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Messages - CD

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1
Thanks for clarification - all a bit new to me and out of my comfort zone. I've created an online account today and completed an acknowledgement of service online, indicting I will dispute the claim.

I would really appreciate some assistance on what to set out as my defence case for my situation.

Once I have replied with a defence case does the HM Courts and Tribunals Service review the defence or do they have to set a court date?
Do DCB Legal have to decide whether to proceed after the defence has been issued or are they already committed to the process?

Thank You.

CD

2
Thanks for the reassurance - much appreciated. I will wait for some input how best to proceed.

CD

4
Good Afternoon,

I replied as per the advice. Today I received a claims form from HM Courts Tribunals Service and have to send a reply within 14 days.

I will attach the link to the paperwork I have received but the breakdown of the claim amounts to DCB Legal Ltd claiming £170 for the PCN plus £15.88 interest, £35 court fee and £50 legal representative costs.

I would appreciate some advice on how best to respond.

Thanks

CD

5
Thanks for the advice and the words!

I have sent it to them as you set it out. Hopefully will do the trick and they will see the light but who knows with them! Will be in contact if I hear anything else back.

Thanks again for your help and advice.

CD

6
Hi guys,

I've attached the "evidence" included with their e-mail. Any suggestions / advice regarding a response to their letter?

Thanks

7
https://i.postimg.cc/sD4Xb4TH/evidence.png

Link attached as requested. Seems to be original PCN with the original reminder and then several photos of generic signage around the car park.

8
Good Afternoon,

I followed the advice and sent the appropriate response from the template and have now had the below response from DCB Legal via e-mail. Could you please advise what response I should send. They have requested a response within 30 days which is 14th Feb. I've been a bit distracted with a family illness so haven't had a chance to respond yet but still within time.

The reference to their attached document was just them scanning the original PCN, which I obviously already had.

Thank You.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We write in response to your recent correspondence in response to our Letter of Claim (LOC) and will now respond as follows.

It is our position that the Letter of Claim (“LOC”) is compliant with the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims (“the Protocol”). The LOC provides adequate information for you to identify the debt that our Client is seeking to recover. We would respectfully draw your attention to paragraph 2.1(c) of the Protocol and remind you that both parties are expected to act reasonably and proportionately.

For the avoidance of doubt, please note that the timeframe in which to appeal the Parking Charge has expired. You were given the opportunity to lodge an appeal when the initial Notice was issued to you. Given that the case has been escalated to this firm for recovery action, the time to appeal has now elapsed and payment of the Parking Charge(s) is now required.

The amount owed is a genuine pre-estimate of the losses incurred in managing the parking location to ensure compliance with the clearly displayed terms and conditions. Further, in accordance with the British Parking Association (BPA)/International Parking Community (IPC) Code of Practice, where the Parking Charge becomes overdue and before Court proceedings have commenced, a reasonable sum may be added for the debt recovery fees. The correct recovery fees have been added and will not be removed, for completeness we would advise that the fee is not inclusive of any VAT, as it does not pertain to a supply of goods/services between you and our Client.

To clarify, when parking on private land, the contractual terms of the site are set out on the signs. You are thus entering into a contract (by way of conduct) and agreeing to the terms by parking and staying on the site. Parking in breach of the terms as stipulated on the signage means that you are then breaking the terms of the contract.

Attached are copies of evidence pertaining to the matter, however, if there are any documents that you have requested, but that are not attached, it is because we have deemed the request to be disproportionate and/or not relevant to the substantive issues in dispute. We respectfully draw your attention to paragraph 2.1(c) of the Protocol and remind you that both parties are expected to act reasonably and proportionately.

You now have 30 days from the date of this email to make payment of the amount as per our Letter of Claim. Failure to make payment will result in a Claim being issued against you without any further reference.

Payment can be made via bank transfer to our designated client account:

Please note that in the absence of payment in the next 30 days, our position remains as previously advised. As such, should our client instruct us to proceed with further legal action, we reserve the right to do so without any further reference to you.

