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Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: elatif on November 02, 2025, 05:42:46 pm

Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on February 24, 2026, 04:50:42 pm
Quote from: jfollows on February 24, 2026, 10:44:43 am
They do not know the identity of the driver but they know the identity of the registered keeper. In England & Wales liability can be transferred from the driver to the registered keeper according to the Protections of Freedom Act 2012. No such legislation exists (yet) in Scotland, so the registered keeper can ignore or refuse to pay any invoices as long as the driver is not identified.

You do not lie, you simply refuse to identify the driver.

That makes sense to me, really helpful thanks for a clear answer. If it goes further then is that the crux of the case that I make? Is that the usual approach taken for people in this situation in Scotland specifically?
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: jfollows on February 24, 2026, 10:44:43 am
They do not know the identity of the driver but they know the identity of the registered keeper. In England & Wales liability can be transferred from the driver to the registered keeper according to the Protections of Freedom Act 2012. No such legislation exists (yet) in Scotland, so the registered keeper can ignore or refuse to pay any invoices as long as the driver is not identified.

You do not lie, you simply refuse to identify the driver.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on February 24, 2026, 10:38:38 am
Quote from: RichardW on February 24, 2026, 10:06:28 am
In Scotland there is no keeper liability (yet...) - so they will be unlikely to take it any further.  But there is a current thread on here where they have taken one to court.  >99% if you weather the storm of debt collector letters, they will just give up.

I hope this isn't a silly/naive question, but if there's no keeper liability does that mean that I will ultimately need to just deny being the driver of the vehicle at the time?  Or that they would need to prove I was the driver in order for me to liable?

What happened in the other case?
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: RichardW on February 24, 2026, 10:06:28 am
In Scotland there is no keeper liability (yet...) - so they will be unlikely to take it any further.  But there is a current thread on here where they have taken one to court.  >99% if you weather the storm of debt collector letters, they will just give up.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on February 24, 2026, 09:21:51 am
Quote from: InterCity125 on February 24, 2026, 09:14:00 am
Quote from: elatif on February 24, 2026, 09:05:53 am
https://ibb.co/Xfcc5MbD

The car park is 88 Washington Street Glasgow


Ignore this letter.

Thanks! This was what I thought would be the case. Just don't acknowledge it at all?

Is it likely I'll receive a follow up as a result? I'm trying to get prepared now for what might happen as it's starting to hang over me quite a bit.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: InterCity125 on February 24, 2026, 09:14:00 am
Quote from: elatif on February 24, 2026, 09:05:53 am
https://ibb.co/Xfcc5MbD

The car park is 88 Washington Street Glasgow


Ignore this letter.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on February 24, 2026, 09:05:53 am
https://ibb.co/Xfcc5MbD

The car park is 88 Washington Street Glasgow
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: Fluffykins on February 23, 2026, 06:53:56 pm
Quote from: elatif on February 23, 2026, 05:52:02 pm
I can't seem to attach the image
See section 4 here.
https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/read-this-first-private-parking-charges-forum-guide/
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on February 23, 2026, 05:52:02 pm
I can't seem to attach the image , but it's a letter saying that Smart Parking has asked DCB Legal to review the case. "initial assessment shows that the parking charge remains unpaid. Unless resolved we may recommend to the client that the matter is escalated to one of our Scottish partners, who may be instructed to litigate on behalf of our client"
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on February 23, 2026, 05:49:16 pm
Hi, I have now received a letter from DCB Legal. Don't believe this is a letter of claim. The 14 days has passed (I received the letter fairly late) but what do I now need to do? I understand from reading that it's best to respond to DCB Legal when they contact you but I have not done so yet, and don't plan to until hearing some further advice. Should I be worried at this stage? Thanks in advance
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: b789 on November 05, 2025, 05:25:34 pm
Doesn't matter. ANY county court claim issued by DCB Legal for anything under £600 will never make to to a hearing as long as it is defended. Never!
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 05, 2025, 09:27:49 am
I've been doing some reading. I think I understand my situation fairly well. From reading another case I found the below quote:

As above... the driver should never be identified! They have no idea who the driver is. They only know the Keepers identity. There is no legal obligation on the Keeper to identify the driver and they should always decline to do so, unless we can verify that the original Parking Charge Notice (PCN) was issued in full compliance with POFA 2012. (not so) Smart Parking almost never comply with the requirements of PoFA to be able to hold the Keeper liable.

