Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello everyone.
Bit of a long read.
22/02/25 I had to use a hire van to help a family member relocate. At her flat, there were parking restrictions: registered users only.

Anyone not registered, normal procedure is to email the managing agency who would mark the vehicle as exempt.
I emailed the agency and received confirmation email from UKPC on 24/02/25 confirming that the vehicle is exempt.

https://ibb.co/p6LJybhS

If the vehicle was exempt, why did they send a PCN in the first place!

Come end of April, i received Final reminder PCN, presume because it went first to the hire company and then circled back to me. I appealed, which apparently got rejected because I didn't appeal in time.

They kept on sending letters every month which I ignored but today they sent a Letter of claim.

What to do next. Please advise.

Did you receive a Notice to Hirer sent to you in your own name?
If so, what else came with it, probably nothing.
If not, how do you know about the PCN?

If nothing else, we probably need to see the letters you have received. https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/read-this-first-private-parking-charges-forum-guide/

It was notice to hirer. Don't remember when exactly but as soon as i received it, i appealed straightaway because i already had proof that the vehicle was exempt

Bottom line is that DCB Legal will appear to take you to court, will issue papers, you will get help here in what to do, and DCB Legal will almost certainly discontinue before having to pay the court fee.

Bad move identifying the driver! Never, ever, EVER identify the driver. Only the driver is ever liable and they have no idea who that is until you blabbed it to them. Unless the operator complies fully with ALL the requirements of PoFA, they cannot pursue the Keeper/Hirer.

Anyway, you are where you are. Respond to the LoC with the following to info@dcblegal.co.uk and CC yourself:

Subject: Response to your Letter of Claim Ref: [reference number]

Dear Sirs,

Your Letter Before Claim contains insufficient detail of the claim and fails to provide copies of the evidence your client places reliance upon, putting it in clear breach of the Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims.

As a supposed firm of solicitors, one would expect you to comply with paragraphs 3.1(a)–(d), 5.1 and 5.2 of the Protocol, and paragraphs 6(a) and 6(c) of the Practice Direction. These provisions exist to facilitate informed discussion and proportionate resolution. You may wish to reacquaint yourselves with them.

The Civil Procedure Rules 1998, Pre-Action Conduct and Protocols (Part 3), require the exchange of sufficient information to understand each other’s position. Part 6 clarifies that this includes disclosure of key documents relevant to the issues in dispute.

Your template letter refers to a “contract” yet encloses none. That omission undermines the only foundation upon which your client’s claim allegedly rests. It is not possible to engage in meaningful pre-litigation dialogue while you decline to furnish the very document you purport to enforce.

I confirm that, once I am in receipt of a Letter Before Claim that complies with para 3.1(a), I shall seek advice and submit a formal response within 30 days, as required. Accordingly, please provide:

1. A copy of the original Notice to Keeper (NtK) and any notice chain relied upon to assert PoFA 2012 liability.

2. A copy of the contract you allege exists between your client and the driver, being an actual photograph of the sign(s) in place on the material date (not a stock image), together with a site plan showing the sign locations.

3. The precise wording of the clause(s) allegedly breached.

4. The written agreement between your client and the landowner evidencing standing/authority to enforce and to litigate.

5. A breakdown of the sums claimed, identifying whether the principal sum is claimed as consideration or damages, and whether the £70 “debt recovery” add-on includes VAT.


I am entitled to this information under paragraphs 6(a) and 6(c) of the Practice Direction, and I require it to meet my own obligation under paragraph 6(b).

If you fail to provide the above, I will treat that as non-compliance with the PAPDC and Pre-Action Conduct and will raise a formal complaint to the SRA regarding your conduct. I reserve the right to place this correspondence before the Court and to seek appropriate sanctions and costs (including, where appropriate, a stay and/or other case management orders).

Until your client complies and provides the requested material, I am unable to respond properly to the alleged claim or to consider my position. It would be premature and a waste of costs and court time to issue proceedings. Should you do so, I will seek immediate case management relief pursuant to paragraph 15(b) of the Practice Direction and an order compelling provision of the above.

Please note, I will not engage with any web portal; I will only respond by email or post.

Yours faithfully,

[Your name]

If you follow the advice you get here, you will not be paying a penny to anyone over this.