Parking Control Management PCN

FingersLily

Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help me. I have spent many hours searching for answers but have drawn a blank.

Last week (28th June) I parked in a clearly marked bay in a street that I had not been to before. I was visiting an office building opposite.

I checked to see if there were any parking restrictions in the bay but couldn't see any.

When I returned to my car a few hours later I found I had been issued a PCN. Apparently the bay was for residents only & I had no permit.

It turns out there were signs explaining this but they are on the opposite side of the road attached to the fence of the office car park. They are 'displayed' at a height of about 2 feet from the ground.

I saw these signs when parking but I assumed they applied to the car park. They state that a permit is required in this area but do not specifically state this applies to the parking bays. Annoyingly I could have used the car park but didn't because I thought I needed a permit! At no point were the bays full up. For most of the time I was the only car in the road so nobody was inconvenienced.

Also the road name has been spelt wrongly on the PCN. It says 'The Quadrent' whereas the road name is 'The Quadrant'.

I appealed stating my reason for parking in the bay, that I checked for signs & assumed that, as the signs were on the car park fence I assumed they applied to the car park. I've received a letter today saying my appeal is rejected.

The appeal letter says I can appeal to POPLA but there is no reference number. I have read elsewhere that I should be given a ref. Is this correct?

Is there any ruling regarding the positioning, height, location, etc. of signs?

Does it matter that the road name has been mis-spelt on the PCN and the reply to my appeal and on the evidence photos?

I only have 7 days left to pay before the fine is increased so any help would be massively appreciated.

Thank you

Stroma

It's not a fine!

Write to them like this


Name
Address

Ref xxxx

Date


Dear Parking Company


Thank you for the rejection of the challenge to your company. Under the BPA Code of Practice you should supply a popla verification code, but you have not.

You mention this also in your rejection, but its a little bit difficult to appeal to them when your company are being obstructive by breaching your industry code of practice.

The next response from your company is either give the popla code or after 35 days the challenge will be automatically accepted from the date of the first challenge to you.

Faithfully

Your name ( printed)

Coupon-mad

Does the letter include a POPLA form? Maybe the code is on it. Or is there a 10 digit code hidden anywhere in the letter, anywhere at all?

FingersLily

There is a ten digit Verification Code at the top of the letter. It doesn't mention anywhere that this is the relevant code for POPLA but could this be it?

Stroma

Hmmm so they say you can appeal to popla then don't explain what that is, neither do they tell you what the reference number is for. This letter is worthy of adding to the popla appeal if this number is the popla code. They are being obstructive as expecting people to know this is underhanded.

Coupon-mad

FingersLily wrote: »

There is a ten digit Verification Code at the top of the letter. It doesn't mention anywhere that this is the relevant code for POPLA but could this be it?

GOTCHA!

OK, is the 4th digit a 1 and the 5th digit an 8, and then the 7th digit a 3?

FingersLily

Yes, exactly as you describe coupon-mad.

At the top of the letter it quotes the PCN number. Below this is the vehicle registration and below that it says Verification Code in the format you describe.

At the bottom of the letter it says I may make an appeal to POPLA and gives the website address but nowhere does it say anything about a code.

Coupon-mad

That is a POPLA code generated this week! Very norty of them, I had a sneaky feeling there would be one on the letter as this is PCM and they are one of the worst ex-clampers, absolute chancers.

Here's a standard reply of mine with links about how to win a POPLA appeal:

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

Read the links and come up with your own POPLA appeal, NOT written about what happened and not giving excuses (you will see when you look at example POPLA appeals what we mean). Spend some time on it, copying & pasting stuff that's relevant (if in doubt include it) then post your draft here please so we can help.

FingersLily

Thanks very much for your help.

Do you think I definitely have to go down the POPLA route? I can't really afford to pay the charge & I definitely don't want to risk the increased charge because I have appealed if I lose the appeal.

Do you know if there is any specific ruling regarding sign locations & sizes? The fact that they are tiny, low down & on the opposite side of the road meant I was genuinely mislead.

Also, the fact that the road name has been spelt wrongly in all correspondence doesn't make the charge invalid I suppose?

If you do feel POPLA is the only option I have then I will take it but I am worried about losing the appeal. If I do, I don't see that I then have any further options.

Thanks again.

Stroma

The road name makes no difference, this is not a council ticket where it could make a difference. Going down the popla route with guidance will win it, the guys here and pepipoo.com are running at a 100% success rate at the moment, so you will win.

FingersLily

Thanks Stroma. Your help & advice are hugely appreciated.
I will appeal to POPLA but would it be ok to post my appeal here first for your comments? I want to get this right as I cannot afford to lose.