First, you must ask yourself why you never received the original Notice to Keeper (NtK). Was your address on the V5C up to date at the time of the alleged contravention? Often people change address, update their drivers licence with the DVLA, not understanding that they also have to separately update their V5C information. Please double check that your V5C is up to date with your current address.

Any debt recovery letters can be safely ignored. Debt collectors are powerless to do anything except to try and persuade the low-hanging fruit on the gullible tree to pay up out of ignorance and fear. Never, ever enter into communication with a useless debt collector.

As you have now received a Letter of Claim (LoC) from DCB Legal, you need to respond with the following to info@dcblegal.co.uk and also CC in yourself:

However in the case in question it was confirmed that the V5C was *always* up to date. In my case my V5C is NOW up to date but at the time of the alleged violation was not. What are the implications of this in my situation?
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: jfollows on November 05, 2025, 08:32:04 am
Do your own research  - if you search the forum for DCBL and DCB Legal you will find lots of similar cases and you will see the progression from threats to discontinuation.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 05, 2025, 07:37:15 am
Right okay, thanks. What happens when I receive the letter of claim? I'm just asking for some peace of mind regarding what the actual consequences of my ignoring this are, and what my steps will be next. Got it, not paying anything. Loud and clear.

Quote from: b789 on November 04, 2025, 07:30:24 pm
Which bit of the response I gave you yesterday in reply #3 is not clear?

Why are you still calling it a "fine"? We have explained that it is simply a speculative invoice for an alleged breach of contract by the driver. You say you understand the difference between a criminal and a civil matter yet you are using terminology that indicates you don't.

Either follow the advice and pay nothing or else overthink it, ignore the advice and you can deal with the consequences and waste even more of your hard earned money paying these scamming ex-clampers.

Do nothing from now on until you receive a Letter of Clam (LoC). Come back when you do.

DO NOT, EVER, communicate with a powerless debt collector. Ignore them. Nothing will happen because of that. They are POWERLESS to do ANYTHING!

I don't know how to make this any clearer for you.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: b789 on November 04, 2025, 07:30:24 pm
Which bit of the response I gave you yesterday in reply #3 is not clear?

Why are you still calling it a "fine"? We have explained that it is simply a speculative invoice for an alleged breach of contract by the driver. You say you understand the difference between a criminal and a civil matter yet you are using terminology that indicates you don't.

Either follow the advice and pay nothing or else overthink it, ignore the advice and you can deal with the consequences and waste even more of your hard earned money paying these scamming ex-clampers.

Do nothing from now on until you receive a Letter of Clam (LoC). Come back when you do.

DO NOT, EVER, communicate with a powerless debt collector. Ignore them. Nothing will happen because of that. They are POWERLESS to do ANYTHING!

I don't know how to make this any clearer for you.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 04, 2025, 06:20:21 pm
Sorry just a bump on this.

I have contacted the DPO at smart parking to update my address. I do believe that the original PCN may have been for a valid violation of the parking rules (either forgot to pay or overstayed allocated time in a car park, by genuine accident). Does this change my circumstances? I read some of the advice on MSE but this seemed to be for *unfair* parking tickets.

Should I be looking to pay the original PCN if possible, and ignore the DCBL claim?
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 03, 2025, 10:43:09 pm
Brilliant, thanks! That's eased my nerves a bit  :)

Quote from: b789 on November 03, 2025, 09:03:11 pm
Quote from: DWMB2 on November 03, 2025, 08:34:08 pm
To put your mind at ease, have a search around on the forum for other cases conducted by DCB Legal - the number that have actually proceeded to a hearing are 2/3, out of several dozen (probably more than 100 at this stage).

