Successful complaints about private parking tickets - how to get them cancelled!

unicornpower

Success story from my end:

I challenged PCM UK for leaving a PCN on my friend's car over the public holiday of Platinum Jubilee Weekend and I succeeded! Building management did not want to get involved so I filed a complaint directly to the General Manager of the group CCing in PCM UK and PCM UK cancelled the PCN in 24 hours of receiving my email.

I borrowed and amended a template from one of the success story posts (the writer also wrote on behalf of the driver) and it worked. Would like to thank @bestfootie for this as it had the right amount of sarcasm and gravitas to get the job done!


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From: UP <xx@gmail.com>
Sent: 16 June 2022 20:14

Dear [BUILDING MANAGEMENT],

 

I hope you are well.

 

Please may my below complaint be forwarded to the General Manager [NAME] for her attention?

 

Thank you and kind regards,

[My name]

 

--

 

Dear [GENERAL MANAGER],

 

Re: Parking Charge Notice from PCM UK parking management [BUSINESS CENTRE ADDRESS]

 

Parking Charge Notice number:

Vehicle registration no.:

Date of event: Friday 3 June 2022

 

I was shocked to receive a Parking Charge Notice dated 3 June 2022 from your parking agents PCM UK at [BUSINESS CENTRE ADDRESS] (PCM UK are in cc).

 

I am a tenant in the building (Unit No. xx) and on the day in question, I authorised my visitor to come to the premises. The visitor was driving a car, they parked their vehicle correctly in the marked visitor bay and was not obstructing anyone. 

 

The driver and I were unable to find a parking attendant to pay for parking (there was no staff in the attendant booth), despite looking for a member of staff several times during their visit. As the date above corresponds to the Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday (02/06/2022 - 05/06/2022), we were under the impression that this meant that these parking regulations were under suspension for the aforementioned Public Bank Holiday. In addition to this, the building management staff were also not on the premises (due to aforementioned bank holiday and the premises being a commercial building), and therefore, I was unable to purchase a parking token for my visitor for the duration of his visit. Imagine our distress when my visitor told me that they received a Parking Charge Notice ("PCN") on their windscreen. Please find attached photos of the windscreen notice as well as the empty parking booth. 

While the driver accepts the apologies for the inconvenience, they do not accept being charged for the centre's / PCM UK's incompetence to sort out their own parking practices by not having their parking attendant on the premises during the hours specified on the signage.

The PCN has arrived as a complete surprise and has caused considerable distress to the driver / my visitor. It is particularly unjust as the driver was only too willing to pay any parking tariff due, and were thwarted from being able to do so through no fault of their own due to no parking attendant being present during the stipulated period of the monitored parking times. 

Please would you therefore contact PCM UK to get this PCN rescinded with immediate effect. 

You will also wish to note the negative perception this sharp practice and use of this company to enforce parking conditions has caused. These type of incidences will deter future patronage of the business centre and foster wariness of all other [BUILDING MANAGEMENT] establishments.

If this is not immediately rescinded by PCM UK I will report this to the IPC within seven days along with my evidence. 

Please let me know if you need any more information to support this request, and I would be grateful for confirmation that you have asked PCM UK to rescind the PCN.

Many thanks,

---

From: A <xx@pcm-uk.co.uk>
Date: Fri, 17 Jun 2022 at 15:46

Hi

 

On this occasion we have decided to cancel the charge you incurred

 

Kind regards

Coupon-mad

That's great - thanks for posting that here!

1505grandad

SAINSBURYS/EURO CAR PARKS V GRANDDAUGHTER

Despite frequent reminders to my family and friends re private parking scams my just turned 18 y.o. granddaughter has picked up an invoice while parking in Sainsburys operated by Euro Car Parks (to be fair family/friends have not had invoices in the last few years).

Apparently the top floor of the car park only allow 10 minutes parking after the store closes - my GD and friends were there for over an hour.

Took photos of the signs on the two floors - some had no mention the 10 mins term and others the term was in very small letters as opposed to UP TO 2 HOURS FREE in very large letters - even more difficult to see at night.

Sent email to the CEO attaching the signs and GD's authority for me to act on her behalf - the authority listed other entities:-

"This will include, but not restricted to, any correspondence to/from:-

Sainsbury's

Euro Car Parks

DVLA

The Information Commissioners Office

Member of Parliament

British Parking Association"

Any way within half an hour a reply received saying pcn will be cancelled as a goodwill gesture this time only - just checked on ECP website and charge showing as cancelled.

Plan A strikes again.

Le_Kirk

It is good when "one of our own" uses Plan A - and it works, well done!

Umkomaas

Le_Kirk said:

It is good when "one of our own" uses Plan A - and it works, well done!

I think grandad did it for her.  Nice one grandaddy! 👍

Roadie

Hi all,

Just wanted to post another success story listed here.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6374943/bw-legal-letter-received-for-g24-ltd-overstay-at-wickes/p1
In summary, be persistent, polite and go as high as you can. Oh and follow the step by step guide, it was a bit confusing when you are new to it but well worth it.

BTBATOG

Just wanted to report another SUCCESS and convey a massive thank you AGAIN to the resident experts on here for giving me a jolt on PLAN A. Huge appreciation to you all for your time and efforts to help others..

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6385109/parking-eye-pcn-asda-car-park#latest

getmore4less

Waitrose Britannia

Non POFA 2012 compliant NTK

Stage one land owner* appeal success 

piggy backed on near identical.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6357967/britannia-parking-non-pofa-compliance


In store did not go well floor manager was evasive, worth a try if you have time, we go in anyway as regular shoppers.

moved to the feedback form for paper trail
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/help-information/customer-service/forms/store-feedback
Request to cancel as keeper Britannia can not transfer liability with non compliant NTK

Response in 3hours requesting confirmation of PCN details

Confirmed next day with reiteration of non compliance for POFA 2012, no elaborations like why there was an overstay 
3hr reply passed to internal parking.

This was Friday afternoon of the queens funeral week end, not expecting it to be looked at before Tue

Wed cancelled.  

Unless really convenient to go in store I would go straight to the Waitrose customer feedback form, very responsive  just takes time to go through the system 

* investigations of planning and council maps would indicate the land is actually owned by the council

yorkie2021

Just posting a successful plan A challenge with Biscot Mill Luton - Parking Charge Notice via Britannia Parking.

Details here:  Parking Charge Notice £100 Biscot Mill Luton — MoneySavingExpert Forum

I lodged a complaint directly with Biscot Mill (a pub in Luton).  I contacted them via their website and marked it for the attention of Jon-Ross Guy - General Manager.

The bar advised to simply make sure the vehicle registration is entered into the White tablet, located on either bar.  

Subbu84

Hi All,
I visited a EuroCarPark outlet in Bracknell, Peel centre, I stayed over by 3 minutes and 6 seconds which made me receive my PCN. Challenged directly on ECP website which was rejected and asked to pay 60/100 but visited MSE forum.

With the good work and direction from @Coupon-mad @Umkomaas, I was able to successfully overturn the decision by complaining to the the parking owner management company, simply wrote them how unjust it was since I was travelling with my aged parents and one year old KID along with receipts of that day's purchase.

Thank you to this thread, details on my ticket here - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6401293/euro-car-park-ltd-pcn-for-overstay-beyond-grace-period-popla-appeal-draft-from-multiple-template/p3