12 days after the alleged offence took place, has photos of the car entering the car park and leaving 52 minutes later, the driver uses this car park on a regular basis and the fee for parking at that time of year is 40p per hour. Never has the car park been used without paying the charge at the machine but it may be that the reg number was entered wrong by one digit, however we don't have the parking ticket to prove that. It annoys me that it is a very quiet car park at that time of the year and their system would probably have only recorded maybe two or three parking visits during that time and I would love to be able to say have a look and see and you will see what has happened. The was no intention to defraud for the sake of better words just an error keying but without the ticket I suppose there is no option but to pay which makes me feel sick inside because a fee was paid.

The original letter from Smart Parking does not say what the offence was just photos of the car entering and leaving. The letters from Debt Recovery show the offence as insufficient fee paid.

We would be grateful of any advice.

Thanks

Gr1pr

No offence was committed, just an alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property

Post a redacted picture of the claim form below after hiding the personal information like your

Name and address on the left

VRM details on the left

Claim form reference number on the top right

Password on the bottom right

Coupon-mad

You only need to copy the defence posted the other day in the Smart defence claim Group Thread. No link. Search.

XUD1

Thanks so much for taking time to reply. I have redacted parts as suggested (and a few more as I am paranoid what they could work out from some of the info) I hope I have left what is needed.

Gr1pr

We need you to give us the issue date from the top right of the claim form

XUD1

Apologies the issue date was the 14th April 2026. Regards

Gr1pr

OK, 1) Get your AOS done online on MCOL first, if not done already

Then 2) use the latest version of the Smart Parking defence, which was posted on 12th April by member Meltof on page 3, in the group thread by member sluzz for all Smart Parking DCB Legal cases,

just copy, paste, save, submit

Job done for now

XUD1

I have just tried to submit the AOS on MCOL but the claim number on the form in the top right hand corner under CIVIL NATIONAL BUSINESS CENTRE is a capital letter followed by 1 digit 2 further letters then two numbers a letter and finally another digit. When I add this it says the format should be in the format 305JE126?

If I am being thick please accept my apologies!

Gr1pr

There Are many instances of people having trouble with the password, mixing up similar digits and letters, like 1 , l , I. Etc

But your claim reference number is typically capital letters and numbers ( 8 characters. ) and people dont get that part wrong

Examples of Claim Number Formats:

• 01234567 (Common 8-digit format)
• 123DP456 (Sometimes includes letters if generated through specific bulk systems)
• GOV.UK +1

Key Features of an N1SDT Claim Number:

• Location: Found in the top right corner of the N1SDT form.

I hope that you have logged into your government gateway account first, then go to the MCOL section, then use the claim reference number and password shown on the right hand side of your claim form. ?

XUD1

Thanks I had not logged in. I have submitted the AOS and will submit the defence later after work.

I am truly grateful for the help, no doubt I will have more questions along the way!

Kindly

XUD1

Gr1pr

Just follow the 8 steps in the 1st post in the defence template thread in announcements near the top of the forum, same as everyone else, stick to the procedures and process