Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: tpsb on June 17, 2025, 11:30:07 pm
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+1
If you are not resident in the UK for at least the next 6 years, then this will have no effect on you. You can simply ignore it.
If you want to try and stop them trying to chase the debt, then send the following to the Claimant, not the powerless debt collector:
Subject: [Claim Ref: xxxxxxxx] – Judgment in Default
Dear Sir/Madam,
I write in reference to the above claim. I am now aware that a default judgment was entered against me in May 2025.
Please be advised that I have been living abroad as a permanent resident since prior to proceedings being issued and had no knowledge of this claim until recently visiting the UK. I do not acknowledge liability for the alleged debt, and I am not the driver.
I will not be taking any further action in this matter and ask that you cease further contact.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
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If you're permanently resident abroad and will not be maintaining any financial interests in the UK during the next 6 years then option #2 seems the most sensible.
I'm quite sure it wasn't me driving, and therefore not my debt
Mainly for the benefit of future readers - that you weren't driving does not preclude you from potential liability, if the claimant complied with the requirements of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act, they are entitled to recover unpaid charges from the registered keeper of the vehicle, regardless of who was driving. We don't need to explore whether or not they did in this case, if you're going to be ignoring the matter, of course.
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Hi all,
I have been living abroad permanently for over 6 months and have returned for a short visit to find a CCJ against me.
It is for allegedly overstaying in a Homebase carpark back in September 2019.
A number of letters were sent to my old address, redirected to my inlaws, and opened by me last week.
November 2024 - letter from DBCL claiming unpaid parking charge from September 2019.
March 2025 - letter of claim from DCB Legal
May 2025 - letter from HM Courts, judgement for Claimant (in defualt)
May 2025 - letter from DCB Legal, urging me to pay within one month (by 19 June 2025) to remove the CCJ.
Relevant info and timeline:
The first letter from DCBL arrived in November 2024, after I left the address where the letters were sent.
All letters not recieved as I was living abroad, until I opened them last week.
I was the owner and keeper of the vehicle, but I'm almost certain I was not the driver. I can not be 100% certain as it was so long ago, but I do not remember getting this parking charge at this location, and the other driver did get the odd parking charge over the years.
However the driver has since died in 2022 so I can't confirm with them.
As I see it I have three options:
1. Pay the debt by 19 June to clear the CCJ. But I'm completely against this as I'm quite sure it wasn't me driving, and therefore not my debt, and I despise rewarding this business model.
2. Ignore the CCJ as I'm living overseas and unlikely I will reside in the UK again, particularly the next 6 years. So not concerned about my credit score.
2. Apply to have the CCJ set aside. Not keen on what looks like a lot of hassle and £313 court fee unless its very likely I will get it back.
Any advice and guidance will be greatly appreciated, specifically what are the pros and cons of my three options?
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