DCB Legal Letter of Claim - Smart Parking (April 2024) - V5C Update Trigger?

parkinghelp2024

Hi everyone,

I am looking for advice on a Letter of Claim I received in the post today from DCB Legal, acting on behalf of Smart Parking Limited.The Details:

• Date of Letter: 29 July 2026
• Amount Demanded: £170.00
• Date of Alleged Event: April 2024

The Situation:

1. This Letter of Claim is the very first piece of mail I have ever received about this issue. I had absolutely no prior correspondence.
2. The vehicle was mine on paper, but I gifted it to my son in December 2023 when he passed his test. He drove it until he sold it in August 2024.
3. I suspect the V5C logbook address might not have been fully updated to my current address back in April 2024, which explains why I missed any early notices.
4. I checked a vehicle checker app today and noticed a V5C update went through on 9th July 2026 (likely the new owner updating it). It seems Smart Parking spotted this system update on their old debt and instantly instructed DCB Legal to send this letter to my current address.
5. I called DCB Legal and they emailed me the entry/exit images. It is physically my son driving the car in the photos, not me.

I want to dispute this completely. What is my best next move to respond to DCB Legal to get them to drop this before it goes to court? Should I send a standard debt dispute/SAR request, and does the fact that I am clearly not the driver in their own photos kill their case?Any guidance or templates would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance

• Just an update, I have already sent a formal SAR to Smart Parking today to get the full data history.

Le_Kirk

There are plenty of templates and much guidance in the NEWBIE sticky - have you read that yet?

parkinghelp2024

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6678716/dcb-legal-letter-of-claim-smart-parking-april-2024-v5c-update-trigger

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82091686#Comment_82091686

Thanks Le_Kirk

Sorry I'm struggling a bit to find the exact section in the sticky thread on my phone.. I was not the driver (it was my son, I have photos from them proving it) and this is the first letter I've ever received due to an old V5C address. Which specific template letter should I send back to DCB Legal to put the case on hold?"

Nellymoser

No written response from you will stop DCB Legal filing a court claim, they want money. However, unlikely a hearing will happen DCB LEGAL routinely discontinue cases just before the hearing fee needs paying. Read a few posts on Umkomaas thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations#latest

I find my way round the forum on my phone. Click on Parking tickets, fines & parking in the white oblong box (one at top and bottom of every page) takes you back to page 1 Announcement threads are at the top. Read NEWBIES as Le_Kirk says

try PLAN A complaint to landowner

POST 2 - Small Claim find template letter to respond to your Letter of Claim

Another Announcement thread (beside the NEWBIES) is the Template defence which makes it easy for you (keeper but not driver) when it gets to the defending stage.

parkinghelp2024

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82092204#Comment_82092204

Thanks everyone for the guidance, especially pointing me to Post 2.
I have successfully sent the robust dispute email to DCB Legal with my current address and the SAR has been emailed to Smart Parking's DPO yesterday.

I’ll sit tight now for the next 30 days

Umkomaas

It seems Smart Parking spotted this system update on their old debt and instantly instructed DCB Legal to send this letter to my current address.

That can’t happen. DVLA release keeper details just once per PPC enquiry. There is no ‘updating’. Neither can a PPC make a further enquiry of the DVLA for the same parking event.

DCBL will have used a trace agency to determine your current address. Lawful, and widely used.

Gr1pr

As Above, the private parking company can only make ONE paid for enquiry from the DVLA database, within the first 6 months after an incident or contravention occurs, under the terms and conditions of their KADOE contract with the DVLA

They definitely cannot do it this long after the incident date, or more than once per incident, but as mentioned above they can instigate a cheap Trace on a data subject to find out their current address and then involve legal companies or issue a Money Claim to that newly acquired address , as would have happened here

James_Poisson

"It is physically my son driving the car in the photos, not me".

All the photos show is possibly a male driver, you know it's him, they have no idea who it is, it could be anyone.

"…..does the fact that I am clearly not the driver in their own photos kill their case"?

No if they don't know who the driver is and the NTK is compliant they can try to hold the keeper liable.

Who’s car park was it?

parkinghelp2024

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82092564#Comment_82092564

Thanks everyone, that makes total sense about the trace agency finding my new address.
It was the Fistral Beach Hotel car park in Newquay.

Just to let you know, I have now successfully emailed the Post 2 master template response to DCB Legal today and I have also successfully sent a formal SAR email directly to Smart Parking’s DPO to get the full data and mailing logs. I will sit tight now and await their responses!

Gr1pr

Smart Parking didn't use Pofa2012 compliant PCN's back in 2024, so as the non driving keeper you have no liability in law, so they will eventually discontinue any court claim

yarpsnehpets

Was about to write the same.

There will be no keeper liability in this instance.