APCOA Gloucester Railway Station

bertikusmaximus

Hi all.

I've read through a few other threads about APCOA and their dodgy parking fines. I've had the disfortune to receive one today for "payment in lieu" at Gloucester Railway Station. It is clearly labelled as a Civil Parking Notice and is the usual amount (£80 or £50 if paid within 14 days).

What I would like to know is if anybody can advise how the Protection of Freedoms Act (?) can effect whether I should ignore this or not.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

pogofish

The PFA is not in force yet, so it could not possibly apply.

Just IGNORE them!

muckybutt

bertikusmaximus wrote: »

Hi all.

I've read through a few other threads about APCOA and their dodgy parking fines. I've had the disfortune to receive one today for "payment in lieu" at Gloucester Railway Station. It is clearly labelled as a Civil Parking Notice and is the usual amount (£80 or £50 if paid within 14 days).

What I would like to know is if anybody can advise how the Protection of Freedoms Act (?) can effect whether I should ignore this or not.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

If there is no mention of railway bylaws or it says to appeal to APCOA then its safe to ignore.

If you want to go down the route of harassment then wait for the next letter then put them under notice that further letters from them re this alleged ticket will be treated as harassment and you will seek redress through the courts.

bertikusmaximus

No, it doesn't mention railway byelaws so I think I will ignore it and wait for their, no doubt threatening, letter to come my way.

Coupon-mad

bertikusmaximus wrote: »

No, it doesn't mention railway byelaws so I think I will ignore it and wait for their, no doubt threatening, letter to come my way.

Good stuff!

It's just a scam, ignore it as long as your vehicle is not a company/ hire or leased car. This is not some sort of authority, it's not even a real parking ticket. The Protection of Freedoms Act will make no difference to you as it doesn't come in until the Autumn (and when it does poeple can still ignore these scams).

Tick off the threatening letters Here.

Watchdog clip with expert Solicitor's opinion here.

Barrister's opinion here.

HTH

Jellitott

Hello, I am suffering a similar fate from parking in the wrongarea at Glos station. I paid and displayed but apparently parked in the wrong area (20 mins waiting but there was no signage. I assume it was covered by the builders). Roxburgh are piling on the pressure and Ive gone to trading standards who have said to complain to the station operator.

I have told Roxburghe that they can take me to court. I dont mind paying and displaying, but then paying £8.20 for parking then getting a ticket for £80 is bloody cheeky!

ManxRed

It wouldn't last five minutes in court! And Roxburghes know it. And besides, they can't take court action anyway, it has to be the proper 'debt' owner or their legal representative.

And I've used inverted commas on 'debt' as you paid, so there isn't even a real debt.

Jellitott

Thank you for the reassurance. I know their grounds for court action are shakey, but their phone calls are so threatening and they really get my blood going. I can understand why people pay just to get them off their backs.

I have reportedthe incident to both Trading Standards and the station operator, as I think it disgusting that the threaten you.

ManxRed

Phone calls?

The script is this: "The debt is denied. Under Ofiice of Fair Trading guidelines you must now refer the matter back to your client. Any further contact from you will be deemed harassment and appropriate legal action may be taken against you in accordance with the Protection From Harassment Act 1997."

Then end the call. If they contact you again after that then come back here and we will advise on how you could make a claim against them for a couple of hundred quid.

Coupon-mad

Jellitott wrote: »

Thank you for the reassurance. I know their grounds for court action are shakey, but their phone calls are so threatening and they really get my blood going. I can understand why people pay just to get them off their backs.

I have reportedthe incident to both Trading Standards and the station operator, as I think it disgusting that the threaten you.

Don't let them ring you again, make the next time the last time. Take ManxRed's advice.