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Smart Parking / DCB Legal county court claim

BazukaThatVerruca
BazukaThatVerruca Posts: 12 Forumite
Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
in Parking tickets, fines & parking

Hi everyone,

I am the registered keeper and the defendant (my husband was driving and I was not present). We have just received a few days ago, a County Court Claim Form from the Civil National Business Centre (CNBC).

Details: - Claimant: Smart Parking Ltd - Solicitor: DCB Legal Ltd - Location: Cardiff Gate Retail Park – Service Yard 1 - Alleged contravention: stopped for ≈10-15 minutes to let the dogs out for a wee - Car park was almost empty, no one was inconvenienced - Did not see any signs at all - Original PCN was £100, now they want £278.88 including the usual £70 “debt recovery” add-on

I have already acknowledged service on MCOL tonight (ticked “defend all”, left jurisdiction box blank).

I understand this is a “Service Yard 1” – which is a lot of people say is a forbidding area (no parking at any price), so no contract can be formed. Also, I was definitely not the driver on the day, and Smart Parking’s wording is the usual non-POFA rubbish.

Please could one of the regulars give me the latest 2025 template defence (or tell me which paragraphs to add/remove) for a Smart Parking “Service Yard” case where keeper liability does not apply and the keeper was not driving?

Happy to post up redacted photos of the claim form if needed.

Thank you so much in advance – really appreciate the help!

«1

Comments

  • Gr1pr
    Gr1pr Posts: 13,570 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Second Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    Post the Issue date from the top right of the claim form below 

    Post a redacted picture of the POC from the lower left of the claim form below after hiding the VRM details first 

    Study the recent Smart Parking DCB Legal group thread 
  • BazukaThatVerruca
    BazukaThatVerruca Posts: 12 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    edited 4 December 2025 at 11:14AM
    Thanks for the quick response!


    Particulars of claim:
    1. The defendant (D) is indebted to the claimant (C) for a parking chage (PC) issued to vehicle ******* at Cardiff Gate Retail Park, Service Yard 1.
    2. The date of the contravention is ***** and the D was issued PC by the claimant.
    3. The defendant is pursued as the driver of the vehicle for breach of the terms on the signs (contract). Reason: Unauthorised Parking.
    4. In the alternative the Defendant is pursued as the keeper pursuant to POFA 2012, Schedule 4.
    AND THE CLAIMANT CLAIMS
    1. £170 being the total of the PC and damages.
    2. Interest at a rate of 8.00% per annum pursuant to s.69 of the County Courts Act 1984 from the date hereof at a daily rate of £0.02 until judgement or sooner payment.
    3. Costs and court fees
  • BazukaThatVerruca
    BazukaThatVerruca Posts: 12 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    Hi guys.
    I'm now able to upload a photo, here it is 😀
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 161,752 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 4 December 2025 at 1:33AM
    Just copy the defence from the Smart Parking Group thread. Don't show it here to check (please spare us!). There's nothing to check!

    We are trying to avoid hundreds of exact same threads. Read a few first.

    No links needed. The forum is awash with same old Smart claims.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
     Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • Le_Kirk
    Le_Kirk Posts: 26,370 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    If you post the date of issue of the claim form, we can tell you some important dates/deadlines.
  • BazukaThatVerruca
    BazukaThatVerruca Posts: 12 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic
    Thanks guys.
    Issue date is 25th November.

    I've been reading through the other posts but struggling to find what fits me exactly.

    I'm good with plumbing and heating, alas paperwork is not my strength 🥴 
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 161,752 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 6 December 2025 at 2:05AM
    Just read the thread I said. Copy.

    Pleeease don't ask us to check it!
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
     Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • Le_Kirk
    Le_Kirk Posts: 26,370 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    With an issue date of 25/11/25 and providing you complete(d) the AoS after 30/11/25 and before 14/12/25 your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 29/12/25

  • BazukaThatVerruca
    BazukaThatVerruca Posts: 12 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic

    Hi guys

    I submitted the defence as recommended above.

    I have now received a Notice of Proposed Allocation to the Small Claims Track.

    Is this normal? Are they trying to fear monger me into paying and they will potentially close the case before it goes to court?

    Many thanks!

  • BazukaThatVerruca
    BazukaThatVerruca Posts: 12 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post Photogenic

    Also do you have any advise for when I'm filling out the questionaire that has been sent?

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