Parking eye Notice - The Range - Bolton

Discobadger

Hi,

I've spent some time trawling this site for advice on how best to proceed but I thought I'd take the time to post before I go any further.

I recently had to meet my ex-wife to discuss some sensitive issues and we arranged to meet on "The Range" car park in Bolton.

I arrived at 8.45pm on a Sunday evening, stayed with my car, had a discussion with my ex-wife and left some 35 minutes later.
On Monday 1st July I received a "Parking Charge Notice" telling me I have to pay a £100 charge, reduced to £60 if I pay within 14 days.

I am extremely frustrated as I never saw the notices in the car park and had absolutely no idea that Parking Eye was operational on this.

We had arranged to meet there as it was late on a Sunday evening and the shop would be closed therefore the car park was empty.

Some advice on this board says to ignore the letter and some say to appeal. Please can someone tell me the best way to go about this?

Sorry if this has been asked hundreds of times I just want to make sure.

Thanks

Umkomaas

Does the store normally have a screen to input your car registration number? I suspect that is the case. So if you drive into the car park at any time the store is shut then you can't input a number so the camera image can't reconcile your car with an inputted number.

Then it's kerching time and a PE gotcha. Lovely jubbly.

This is almost entrapment - if The Range don't want you there after closing, simply put up a locked gate.

Having seen a documentary on The Range's owner, Chris Dawson, I would be very surprised if he's not getting some significant back-hander from PE - as he admitted that he's motivated by greed and anything he touches needs to turn him a profit. Very contented bedfellows I suspect.

Get POPLA code after a soft appeal (see other threads for examples), then the first POPLA appeal point is sight of contract between The Range and PE.

HTH

spacey2012

Umkomaas wrote: »

D
Having seen a documentary on The Range's owner, Chris Dawson, I would be very surprised if he's not getting some significant back-hander from PE - as he admitted that he's motivated by greed and anything he touches needs to turn him a profit. V
HTH

Everything I Touch from the Range Drops to bits.

Discobadger

Umkomaas wrote: »

Does the store normally have a screen to input your car registration number? I suspect that is the case. So if you drive into the car park at any time the store is shut then you can't input a number so the camera image can't reconcile your car with an inputted number.

There's nothing to input your car reg, I just presume it comes online out of store opening hours.

Am I best simply appealing explaining what happened or is there a particular way to format the appeal?

Thanks

bazster

See this thread, perzackly the same scenario:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4686961

Guys_Dad

No reason not to go down the "soft appeal knowing it will fail" route with the specific aim to get a POPLA code. That's where you put in th expanded appeal points.

Suggest you do that as you are not going to get help from the Range.

Umkomaas

Discobadger wrote: »

There's nothing to input your car reg, I just presume it comes online out of store opening hours.

Am I best simply appealing explaining what happened or is there a particular way to format the appeal?

Thanks

You do need to have a good read of the latest threads. Appeals based on 'telling your story' will result in a guaranteed rejection, so don't waste your breath or typing on that approach. Whatever you send to the PPC will result in rejection (99% certainty), so your appeal 'strategy' must be focused on the 'independent' appeals service POPLA.

In order to get to the POPLA stage you must firstly appeal to the PPC, who are required, on rejection to issue you with a POPLA verification code, which opens your door to POPLA - you can't access them without going through the outlined process above - no short cut available.

Now here's an example of a 'soft' challenge I drafted for another poster:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.php?p=62104553&postcount=2

There's also a final paragraph you need to tag on that is now recommended as many PPCs are dragging their heels in supplying a POPLA code:

Failure to send a POPLA code would be a breach of the BPA Code of Practice. Be advised that failure to comply with a code of conduct to which you have committed would be an offence under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, and I would not hesitate to report such a breach to the BPA, DVLA and Trading Standards.

Send this off, don't worry about the combative nature of the challenge - it won't make any difference to the outcome, but it will put PE on notice that you know something (or receiving informed advice) about this process. But always be careful in putting this soft challenge together NOT to reveal who the driver was, always write in the third person, never I, me, or we.

Just one question that maybe I should have asked at the outset - can you confirm whether the date of the receipt of your letter from PE was within 14 days of the date you parked at The Range? No need to give actual dates - just a yes/no at this stage.

Then have a look around the recent forum topics and get yourself acquainted with the way things are done ready for POPLA.

HTH

Coupon-mad

Even though the CEO seems to leave a lot to be desired as a 'people person'! I think our next facebook target should be The Range.

bazster

coupon-mad wrote: »

even though the ceo seems to leave a lot to be desired as a 'people person'! I think our next facebook target should be the range.

yesssssss!

fil_cad

Looks like PE are infesting all range stores now

surfboy1

I have just started the ball rolling on the Range Facebook page.