MET parking ticket @ Rail station

TSB23

Hi guys

I went to an event at Wembley and parked my car at a Chiltern Railways station. My wife paid for a parking ticket by phone but the automated machine misheard her and got one registration digit wrong. So we got a parking ticket from MET.

I've since received a NRK and a final notice which lasts for another 10 days.

In my appeal to MET, do I simply state I'm appealing and request a POPLA code or do I write a lengthy appeal based on some of the fine examples on the site? Or should that wait until POPLA? I guess I could do a detailed one at this stage in the hope of a cancellation from MET but I presume that's fairly unlikely anyway.

The reason for contravention is "The vehicle did not clearly display a valid parking ticket/voucher/permit" but I presume that's because we phoned and if the number was recognised we wouldn't have had a ticket?

Is there any point in mentioning the fact that we paid for a ticket or is that mitigation which will be ignored? I understand the importance of questioning the ticket on the basis of true estimate of cost but does that stand by itself, and the fact that we paid for a ticket is disregarded anyway?

I called Chiltern Customer Services and they said it was down to the parking company so is it worth pursuing with them and also Passenger Focus? Is that a bit late now or worthwhile if MET reject my appeal?

Sorry for so many questions. I was going to appeal and not bother you with a post on here but my conscience (and your winning stories) got the better of me and I just need to be assured of the best approach.

Thanks for reading.

Coupon-mad

In my appeal to MET, do I simply state I'm appealing and request a POPLA code or do I write a lengthy appeal based on some of the fine examples on the site? Or should that wait until POPLA? I guess I could do a detailed one at this stage in the hope of a cancellation from MET but I presume that's fairly unlikely anyway.

I assume you are the keeper; you are safe to simply refer to 'my wife' in your appeal - don't tell them whether she's driver or passenger (they will assume driver, so what, they'd be wrong). Do not state that you were even there, no need. In your appeal I would say 'I am the registered keeper and I have received your Notice in the post and I am sure there are grounds for cancellation. It appears that my wife paid for a parking ticket by phone but the automated machine failed to record the details properly and got one registration digit wrong. My wife had no idea of this minor error by the pay-by-phone system, but I see that the text message gives this vehicle reg: xxxxxxxx and I assume this will allow you to match up the payment which was in fact for my car. I look forward to your confirmation that you have traced the payment and have cancelled this PCN'.

I think at this stage go for mitigation (I know it's unusual!). No need to ask for POPLA - you should easily get a POPLA code from that 'soft' appeal - and maybe even a cancellation if you give them the 'wrong' car reg so they can check. Strangely, I have heard of MET cancelling train station PCNs early if there is a genuine error like this.

Only involve Passenger Focus after you've spent MET's money on POPLA stage!

TSB23

Thanks C-M, I'm on it

prjohnsonnn10

As regards MET issuing notices in these railway car parks, if yours is like mine , the NTK and all other correspondance you receive, including the original ticket on the windscreen, ALL reference PoFA and POPLA.

MET HAVE CONFIRMED IN WRITING TO ME THAT THEY ARE COLLECTING ALL CHARGES UNDER 'BYELAWS' AND THAT THEY HAVE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED REFERENCE TO POFA IN THEIR NTK AND OTHER CORRESPONDANCE.

i have this in writing from them today .

This is not in dispute with them and it is where they have put themselkves following several exchanges and lost POPLA appeals wih me in these railway car parks.

Today i have received a letter from them !pologising for the '...administrative error and oversight... 'in using any references to PoFA in the NTK and as such they are 'conducting an internal investigation'. They have crucially stated that the NTK doesnt not now apply and have cancelled my tickets

So........... i wld suggest you can avoid POPLA now and providing you have not disclosed the driver and therefore the NTK has been issued to the RK with this !ncorrect' language contained within it then you can simply ask them to cancel your ticket.

Coupon-mad

MET HAVE CONFIRMED IN WRITING TO ME THAT THEY ARE COLLECTING ALL CHARGES UNDER 'BYELAWS' AND THAT THEY HAVE INCORRECTLY INCLUDED REFERENCE TO POFA IN THEIR NTK AND OTHER CORRESPONDANCE.

i have this in writing from them today .

We would like to see that posted up in a separate thread please, sounds like some old drivel but worth storing for future reference! I can't receive a pm as my inbox is deliberately full due to other family commitments this/next week.