Park Direct UK PCN, would greatly appreciate any advice

PoolieFritz

Good evening all,

As registered keeper, I recently received a PCN from Park Direct UK of Uxbridge, following an alleged contravention involving my car at my local shopping parade car park where this PPC practices its particular brand of extortion.

As it was a busy time of day, there were no available spaces (the car park is rather small) so the driver unfortunately parked on an area marked with double-yellow lines within the car park, and wasn’t aware of any parking notices as there are none at the entrance to the car park, although subsequent inspection revealed numerous notices dotted around the car park. Some of these notices are quite small in size containing tiny fonts, some are larger such as my example linked to below. It may also be worth noting that there is no requirement to purchase parking tickets in the car park – places are free to occupy for users of the shopping parade.

After approximately three minutes spent using the Tesco Express (unfortunately I have no access to receipts proving this), the driver returned to the car and drove off. There was no ticket affixed to the windscreen and no ‘official’ representing the PPC identified themselves to the driver.

Just over a week later, I received the PCN and subsequently found myself as a newbie to this excellent forum. As a result I have read the relevant NEWBIES FAQs thread and many more besides to try and familiarize myself with the task at hand, as I of course intend to fight the ridiculous charges of the PPC’s invoice firstly by appealing to Park Direct using the template kindly provided on FAQ page, then secondly at the POPLA appeal stage.

I have taken pictures to provide additional detail, in the hope that the learned and helpful folks on here could take a look and perhaps advise of any additional points/grounds for appeal which I could possibly raise at the POPLA appeal stage, in addition to the initial three standard points of ‘no GPEOL’, ‘inadequate signage’ and ‘no authority to issue charges over the land in question’.

But unfortunately, as a new user I’m unable to post links, despite initially trying to by removing the ‘http’ prefix as I saw advised on another post here. Any advice on how to do this would be gratefully received, as I have scans of the PCN, a picture showing a complete lack of parking notices at the entrance to the car park, and a picture showing one of the parking notice’s ‘terms’.

I apologise for the rather long post, but send my gratitude in advance to those kind folks who take the time to read and/or post their reply.

Many thanks.

da_rule

I can't really see how the pictures might help? What do they show, the car parked on a yellow line? When it comes to the signage the appeals are written in such a way so as to make the parking company prove the signage was compliant rather then you having to prove they aren't.

On a slightly different note, as well as appealing try popping into Tesco (if they own the car park) and see if they get the PCN cancelled.

da_rule

If you do want to post links then just type the bit without the http://www. part.

Redx

forget "what happened" and follow the newbies thread , use that appeal and popla if necessary

this flow chart gives you the idea https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4922055

do complain to the landowner and shop to try to get it cancelled though (always a must do)

PoolieFritz

Hi, and thank you both very much for your quick responses, it's much appreciated.

Re: my pictures, they show the PCN itself, the PPC's signage and the lack of signage at the entrance to the car park. I recalled reading in other threads where such pictures had been requested, so thought they may be worthwhile to post - no problem if not required.

Just out of curiosity though let's see if these links work:

PCN page 1:
[x]

and page 2:
[x]

I shall also complain to the landowner and shop to try to get it cancelled - many thanks!

PoolieFritz

...and thanks for the link to your excellent flowchart Redx, I hadn't encountered that. I shall pass this on to my neighbour who has also received 2 x PCNs from the same PPC.

Redx

its da-rules`s flow chart , not mine, so all credit to that member for publishing it

if this goes to popla and if you think the pictures strengthen your case then you would add them to your appeal , otherwise you make them prove to popla they are compliant in all respects, including contract authority and the gpeol too

PoolieFritz

Apologies - thanks to da_rule for the flow chart.

Coupon-mad

Here are your photos:

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/PoolieFritz/PCN/PCNpage1of2_zpsf445a173.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/PoolieFritz/PCN/PCNpage2of2_zps17b9d75b.jpg

Could you add one showing the sign please, the wording? The last one I helped with pretended the charge was a 'contractual fee' - and yet it isn't really - and the NTK gives away it's really about 'breach'. So they have to show a GPEOL.

You and your neighbour should make sure you send off the template first appeal straight away (from the NEWBIES thread) as you've both had your NTK letters. Your neighbour should send two letters or make sure than BOTH their PCNs are stated at the top, and amend the wording to say 'two tickets'.

Don't miss appeal deadlines, don't hang about.

When it comes to POPLA stage I have a template POPLA appeal for this bunch, that I wrote for starstruck13 in February so I can let you have that by pm when you or the neighbour is ready. There are issues with the PCN words and with their signs and even with their company name, as well as the fact this isn't a GPEOL. Make sure they know that the POPLA code is time-bound so that you both get the POPLA appeal in within the 28 days since the code is generated.


Let us know once you/neighbour have a POPLA code. Don't divulge the driver.

PoolieFritz

Thank you very much Coupon-mad, here's their sign:

[x]

This picture also shows no clear signs at the entrance to the car park, although there are plenty of signs dotted around the car park itself:

[x]

Unfortunately, after forwarding my neighbour the links to this forum yesterday, I learned that they have paid both PCNs.

I'm going to get my appeal in tomorrow and will let you know once I have a POPLA code, thanks again - much appreciated.

Coupon-mad

What a rubbish, badly-worded sign!

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/PoolieFritz/PCN/ParkDirectsignatexit_zpsb5b7e5ff.jpg

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b611/PoolieFritz/PCN/01_carparkentrance_old_zps3805edb8.jpg

That second one is a great photo for your case.

Your neighbours are idiots. Sorry but that's pathetic, what utter mugs - unbelieveable the way the stupid British public just pay these fake PCNs.

It only involves sending two template appeals and we win 100% of the time at POPLA and your case will be no different. More money than sense, some people.