Civil Enforcement Ltd - telephone system

Markham

Just received a Parking Enforcement Notice. At the time I made two attempts to call the telephone number on the board to pay for the car parking but their system was down and the automated message told me to refer to board for alternative options - I looked and there weren't any other options. My mobile phone bill shows the date and times that I tried to call twice at this point I was stood under the sign in the car park and I have a copy of my bill to show this. My notice says I parked at a specific time but my mobile bill shows I was still calling 10 mins after their timings - I attempted to pay, I left a note with my mob number on dash board - it was a new system at the car park previously be a coin machine. I can and do operate these systems elsewhere but this automated message said that it was unable to process my payment please check the board for alternative method and there wasn't one - do I have grounds for appeal or should I just pay ? £75 rising to £150 !!! In other words is it worth fighting.

Stroma

This company has recently been issuing claims in court, but mostly for pre october 2012 fake tickets, so please be aware of that.

If this is England or Wales you have 3 choices

1) pay them
2) appeal then go through popla when they refuse you
3) ignore them

I don't recommend the first one obviously as this is a money saving website. The second would probably be your best choice, but you'll need help here from us. The third works in a vast majority of cases, but bare in mind the advice above about claims.

A word of advice about your post, please remove the precise times as it could be used to identify you to them

Markham

Many thanks, I will try to amend my post and appeal - I have found the appeal letter template on this site which I can try but worried it will end up being a big bill. Wondered if the system being down was grounds for an appeal?

Stroma

If you going to appeal this try something like this, ensure that you give them little wriggle room in the appeal. They must give you a response within 35 days or they time themselves out. Their protracted appeal breaks the bpa code of practice, and will leave you dealing with this for many months. Don't allow them to do that, bluntly tell them that you will go to popla if they refuse you.


Name
Address
Date

Dear Civil Enforcement

I want to appeal your invoice xxxx at xxxx car park on the xx/xx/xxxx I accept no liability to your company as your systems were not working on this day.

I require that you cancel this invoice immediately. If you reject my appeal, I require a popla verification code within 35 days of the date of this appeal, per the BPA code of practice.

I have no further information to provide to you, and so consider this my final position to you.

Sincerely
Mr Not a mug

Markham

Great, will take your advice, many thanks

Coupon-mad

Markham wrote: »

Great, will take your advice, many thanks

Hope you realise that this is a scam company who will reject any appeal? You will need to take it to POPLA to win the appeal (but with help from here to word that appeal in a much stronger way) then you will win it. You do need to appeal to the scammers first though, as explained here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4263959

Here's my usual response which explains the basics of the fake PCN scam and gives you lots of links to read so you know not to pay this piece of rubbish:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/60385835#Comment_60385835

You have not even got a real parking ticket, follow the links and see it for what it really is.

Markham

Appeal letter worded as suggested sending it recorded delivery today - thank you for your advice - now lets wait and see.