If you are at all unsure of your legal position, we recommend that you seek your own independent legal advice

Kind Regards,

Litigation Support Team

DCB Legal Ltd

9
Thanks so much for the template and the advice.

I have copied and e-mailed them the response you set out, to dcb legal today and will await their reply.

I'm sure they will carry on with the intimidating letters but will pop back for more advice once I hear anything back.

Thanks again - you guys give me faith there are decent, knowledgeable people out there willing to help those that need it to stand up to these highway robbers.

CD

10
They have requested response via www.dcblegal.co.uk/response and to complete a financial statement. Should I be responding via this method or letter via registered post or does it matter?

11
Thanks for info - I'll give it a try.

12
Thanks - I did read something in another thread about that (and METPS contesting it). Do you think just send a reply on that point? Has there been cases that have found on this basis (or have they not gone to court?). The Driver has not been declared / identified.

13
Hi there,

I would appreciate some advice on this case. I've had a look through the internet and on this forum and appreciate this appears to be a particularly prominent car park where MET Parking Services are issuing people with tickets for basically nothing and then attempting to intimidate them into paying through veiled threats of legal action and debt recovery via different letterhead letters. I note that numerous of these incidents have been highlighted in the mainstream media including newspaper and online articles as well as TV shows, (Jo Lucett), unfortunately discovered all these post PCN.

From what I read in the online content there seemed little point in the appeal process so have taken the stance of completely ignoring all correspondence so far up to now without replying, (PCN + 9 letters). However, have just received a "Letter of Claim", which I believe requires a response?

PCN was apparently issued on 30/12/24 for parking incident on 22/12/24. Didn't receive PCN until 08/01/25 (after the 14 days), but not sure that can be proved. On 22/12/24 the driver entered the car park at 23:53:10 and parked outside Starbucks, Southgate Park with the intention of using the store to make a purchase for food and drink and use the facilities. However, once parked it was found that Starbucks was actually closed, which was not initially clear due to driving and time of night /weather. On checking the signage it indicated that there was free 1 hour parking for customers.

As Starbucks was closed and the McDonalds immediately next to it in the same site was open the driver walked the very short distance to McDonalds where a purchase was made as a customer and the facilities were used. At 00:49:01, 55 minutes later the driver drove out of the car park within the 1 hour limit. A PCN was later received addressed to the registered keeper which indicated the vehicle had remained on the site on the date for "55 minutes, being longer than the period of parking that had been paid for or without authorisation" and apparently "in breach of the t&c's displayed on signs in prominent places".

I have since read articles online where it appears people have had the exact same situation and where MET Parking Services claim the car parks for Starbucks and McDonalds are separate businesses / car parks and marked as such, (which clearly is not true). It was cold, wet and dark at the time of the visit and the signage was vague and poorly lit but indicated in large writing there was free parking for 1 hour for customers. There was no indication that Starbucks and McDonalds would be treated separately as they were in the same car / retail park and there was no clear indication in the car park of any meaningful separation between either establishment

I have also seen other articles suggesting when the store is open there is a screen inside Starbucks to enter vehicle registration details when using the store, but even this isn't clear as a requirement and people have received tickets when parking in the car parkand using Starbucks. Obviously as it was closed there was no option to enter vehicle details or ask anyone permission to park there nor was there a facility to enter vehicle details in Mcdonalds. It certainly was not clear that in making a purchase in McDonalds you would not be classed as customer and the suggestion would be you were in a separate car park, (especially when there is one shared entrance / exit).

I enclose a copy of the PCN and latest letter of claim as well as some pictures and would appreciate advice how best to proceed.

Thanks

https://i.postimg.cc/6ppWX49r/MET_PCN_(edit).png

https://i.postimg.cc/9FnmcFrG/PCN_Letter_of_Claim_(edit).png

https://i.postimg.cc/26jZWSmQ/Venue.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/RhkhgSrn/Signage.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/nrDcjysK/Signage-2.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/KY07cH3V/Map.jpg

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