Advice on NGP Parking Charge Notice

skewett

Hi there,

I've read loads of comments on a few different forums about just completely ignoring Parking Charge Notices.

I've just had one but I am pretty wary of ignoring and actually feel a bit miffed at the same time.

No doubt I overstayed my welcome at the Capitol Retail Park in Cardiff. I park there a lot to visit Asda and Costco but on the day in question I happened to park on the same day as a Cardiff City match was on (I'm still within 14 days of the Notice being sent). The Car Park normally allows up to 3 hrs but there are signs saying on match days it's limited to 1.5 hours. Obviously they get lots of footy supporters taking up spaces and I assume the reduced time is to put those off. On this particular day I arrived at 13.38 and was caught on camera on the approach road I was then caught on a camera leaving at 17.46 a total of 4 hrs and 13 minutes so well over the 1.5 hours. That may seem a long time but there are a number of big shops and I'd stopped once for coffee and once for a bite to eat. I spent £130+ in Costco and have a receipt to prove it. I didn't stay in the shops until just before I left the car park. In fact I went back to the car at around 4.30 (still well over the 1.5 hour mark) only to find a massive traffic jam trying to get out of all 3 of the car parks pretty small exits. I sat in the car for about 30 minutes and then had to return to the shops to use the toilet. I've since found out that it was a record crowd at the football and that the police had closed the exit road for a spell to let out away supporters. In the end I just decided to let the traffic go before I left.

I then got the standard pay £60 now or £100 after 14 days letter called a Parking Charge Notice.

Obviously I don't want to pay it but equally no way do I want to end up in court, or have debt collectors knocking at my door. Nor do I want anything to interfere with my currently excellent credit rating.

I could also argue that their signs are a bit open to interpretation. Restricted to 1 hour on a match day assumes I follow football and know when a match is taking place. In fact I don't and football matches appear on the TV most days of the week, so how was I supposed to know it wasn't 3 hours that day. They don't change the signs to "say restricted to 1.5 hours today due to it being a match day"

I was about to write to the company appealing against the Notice based on the fact that I have a receipt and couldn't get out of the car park even if I'd wanted to. Presumably they'd just say I had overstayed the allowed time, even if I made a purchase. By the way I went back to Costco for their support and they told me I was about the 100th customer complaining about tickets on the same day. They couldn't help but suggested I appeal and send a copy of my receipt.

As I said I've read lots of comments about just leaving it but how much of that is hearsay and past on rumor?

Can anyone give me some real advice?

Cheers

Guys_Dad

First bit of advice, cut out the verbal diarrhoea and stick to the facts!

Do a soft appeal to the parking company, saying you were a genuine shopper, copy of receipts attached, that you had real problems getting out because of the match and would they cancel the charge or, failing that, send you a POPLA code.

Then read the POPLA Decisions sticky - last 3 or 4 pages - and see how one wins with out help.

Coupon-mad

Same as every other thread on here...you appeal before day 28 of receipt of the letter, but you do not imply who was driving:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63033637#Comment_63033637

and you complain to the Management of the Retail Park (Google them for contact details) and/or individual Store Managers until you find someone with the clout and customer service ethos to cancel it for you:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4766249

Let us know what response you get to that 2-pronged attack. You won't be paying.

[Deleted User]

Bit confused. Has the advice changed?

Is it best to ignore these now or appeal?

Coupon-mad

See my signature and see any CURRENT thread on the forum. Advice changed for all sorts of reasons already covered loads of times!

el2decorate

Also had a PCN on a match day. Will not pay as charges excessive and retailers have not suffered any financial loss. Can anyone tell me if NGP have been successful in court?

Coupon-mad

Can't recall and it doesn't matter if you appeal and win at POPLA. We win 100% of POPLA appeals we help people with. Charges are cancelled after a POPLA win.

Read the current threads, NOT JUST ABOUT NGP!! Then (and only after reading about POPLA and how to win, how to word an appeal and how to complain to the landowner - which is on every other thread on the first few pages of the forum!) start your own thread and we'll guide you.