Smart Parking/DCB Legal - Case in Glasgow (Scotland), 23 Day Issue Delay, Appeal Suspended

Swap7147 · 9 May at 9:46PM

Hi Everyone,

This is my first post on here, and I'm hoping to get some guidance.

I have read the NEWBIES thread (specifically the Scotland section) and the DCB Legal discontinuations thread.

I’m looking for confirmation on my next steps for a PCN in Glasgow.

Some of the key facts:

Location: Elliot Street Car Park, Glasgow (Scotland).

Contravention Date: 11/09/2023.

Notice Issue Date: 04/10/2023 (23 days after the event).

Relationship: I was the registered keeper at the time (sold the car in Nov 2025).

Status: DCB Legal demanding £170.

I appealed as the keeper. On 25/02/2024, Smart Parking emailed me confirming: "all action has been suspended pending adjudication."

Despite this, I’ve received a debt demand from DCB Legal dated 29/04/2026. I no longer have the original paper PCN due to moving houses, although I have the appeal acknowledgement email, and a screenshot from the Smart Parking portal showing the 23 day gap between the incident and the issue date.

My understanding based on the Newbies thread:

1. Scotland Factor: POFA 2012 does not apply. As the Registered Keeper (at the time), I am not liable for the driver's alleged debt.

2. The 14-Day Rule: Even if POFA applied, they missed the 14-day deadline for keeper liability.

3. Debt Collector Stage: The Newbies thread says if I am getting debt collector letters demanding £170 (like the one from DCBL), I can ignore them as they are not bailiffs.

4. Suspension Breach: They are ignoring their own internal "suspension" of the case.

My Question:

Should I send a "Debt Disputed" email to DCB Legal pointing out the lack of keeper liability in Scotland and the case suspension, or should I follow the "ignore" advice in Post #4 of the Newbies thread until a formal "Letter Before Claim" arrives?

Since I don't have the original PCN, is the website screenshot showing the dates sufficient evidence of their failure to meet the 14-day window (even though POFA doesn't apply in Scotland anyway)?