Yet another DCB Legal Smart claim 2026

DCBDefender

Hello all,

I am following the 8 steps in the sticky threads and currently at the stage where I have received an email from DCB Legal saying that their client intends to proceed with the claim.

At this stage I understand that I need to wait and do nothing until I receive the questionnaire.

My question is this - if my claim is one of the few that doesn't get dropped, is my defence strong enough to hold up in court?

My defence is that I had not received any correspondence prior to the initial intent to claim from the Courts. Also, the alleged offence was over 3 years ago so I can't admit to something I can't recall. The car park in question is also poorly lit.

Should I continue with the 8 steps or cave at the mediation call?

Thanks in advance!

Gr1pr

Not receiving paperwork is no defence, especially if the paperwork went to the address listed on the DVLA database

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

Keep following the 8 steps

Do not offer anything at Mediation, do not discuss the case

Name the private parking company claimant involved

Car1980

How are we supposed to know? "It was a bit dark" is a rubbish defence, but obviously there is more to it than that and likely completely moot anyway.

What is the parking company?

kryten3000

Which company is the Claimant?

For Euro Car Parks or Smart, the discontinuation rate appears to be close to 100%

DCBDefender

The company is Smart parking. DCB tried to call me this morning and I hung up as soon as the recorded introduction stated who they were.

Coupon-mad

100% discontinuance nailed on.

DCBDefender

Is there a reason they discontinue? Are they worried they might lose in court? I wouldn't have thought they'd worry at all about that.

Coupon-mad

It's the cheap no-win-no-fee business model they'll have signed up for, when letting DCB Legal maraud through their '1.2 million PCNs' debt book.

That equates to £200 MILLION if every case is paid at an average £170 scam level.

Template pleadings, £35 fee per case and lazy address checks sees over 85% of claims end up with default CCJs, which DCB Group can monetise.

The rest are paid out of sheer terror, except for the 1-2% minority like you, who have defended. The model then seeks to monetise some of those by leaning on people to settle and hoping duped idiots cave at mediation!

Nononono…

Poker face it and you will get your discontinuance because there are no hearing fees paid and no intention to proceed to hearings, with this abusive model.

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, when the court system creaked under the influx of over 100,000 p.a. parking claims from DCB Legal alone a couple of years ago, the MoJ completely missed seeing this abuse of the public purse for what it is.

Instead, they apologised to claimants for delays and increased public money and more staff were thrown at the Claimant-favouring CNBC system. The clueless CNBC treat these like they're real 'debts' and bend over backwards to facilitate the scammery, all at public cost.

Coupon-mad

Oh yes, please edit your thread title to:

Yet another DCB Legal Smart claim 2026

Gr1pr

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82046997#Comment_82046997

They aren't worried at all, far too busy processing thousands of claims to worry about yours

They Simply don't pay the hearing fee and wont assemble a Witness Statement either, time and money

Plus they never attend court on behalf of their client, too costly ( they want an easy payout, thousands of times over. , from mugs who are frightened into paying. ) , and they don't want to be interrogated in court

The 879 discontinuations in the thread by Umkomaas prove it !

You are just a number, one number among tens of thousands , number 6 living in Portmerion

DCBDefender

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82047005#Comment_82047005

That's interesting, thanks for explaining the whole scam!