DCBL Parking Fine Scotland – Should You Pay?

Have you received a DCBL parking fine in Scotland and are unsure whether to pay or appeal? This is the right spot for you. 

Every month, over 130,000 people visit our website for help with fines and parking tickets. You are not the only one in this situation. In fact, the DVLA report that over 11 million parking tickets were issued last year, which is up by 29% year on year!¹

In this guide, we’ll provide simple and clear advice on:

•  Who DCBL are, and what they do
•  If you really need to pay DCBL parking fines
•  Steps to take if you decide to appeal a DCBL parking fine
•  What happens if you receive a letter or call from DCBL
•  How DCBL operates in Scotland

We know that getting a private parking fine can be upsetting. But there’s no need to worry. We are here to help you understand more about DCBL parking fines in Scotland.

Do You Have to Pay DCBL Parking Fines?

DCBL may initially contact you in the early stages of a debt collection process. To clarify, you may be contacted by them just to let you know about the debt on a parking charge. However, if you ignore them, things can quickly escalate.

You’ll have to pay DCBL when you owe the debt and there’s a judgement against you. But you could negotiate a payment schedule.

What should I do when I get a DCBL letter or call?

When DCBL contacts you, it could mean a judge has ruled you have to pay the parking charge. In short, there could be a County Court Judgement (CCJ) against you for an unpaid debt.

In short, you might have a legal obligation to pay the parking fine in Scotland and there’s no getting out of it. Once an enforcement agent (bailiff) is involved, you may have to pay up.

However, first make sure the debt is yours, mistakes do happen! I suggest you ask DCBL for a ‘prove the debt letter’. Even when you owe the money, you should make the request!

It buys you a little more time to sort your finances out if you need to.

Note: Make sure you keep all the correspondence you get and send for future reference!

What happens after they prove the debt?

If DCBL proves the debt, you’ll have to pay the amount you owe on the parking charge. However, if the debt can’t be proved, you won’t have to pay providing there’s no court order to do so.

Should I ignore the letter?

No. Do not ignore any sort of correspondence you get from DCBL. However, first you need to familiarise yourself with your rights. Next, read up on what an enforcement agent can or cannot legally do.

Note: Complaints filed with the Financial Ombudsman have gone up over recent times which means you are definitely not alone!

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

I can’t afford the parking charge. What should I do?

If you can’t pay DCBL, don’t panic. Talk to their team and sort out a repayment plan you can afford. Moreover, seek advice from a debt charity if you are really worried about things.

Note: There are debt solutions but you have to choose the right one!

Do NOT ignore DCBL because if you do and there’s a CCJ against you, they could take your belongings and assets to repay the debt.

What is their debt collection process?

Debt collectors and bailiffs must act lawfully when recovering a debt. They cannot use questionable tactics which includes:

·         Applying pressure

·         Calling you incessantly

·         Bullying tactics

·         Pretending to have powers they do not

According to Debt Support Trust, 50% of people get suicidal when in debt. Their situation and state of mind are often made worse when confronted with a debt collector or bailiff.

Paying the parking fine debt online

Initially DCBL tries to get paid over the phone. However, you can also pay online if you know you owe the debt and don’t want the stress of having to speak with them.

All you have to do is:

·         Go to the DCBL website

·         Click the ‘make a payment’ tab

·         Enter the reference number and your postcode

·         Enter payment option (debit or credit card)

What rules do they have to follow?

There are strict guidelines to how DCBL can operate. The Office for Fair Trading outlines the rules which are:

·         Not to use aggressive, deceptive, or coercive tactics to recover a debt

·         To speak clearly so as not to confuse you

·         Remain flexible and considerate

·         Taking into account your circumstances when agreeing a repayment plan/debt solution

You have the right to report DCBL to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if you feel they broke any of these rules. They will launch an investigation into your complaint and could revoke licences to recover debts.

Can Dcbl enforce in Scotland?

DCBL enforcement agents are allowed to carry out pre-court debt recovery in Scotland. This includes debtor tracing.

References

1. RAC Foundation – Parking Tickets Statistics