NCP fine for app payment error

Hi, I’m sorry if I’m posting a new thread about old news but I can’t find a similar case in other threads so my apologies if I’m covering old ground.

I recently received a ‘Parked without payment of the parking charge’ fine from NCP.

On the day I used the NCP carpark Ii was freezing cold and raining and only one pay and display machine was working so I followed the example of another woman waiting to pay and paid for my parking on my PayByPhone app. So I appealed the fine to NCP directly providing both an email receipt and app screen grab of proof of payment. However it turns out that NCP only except payment using RingGo so unbeknown to me the parking code that I used (the code displayed in the car park) paid for 90 minutes of parking in a different location.

Did I make a mistake? Yes but as far as I am concerned I legitimately paid for my parking. I don’t know the area I was parked in so didn’t know that the car park I was in was Luton Old Court House and not Church End.

If NCP only excepts payments using the RingGo app they should state that on their boards. They give plenty of space (on the outside of the carpark) to information about fines for not paying so why not make the ways of paying clearer? It’s almost like they want us to mess up.

What are my chances that POPLA will grant my appeal and see my case as a legitimate mistake? And if they reject my appeal what should I do next?

Thanks in advance for any help and assistance.