DCB Legal/UKPC - Claim form received

Gr1pr

Definitely wasn't mediation, because the mediation service call both parties, separately

The N180 stage comes after the defence stage, then mediation, so you should be studying and following the 8 steps in the defence template thread in announcements near the top of the forum

Our advice is not to engage with DCB LEGAL at all, definitely no phone calls

Car1980

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82161128#Comment_82161128

This is the whole point of them making a court claim they intend to discontinue. If you offered them £100 they'd bite your hand off. But you don't need to because you know they'll chicken out - most people don't. They'll try again, so don't bother answering.

If they make 1000 claims, 400 will immediately pay up, 50 will get default CCJs and pay up later, 50 will get a CCJ and never pay, 200 will probably settle at mediation and 100 will probably cave-in from their phone calls or through imagined fear.

You want to be in the 200 of discontinued claims.

Coupon-mad

I think MoJ statistics say 90% of small claims go to default CCJs…

J89eu

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82161136#Comment_82161136

That's all well and good but having not been through the process before, I thought it was the mediation, but now I know and thankfully didn't agree to anything so we wait and move on :) I've read the steps, and continue to do so to know what's next, but being a first timer means the familiarity is not there.

Now we wait for the Directions Questionnaire I suppose!

Gr1pr

A lot of us who respond with advice have never been through it before, or ever, but knowledge is gained by reading other threads, especially ones ahead of yours or concluded, which i how we know that the mediation service make the calls on the notified date and time , like this one

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6634002/napier-parking-ltd-bw-legal-defence-stage

We also know that these gutter legals persistently badger their victims by phone calls and emails and texts, as has happened to you, and will probably continue up until they discontinue the case, like the 950 or so in the tally thread by Umkomaas

nc11

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82162328#Comment_82162328

I've had my meditation call this week (similar claim) so as others mentioned that would be a formal HMCTS appointment, not an unprompted call from DCB. you will get a letter regarding the date/time and a text message the day prior.

FWIW the call itself is somewhat dissapointing - the mediator will call you, explain the process and then call DCB to get a proposed settlement figure. it took 3 attempts - they offered £20 less, I offered £0, they offered £60 less, i offered £0, they offered @£80 less, I offered £1 as a gesture of goodwill to close it. I was told that my offer is unreasonable and that they will continue the court case. that was it.

I''ve got another claim open so am looking forward to another exciting call next month…..

J89eu

I have since received a further me 2 automated calls since my last update, when you do answer, you're not speaking to them, it puts you into their queue system to speak to someone. I thought I'd see what they had to say in the 3rd call so sat in the queue for 10 mins and they again tried to settle and said they'd go as low as £165 I just said to continue the court case if they were still not happy with my previous suggestion with the £10. I think they have another 2 weeks to reply to my defence, not received anything else from HMRC, no questions or mediation call etc.

Gr1pr

Ignore them, its that simple ( but preferably dont Ignore the mediation service )