UKCPS Parking Charge Notice

Circus4

Hi,
I have been reading many of the threads on this board and the advice they contain for a number of weeks now. Obviously, my motivation stems from having received a PCN from UKCPS in Lincoln and wondering what I can do about it.

Here's the story:
Sunday 26 May 2045Hrs, went to cinema and found multi-storey closed. As we were a little late, the car was parked in the open (no gate, no barriers) car park of an NHS building opposite the multi-storey.. Other cars were parked there and knowing that the building only operated Mon to Fri during normal office hours, I thought it safe to park. Bit of a rush, didn't notice any signs and off we went.
Got back to the car a little after 2300Hrs and found PCN stuck to the windscreen of mine and every other car there. Had a quick look around and found some signs and noted three types. No camera with me but returned a couple of days later and photographed everything.
Over the next few days I trawled the net, including this forum as well as Peppipoo and others. On 6th June (9 days later), using a template I found online, I challenged (including photo) the PCN to the e-mail address it said I could use for such purposes. To date, I have received no acknowledgement and no reply.
However, yesterday 1st July, I have received a Notice to Keeper dated 28 June 2013. It does not acknowledge my challenge of 6th June in any way.
I am not sure how to proceed from here.
Thanks in advance for any advice, which will be gratefully received.

Hovite_2

There's a number of ways to tackle this one but my preferred one would be to wait until the 11th July. UKCPS have until then to issue a POPLA code if they reject your appeal. If they don't then your appeal is automatically upheld. You could then send them an email saying as they haven't responded to your appeal in the statutory time the appeal is deemed upheld.

Guys_Dad

Use stroma's initial appeal letter here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4682499

Then wait for rejection and we help you submit a real appeal to POPLA.

You could add into the stroma letter a simple sentence saying. I already appealed previously on xx/xx/xxxx which you failed to acknowledge

bazster

I was going to say something similar i.e. send a soft appeal, but having seen Hovite's post I agree with him. You already appealed, if they lost it then tough. Just wait for your appeal to time-out.

nigelbb

Did you receive an email acknowledgement of your appeal? If not then assume they will deny receiving it but never mind we don't recommend appealing until you receive the NTK anyway.

Guys_Dad

I don't disagree with Hovite or Bazster views.

Being a bit cautious, I would not want to rely on the time out on its own. I would wait till after 11th July, then send in the soft appeal but telling them that one of your appeal to POPLA points will be their failure to adhere to the requirement to respond to your initial appeal on time.

bazster

Guys_Dad wrote: »

I don't disagree with Hovite or Bazster views.

Being a bit cautious, I would not want to rely on the time out on its own. I would wait till after 11th July, then send in the soft appeal but telling them that one of your appeal to POPLA points will be their failure to adhere to the requirement to respond to your initial appeal on time.

Yes, I agree, belt-and-braces.

Coupon-mad

UKCPS say on their fake PCNs that you can email an appeal. But you cannot, we've seen it before from other posters.

So treat it as if you had not yet appealed (you jumped the gun anyway as we would have told you to wait until this letter). But it's a good idea to wait until after 11th July to send that soft challenge and add that you emailed an appeal and it was ignored. Do not say who was driving (even if your email template did).

Circus4

Thank you for all you replies. Much appreciated.
Of the advice received, I think waiting until after 11th July and sending in the soft appeal sounds the most sensible.
I notice that Sandflyer has today posted a similar problem in the same car-park a week before mine (post title: UKCPS Car Parking Ticket). I wonder if we might be of use to eachother?

Coupon-mad

Circus4 wrote: »

Thank you for all you replies. Much appreciated.
Of the advice received, I think waiting until after 11th July and sending in the soft appeal sounds the most sensible.
I notice that Sandflyer has today posted a similar problem in the same car-park a week before mine (post title: UKCPS Car Parking Ticket). I wonder if we might be of use to eachother?

Yep you can compare notes but you both have to see your POPLA appeals through separately.

I would also suggest you consider a longer appeal if that sits better with you, not least because a strong first appeal made UKCPS give up early in this case:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=79697&st=0

Worth a thought. If you do a longer, strong first appeal make sure it still doesn't accidentally imply who was driving!

Circus4

Hi,
Looking at the advice greatfully received above, I have chosen to wait until after the 11 July and send the soft option as follows:

In reference to the speculative invoice received 01 July 2013, dated 28 June 2013, the keeper denies all liability to your company as it is an unlawful punitive charge, thus a penalty!

Further, as you have failed to reply to the challenge of 06 June 2013, as you are required to do by the British Parking Association Code of Practice Version 2, dated March 2013, the challenge is deemed accepted and the keeper considers the matter closed.

The keeper has nothing further to add, and will not respond to any correspondence from your company unless it contains the POPLA code, furthermore the keeper is fully aware that you must pay £27+Vat for this, so don't forget!

Does anyone have any further suggestions before I send?

Thanks to all.