Here's some bedtime reading from our friendly neighbours on MSE: DCB LEGAL RECORD OF PRIVATE PARKING COURT CLAIM DISCONTINUATIONS (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations)

Approaching 700 as of today.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 03, 2025, 10:42:26 pm
Thanks, I appreciate it! Just for my peace of mind, where can I find more info regarding the template defence? I know it's civil court not criminal, but I've never had any such dealings so it's all a bit overwhelming to me. I'll be following advice though and *not* paying this.

Quote from: DWMB2 on November 03, 2025, 08:34:08 pm
To put your mind at ease, have a search around on the forum for other cases conducted by DCB Legal - the number that have actually proceeded to a hearing are 2/3, out of several dozen (probably more than 100 at this stage).

Here's some bedtime reading from our friendly neighbours on MSE: DCB LEGAL RECORD OF PRIVATE PARKING COURT CLAIM DISCONTINUATIONS (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations)
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: b789 on November 03, 2025, 09:03:11 pm
Quote from: DWMB2 on November 03, 2025, 08:34:08 pm
To put your mind at ease, have a search around on the forum for other cases conducted by DCB Legal - the number that have actually proceeded to a hearing are 2/3, out of several dozen (probably more than 100 at this stage).

Here's some bedtime reading from our friendly neighbours on MSE: DCB LEGAL RECORD OF PRIVATE PARKING COURT CLAIM DISCONTINUATIONS (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations)

Approaching 700 as of today.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: DWMB2 on November 03, 2025, 08:34:08 pm
To put your mind at ease, have a search around on the forum for other cases conducted by DCB Legal - the number that have actually proceeded to a hearing are 2/3, out of several dozen (probably more than 100 at this stage).

Here's some bedtime reading from our friendly neighbours on MSE: DCB LEGAL RECORD OF PRIVATE PARKING COURT CLAIM DISCONTINUATIONS (https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6377263/dcb-legal-record-of-private-parking-court-claim-discontinuations)

Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: b789 on November 03, 2025, 08:26:26 pm
You are overthinking this. I can categorically tell you with greater than 99.9% certainty that this WILL escalate up to a county court claim for around £285 which if you follow the advice you are receiving here and it is defended with the template defence we provide, that if it is not actually struck out, it will definitely be discontinued before they have to pay the £27 trial fee, many months down the line.

Or, you can just be one of the low-hanging fruit on the gullible tree who is easily intimidated into just paying up out of ignorance and fear. Your choice.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 03, 2025, 07:10:17 pm
My concern is that the fine may well be legitimate, and it is totally my fault for not updating my V5C for so long that I wasnt receiving the letters. I'm concerned that if I choose to fight it I'll have no leg to stand on. Will I have to pay more than the current £170 if it comes to that?

Quote from: DWMB2 on November 03, 2025, 07:04:18 pm
You're not delaying anything. If/when the parking company decide to instruct DCB Legal is their decision to make.

DCBL aren't interested in anything other than making payment. If you plan to fight it, you must ignore DCBL and await a Letter of Claim
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: DWMB2 on November 03, 2025, 07:04:18 pm
You're not delaying anything. If/when the parking company decide to instruct DCB Legal is their decision to make.

DCBL aren't interested in anything other than making payment. If you plan to fight it, you must ignore DCBL and await a Letter of Claim
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 03, 2025, 07:01:52 pm
Sorry to sound totally ignorant, but if I ignore DCBL now and wait for DCB legal, am I just delaying the inevitable. Will I eventually get hit with something I have to respond to, and will I end up having to pay more in this case? What happens when DCB Legal get in contact? Sorry for the questions, I'm totally naive to all this!

Quote from: jfollows on November 03, 2025, 06:56:48 pm
I suggest you block DCBL’s number and never talk to them again. They are powerless and not a party to your dispute.

You will eventually get a Letter of Claim from DCB Legal to which you should respond.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: jfollows on November 03, 2025, 06:56:48 pm
I suggest you block DCBL’s number and never talk to them again. They are powerless and not a party to your dispute.

