MET Parking Services 'PCN' May 2013

fairdeal1

I have been reading this forum for ages but not yet found the answer I'm seeking so would appreciate advice.

I received a PCN from MET Parking in a rural train station - I park there several times a week to commute and normally use RingGo by phone. On this particular day I tried to use RingGo but couldn't get a phone or internet signal. I got on the train and tried a few times, no luck. Then stupidly I completely forgot and went about my normal day. So hands up, my fault.

When I got back that evening I had a PCN for £100 (£50 if paid in 14 days - £50 is still more than the normal car parking fee and train ticket together!).

I am - in this forum at least - not disputing that I didn't pay. But the amount is extortionate as has been said by several others.

So- I am still unclear from reading this forum if I have actually committed an offence by way of some kind of breach of contract. There are clear signs that its a pay and display or RINGO car park, but no mention as far as I recall of the size of the penalty that would be imposed.

The forum seems to indicate that an appeal on the grounds of unreasonable amounts won't wash. Some responses say do nothing, some say appeal to MET, some say don't appeal to MET but write straight to POPLA.

I was also wondering about contacting the rail company - there are no other car parking facilities apart from these to use the train service. How can they allow this kind of exploitation?!

And finally, has anyone advice on what the Office of Fair Trading might do? I found only one reference to car parking and this doesn't really help either.

Thank you in advance for reading this and to anyone who spends time in replying helpfully.

Coupon-mad

Errrrmmmm...NO THREADS anywhere tell you not to write to MET but go straight to POPLA - because you can't?!

POPLA is the second stage, after the challenge to the PPC.

Same advice as here for you too; wait for the NTK:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4620963

Don't contact the Rail Operator nor the OFT (who won't be interested). Just wait for MET to write to you unless it's a company car, as stated on that other thread. Let us know when your NTK arrives at the address of the registered keeper, in the post, and keep the envelope if the date is different then on the Notice inside.

It's a waiting game now so you may as well read about how to challenge a fake PCN (and it isn't based on it being an extortionate amount).

fairdeal1

Thanks for your reply.

I am nervous about waiting because I can't prove I couldn't get an internet signal to use RINGGO, although I did mention it to the friendly car park attendant that evening. He said they have problems all the time with phone signals.

But I guess MET could say that I should have used the ticket machine instead. If I'd done that I would have missed my train - the car park is a big one, getting a ticket and taking it back to the car takes around 5 mins. I should of course not always be in such a rush and should arrive earlier than I do. But hey, they can't fine me for poor time management can they?!

I will wait and see what happens. Thanks for your help

Coupon-mad

But you won't be challenging it on any of those points, that's not what we advise at all. A challenge does not even have to discuss what happened on the day, look here's an example:

http://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/appeal-letter/

See what I mean? Wait for the Notice to Keeper (as long as you are the keeper so you'll get that letter in the post). We know what we are doing and we know how to word the POPLA appeal to likely win for you.

fairdeal1

Thank you. Really useful to see the template letter, very reassuring.

fairdeal1

Hi Coupon-Mad

The NTK arrived today. The envelope is a pre paid one with no date on it.

You kindly offered to advise me on next steps. Are you still able to do so?

Many thanks

Hovite_2

fairdeal1 wrote: »

Hi Coupon-Mad

The NTK arrived today. The envelope is a pre paid one with no date on it.

You kindly offered to advise me on next steps. Are you still able to do so?

Many thanks

Time for a soft appeal to MET to draw them in. Send the following appeal ( thanks to Storma for the wording ! ) :

Name
Address

Date

Dear Scammers,

In regards to the invoice received with ref number xxxxxx dated xxxxxx, the keeper denies all liability to your company, if you reject this challenge the keeper requires within 35 days a popla verification code for them to appeal independently, per Version 3 of the BPA Code of Practice.

The keeper has nothing further to add, and will not respond to any correspondence from your company unless it contains the popla code. If you wish to find out why the keeper rejects all liability, pay the £27 plus vat to popla to find out

The challenge will be deemed accepted if there is no popla code on any rejection that you supply within the time-frame stipulated above.

Yours Faithfully

Your name (printed)

Then wait for the result. Come back here when you hear.

fairdeal1

Hi Hovite

A letter arrived today after I sent them your template letter.

No popla code just a letter rejecting my letter of appeal and a popla form with some guidance notices.

I presume as they have not given me a popla code as required to do, I do nothing?

Thanks

bazster

You are absolutely sure they haven't buried a 10-digit POPLA code somewhere?

fairdeal1

Oops. I checked again, and yes they have put in a verification code, written by hand at the bottom of the popla form. I am furious with myself for missing it! Thank you for asking the question.

So - any advice on my next steps?

Coupon-mad

Draft a strong POPLA appeal based on some examples you will find all over the forum!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/62180281#Comment_62180281

Show us your draft if you'd like help but it's down to you to check your Notices against the Parking Cowboys' checklist and the signs and everything against the BPA Code of Practice (have that open in another window and when looking at POPLA appeal examples if you see the BPA CoP cited you can look at the appropriate paragraph to see whether it's relevant in your case.