Excel Parking - Parking Charge Notice

Fozz_Dog

So my heart just sank quite a lot when I just found out I received my first ever PCN.

This was in Ashton Retail Park, I'm not from Manchester and was just visiting a friend so I can't go back and check the signs but as I recall the parking there was free for half an hour. After rushing round the shops and getting back before the half an hour I was leaving the car park when my friend decided to get a Subway, without thinking I re-parked and waited in the car while my friend went in to buy our subs and then ate them in the car. Completely forgot about this until today when I received a Parking Charge Notice.

I always pay parking tickets, so feeling a bit gutted about this. I do feel like I was in the wrong, but it completely slipped my mind that I'd be going over the half an hour by sitting in the car to eat our subs.

Oh and they do have pictures of my car entering and leaving the car park.

I can't really afford the £60 charge much less the £100 "full charge" so I'm just wondering if this is worth fighting at all?

Thanks,
Chris

The_Slithy_Tove

Fozz_Dog wrote: »

I can't really afford the £60 charge much less the £100 "full charge" so I'm just wondering if this is worth fighting at all?

You can't afford it, yet you are still wondering whether to fight it (and thus pay nothing)??? Why the dilemma? The answer is obvious.

Now do a little homework by perusing the recent threads here to see how to challenge the ticket.

Stroma

Ridiculous that they only have free parking for 30 minutes in a retail park. This is an ANPR fake ticket probably, did you get the notice to keeper within 14 days of parking ? Are you over 18 at the time of parking? Are you the registered keeper?

Thanks

Coupon-mad

Fozz_Dog wrote: »

So my heart just sank quite a lot when I just found out I received my first ever PCN.

This was in Ashton Retail Park, I'm not from Manchester and was just visiting a friend so I can't go back and check the signs but as I recall the parking there was free for half an hour. After rushing round the shops and getting back before the half an hour I was leaving the car park when my friend decided to get a Subway, without thinking I re-parked and waited in the car while my friend went in to buy our subs and then ate them in the car. Completely forgot about this until today when I received a Parking Charge Notice for staying in the car park for 52 minutes.

I always pay parking tickets, so feeling a bit gutted about this. I do feel like I was in the wrong, but it completely slipped my mind that I'd be going over the half an hour by sitting in the car to eat our subs.

Oh and they do have pictures of my car entering and leaving the car park 52 minutes appart.

I can't really afford the £60 charge much less the £100 "full charge" so I'm just wondering if this is worth fighting at all?

Thanks,
Chris

Wow you write about it as if it's real parking ticket! 'Tis in fact a fake one.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4596057

Do a challenge as described & linked here (without saying who was driving but enclosing copies of any receipts from 'the driver and the passenger' to prove 'they' were genuine shoppers just grabbing a few things and a sub):

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=80125&st=20&start=20

They'll reject it and pretend you have to name the driver. You do not. You may have to write a second time (again not naming the driver) and demanding a POPLA code. Read any other current threads about POPLA on page 1 - 3 of the parking forum - not just Excel cases, any private parking company (PPC) cases. Here's an Excel one I found for starters where I suggested strong wording in post#2 which may avoid having to write to the scammers twice:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4698595

Did you receive the fake PCN letter within 14 days of the incident?

Fozz_Dog

The_Slithy_Tove wrote: »

You can't afford it, yet you are still wondering whether to fight it (and thus pay nothing)??? Why the dilemma? The answer is obvious.

I'm not guaranteed to win if I fight it though, I was just worried about spending time fighting the charge and ending up paying £100 anyway. I've decided to give it a go anyway and fight the charge.

Stroma wrote: »

Ridiculous that they only have free parking for 30 minutes in a retail park. This is an ANPR fake ticket probably, did you get the notice to keeper within 14 days of parking ? Are you over 18 at the time of parking? Are you the registered keeper?

It was 30 minutes free and then pay and display afterwards, I've never seen a car park use this system before. As far as I'm aware its usually either one or the other. To me it seems like a way to lure you in, then charge you this £60 if you get held up anywhere.

The PCN is dated 11 days after parking and I received it either on the 13th or 14th day, I'm not sure which as I was away on the 13th day.

Yes I'm both over 18 and the registered keeper.

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Do a challenge as described & linked here (without saying who was driving but enclosing copies of any receipts from 'the driver and the passenger' to prove 'they' were genuine shoppers just grabbing a few things and a sub):

I have a shop receipt, which is where I got held up, timed 2 minutes before the 30 minutes was due to expire. I was sure I'd made it back before the 30 minutes were up, maybe I hadn't included the time taken to park, check the price of the ticket and then decide on where we were going. The shop is in the shopping centre opposite the retail park, so should I still include this? Also how do I talk about and include receipts without admitting it was me driving?

Also do you recommend the longer or shorter first appeals and does it make a difference. Since I cannot remember what the signs looked like (I've asked my friend to go and take some pictures when she has the chance) I was thinking about just sending a copy and paste of one of the shorter ones from one of the threads you linked. Would this be ok?

Dear Sirs

I am writing to you regarding parking charge xxxxxxxxxxx issued to vehicle xxxx xxx on xx/xx/2013, your charge is punitive and unenforceable. I require you to either cancel the charge forthwith or provide me with a POPLA code so that I can refer the matter to POPLA.

Yours faithfully
Fozz Dog

Coupon-mad

''I'm not guaranteed to win if I fight it though, I was just worried about spending time fighting the charge and ending up paying £100 anyway. I've decided to give it a go anyway and fight the charge.''


We have helped all posters win 100% of POPLA appeals written since Easter...



''Also do you recommend the longer or shorter first appeals and does it make a difference.''

Longer one because Excel play games and otherwise will make you write again for the POPLA code. So a longer one designed to force the issue and telling them that they must not reply with a template letter pretending you have to name the driver, and that you will report them to the BPA and DVLA if they don't reply with a POPLA code or cancel it.

Stroma

Yes give them little wriggle room





Name
Address

Date

Dear Excel,

In reference to the speculative invoice xxxxxx dated xxxxxx, the keeper denies all liability to your company as it is an unlawful punitive charge, thus a penalty! 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 generic 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!

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)

Fozz_Dog

So I sent them a version of Stroma's letter, and recieved an automated email asking for the PCN no, a full postal address and the name of the motorist.

I included the PCN no in the email but didn't include an address or the name. I know I'm not supposed to name the motorist in the email but I thought they wouldn't need my address since they already sent me a letter in the first place. Should I email them back with my postal address?

Thanks,
FozzDog

bazster

Fozz_Dog wrote: »

So I sent them a version of Stroma's letter, and recieved an automated email asking for the PCN no, a full postal address and the name of the motorist.

I included the PCN no in the email but didn't include an address or the name. I know I'm not supposed to name the motorist in the email but I thought they wouldn't need my address since they already sent me a letter in the first place. Should I email them back with my postal address?

Thanks,
FozzDog

No. this is their standard acknowledgment, it's a trick to try to get you to name the driver. Just wait for their next response.

Stroma

Fozz_Dog wrote: »

So I sent them a version of Stroma's letter, and recieved an automated email asking for the PCN no, a full postal address and the name of the motorist.

I included the PCN no in the email but didn't include an address or the name. I know I'm not supposed to name the motorist in the email but I thought they wouldn't need my address since they already sent me a letter in the first place. Should I email them back with my postal address?

Thanks,
FozzDog

Nope the name and address on the email could be from the keeper, the registered keeper or the driver, its not admitting anything. Its written in a way that it presumes that the RK is writing though.