You will eventually get a Letter of Claim from DCB Legal to which you should respond.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 03, 2025, 06:40:18 pm

Okay thank you. I've just received a call from DCBL and questioned them heavily on how they got my address, to which they started stuttering and avoiding the question, so I am starting to see they're not the scary animal they are presenting themselves as. They still insist that proceedings can be taken against me for not paying the balance. What's my absolute worst case outcome if I refuse to pay?

In the meantime, what's my current play? You mentioned contacting the data protection officer at smart parking? Is there an official form or something I need to fill out and how do I find the correct contact? Thanks so much for your help

Quote from: b789 on November 03, 2025, 03:41:24 pm
Why are you afraid of court? It's not "Rumpole of the Bailey". This is not a criminal matter. It is a civil contractual dispute that is handled in the county court. There are no wigs and gowns etc. A county court judge is the ultimate independent arbiter of the dispute.

Anyway, this would never reach the point of a hearing in front of a judge because in 99.999% of these cases, DCB Legal will issue an N279 Notice of Discontinuance before they have to pay the £27 trial fee.

If you follow our advice, you will not be paying a penny to (not so) Smart Parking and you will have learnt how to stand up for your rights.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: b789 on November 03, 2025, 03:41:24 pm
Why are you afraid of court? It's not "Rumpole of the Bailey". This is not a criminal matter. It is a civil contractual dispute that is handled in the county court. There are no wigs and gowns etc. A county court judge is the ultimate independent arbiter of the dispute.

Anyway, this would never reach the point of a hearing in front of a judge because in 99.999% of these cases, DCB Legal will issue an N279 Notice of Discontinuance before they have to pay the £27 trial fee.

If you follow our advice, you will not be paying a penny to (not so) Smart Parking and you will have learnt how to stand up for your rights.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 03, 2025, 02:13:58 pm
Hi,

The parking form is Smart Parking (UK) Ltd.

Sorry, I feel quite bad now for having paid the £120, but naturally I am a little intimated by their threats of taking me to court. How do I know I can ignore them and not risk being taken to court over this?

Thanks for advice r.e. updating the address with Smart Parking, I will take action on this today. Yes, my V5C was updated during the summer and now correct.
Title: Re: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: b789 on November 02, 2025, 07:50:19 pm
You have been conned. DCBL is a powerless debt collector and their only "power" is to try and intimidate the low-hanging fruit on the gullible tree into paying out of ignorance and fear.

Why did you waste £120 when you could have paid £0? More importantly, have you since updated your address for the V5C with the DVLA. You risk a real "fine" of up to £1,000 if you haven't.

So, ignore DCBL. Any debt recovery letters can be safely shredded and used as hamster bedding for all anyone cares. What is more important is who are they acting for? What is the name of the unregulated parking firm?

Get out of your head any notion that these are "fines". They are simply speculative invoices from an unregulated parking firm for an alleged breach of contract by the driver. Do you simply pay any old invoice just because it lands on your doorstep?


As whichever parking firm that issued the PCNs has two possible addresses for you, what you must immediately do is email the Data Protection Officer (DPO) of the parking firm with a Data Rectification Notice (DRN) and instruct them to update their records with your current address for service and to erase your old address. The highlighted words are there for a reason, so use them.


Once you've told us who the parking firm is, we may be able to give you further advice on how to proceed.
Title: DCBL unpaid parking charge NOT received
Post by: elatif on November 02, 2025, 05:42:46 pm
Hi,

I've just received a letter from the DCBL requesting £170 for an unpaid parking charge from August 2024. I suspect the violation may likely be valid, and the reason I didn't receive it is because my address was out of date with the DVLA for about a year.

I had a similar letter a couple of weeks ago and ended up paying DCBL £120, but this time I am seriously annoyed and unwilling to pay. Is there anything I can do, considering I didn't receive the original fine due to an incorrect address with the DVLA.

Similarly, is there any way to find out if I have any other outstanding fines which may soon be taken to DCBL as well? This has started to really concern me, as I do not know how many charges have been sent to an address that I am no longer at, and have no way of contacting.

Thanks