DCB Legal Court Claim

Bookloverwelsh

Hi Everyone.
I received a ‘Letter of claim’ from DCB Legal on the 8th September, letter dated 28th August, acting on behalf of ParkingEye Ltd T/A Car Parking Partnership for a parking charge issued on the 21st January 2021.

The parking charge is for the hospital I work at and I pay an extortionate amount of money for the privilege of a parking permit for the site!

I have read the forums and am aware of the process I need to follow to dispute this.

My concern is that the incident occurred during the Covid Pandemic and as such we as staff members were ‘gifted’ free parking for a period of approximately 12 months and the date of the parking charge falls within this period as such I have no evidence (usually deducted from my pay) to prove I had a permit. Is it still worth pursuing? How will i provide evidence for a defence?

Gr1pr

No evidence is submitted with any defence, but its their job to prove their case, its not for the defendant to prove anything

Post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below when it arrives

Le_Kirk

Is it still worth perusing?

No but worth pursuing. Are you a member of a union or trade association at the hospital that could help?

SacredStephan

I think they will be out of time to pursue this after 6 years have passed, i.e. after 21 Jan 2027. Is the permit attached to the windscreen? Do you still have it? Do you have a payslip from the period before and after the parking "event" showing your regular permit payments?

You might also be able to get legal advice through your car insurance or house insurance or your partner's union membership.

Coupon-mad

You might be able to time this out and it's worth trying. It is all about timing:

Wait until the last day of the 30 days then that evening, email the recommended LBC reply to DCB Legal.

When they respond (and pleeeeeease do not show us the response - thanks - we've seen it thousands of times!) they'll set another deadline after which they say a court claim will be issued.

Again, wait until that very last day then tell them in another email, that you are seeking debt advice with your local Citizens Advice (DON'T! It's hopeless advice on parking charges). Tell them to confirm the case is 'on hold' for 30 days at that point.

By that time, the MHCLG will likely have laid the new statutory Code of Practice before Parliament and published their stance on (or at least a flavour of) what is unfair conduct from this sector, according to the CMA.

That's big, because certain things might pause the race to court while the industry regroups and rethinks. Your case may well never get a claim if you time this well.

(Even if it does , defending is a cinch).

Bookloverwelsh

Gr1pr, I will post a picture when I get it. Thank you

Thanks Le_Kirk, I have amended my original post 😊

SacredStephan, access is via number plate recognition now and before that it was access via our swipe ID badges. I cant remember exactly when it changed. Either way i’ve never had a physical pass to display in my car.
I will however have payslips from before/after the free period.

Coupon-mad. I will follow your advice and will e-mail the template on the evening of the 26th September. Thank you

Bookloverwelsh

Sorry me again!

So I received another letter of claim from DCB legal. Exactly the same reference number, however this one is dated the 4th September. 

Comparing the two the only difference I can see is that the second has a reason for the parking charge whereas the first one doesn’t.

Am I right in thinking I can effectively ignore the first and send the standard response 30 days after the second, so the 3rd October, buying myself an extra week closer to hopefully getting this timed out? 

Jame4ters

Post a copy of both suitably redacted

Bookloverwelsh

Please see copies of each letter below as requested Jame4ters

Gr1pr

Correct, you are trying to get it over the line at the end of January 2027, so would definitely be clear by February 1st 2027

Jame4ters

Ignore the earlier one. Just the latest one & as per advice above respond as late as possible