Notice of Debt Recovery for PCN not received.

[Blithdale]

I have received a Notice of Debt Recovery from DCBL stating that I have an unpaid parking charge of £170.00 and if I do not pay they will instruct their client to commence legal action against me.
I did not receive the original PCN or subsequent reminder letters from their client and as such did not know I had allegedly committed a parking offence until I received a Final Demand for Payment letter from UCS demanding that I pay £170.00. CSB Solicitors then wrote to me demanding payment, and now the matter is with DCBL. It wasn't until I received correspondence from CSB Solicitors that I found out when and where the alleged parking offence occurred.
I have not corresponded with any of these people, because they all stated in their correspondence that I can no longer appeal the parking charge. I would have paid the £60 charge if I had received a PCN in the post, but I did not get the opportunity. I am very reluctantly having to consider paying the £170.00 because I want the harassment to end, but what is stopping me is this seems very much like a scam.
Any advice or guidance you can offer me would be very much appreciated.
Thank you.

[DE DOGS]

Write to the Solicitors and ask for all details of the offence.Date /time.as it is possible a cloned car/vehicle.

[des8]

But when writing (or posting on here) do not identify the driver, nor admit or suggest you might have been the driver.

Can you post up a copy of the notice from DCBL please? (remove name and address and identifying details)

[Blithdale]

Thank you.
I have attached the letter from DCBL as requested, with identifying details covered up.

[des8]

so that is solely a debt collector trying to extort money for an alleged parking contravention.

If you don't pay they will "refer the matter back to the parking company" who will then instruct solicitors to pursue the matter.
In practice this means passing the matter to the next desk and you will receive demands from DCB Legal ltd who are solicitors!

Eventually if you don't pay (and appealing to them won't stop the process) they will initiate a court claim.
This can be defended.
Sometimes they will discontinue the claim, or just not turn up in court ('cos that can cost them more than they can recover even if they win!)

[Blithdale]

That is the scary part of all of this, being taken to court.
Basically, it's my word against theirs. I know I didn't receive a PCN, therefore I didn't have the opportunity to appeal the parking contravention and if necessary, pay the lower £60 fine.
What is driving me to see this through to it's conclusion is how extortionate this appears to be, but I don't know if I have the nerve to do it.

[des8]

altho' as a first timer within the court process you will find it stressful, it is really the anticipation which is stressful.
The actual court hearing is quite relaxed, normally sitting around a couple of desks in a small room, in suits or smart clothing.
No wigs or shouts of objection.
The judge leads and asks each side for their version,
Don't interrupt, remain courteous and call him "sir" or her "Ma'am"
The hard work comes in preparing a defence and witness statement, and we can help you

Your defence will have nothing to do with not receiving the original PCN, but with their (inevitable) errors and attempting to increase the costs.
Sometimes successfully has the claim dismissed, other times lost but award is less than claimed, other times lost.
It all depends on how the hearing goes.

Whether or not you decide to continue with the dispute will probably depend on your situation
I'm retired , so a day in court is a day out .so I would defend, but If you are working it might mean loss of earnings or holiday.

If you lose costs are low, if you win recoverable costs are also low.