Ethical Parking Management - formal demand after selling car - plz help!

LaurenKPB

Hi all,

I hace read the sticky thread above and searched for something similar to my situation but have found nothing, so any help appreciated!

On March 23rd I sold my car to a scrap dealer. We have an allocated parking space with a parking permit in a private car park managed by Ethical (ha) Parking Management.

On the day I sold the car the guy with the low loader said he would be back for the car in a couple of hours as he needed to drop the one on the truck off first. we signed the paper work and I thought no more about the car, I had taken my permit out of the windscreen.

Obviously at some point that afternoon EPM placed a windscreen pcn on the car, the scrap dealer clearly didnt pay it (or even call me to tell me about it) and the first thing I know is that a letter dated 23/5 arrives at my house entitled 'formal demand' telling me I have missed the window for a reduced charge etc and that the money is now due.

My question is this:
I am no longer the registered keeper but was on the day of the charge. Should I ignore the notice or write and tell them that I am no longer the registered keeper? Or do something else.

Any help much appreciated, I am panicking about this a bit as I really can't afford to pay the charge as am on maternity leave with a new baby, couldn't even afford to keep the car!

Thanks in advance

da_rule

Does the notice you received mention appeals? If so you should contact them using this, and appeal on the fact that you did not own the vehicle at the time of the alleged infringement. Include a copy of the sales receipt. Also throw in all of the other appeal points contained in the template in the Newbies sticky thread.

Guys_Dad

Technically, you parked the car and at the time you took the permit out, you broke their rules. You are surely not trying to put the onus on the scrap merchant??

I would not wish to use your suggested excuse/reason as an appeal point and, instead, use a tried and trusted appeal from the Newbies thread.

LaurenKPB

da_rule - yes it does mention I can appeal to notify them of the driver at the time. I'll do that and put the letter together with the other points.

guys dad - I told him that it was a permitted bay and he said it was fine he'd be back right away, he was aware of the rules of the car park. He has also ignored the windscreen notice so has some blame to take too, surely? He could have at least called me to notify me so we could discuss it.

Thanks for your input both, I appreciate it!

Guys_Dad

LaurenKPB wrote: »

da_rule - yes it does mention I can appeal to notify them of the driver at the time. I'll do that and put the letter together with the other points.

guys dad - I told him that it was a permitted bay and he said it was fine he'd be back right away, he was aware of the rules of the car park. He has also ignored the windscreen notice so has some blame to take too, surely? He could have at least called me to notify me so we could discuss it.

Thanks for your input both, I appreciate it!

I agree about that bit. But I would just use a template appeal as the facts will just muddy the waters. (The problem was caused by you removing the permit when the car was still parked. In effect, you landed him in it.)

The driver, by the way, would be the person who actually parked the car and, even if the scrap merchant was the keeper when the ticket was issued, all he would do would name you as the keeper at the time the car was parked. Messy, messy.

Coupon-mad

LaurenKPB wrote: »

da_rule - yes it does mention I can appeal to notify them of the driver at the time. I'll do that and put the letter together with the other points.

guys dad - I told him that it was a permitted bay and he said it was fine he'd be back right away, he was aware of the rules of the car park. He has also ignored the windscreen notice so has some blame to take too, surely? He could have at least called me to notify me so we could discuss it.

Thanks for your input both, I appreciate it!

Just send the usual template appeal from the NEWBIES thread as you are tying yourself up in knots when the appeals we use work. DO NOT say someone else was the driver because you were.

LaurenKPB

Thank you, although I am not the registered keeper any longer, so by using the template letter I would be giving incorrect info. Any suggestions?

Thanks so far, and again in advance!

Redx

change it to "keeper at the time of the pcn"

LaurenKPB

Okay, I sent off the letter (personalised and with a squiggle instead of a signature) from the forum and got in reply a letter from Ethical Parking advising me that as I was in direct contravention of the the terms and they are unable to cancel the Contractual Breach Charge and I am now liable to pay the full amount.

There is a paragraph that states 'if you still believe the CBC was issued inappropriately...' I can submit an appeal to popla with a ten digit reference.

What should I do? I am no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle as it was sold on the day of the 'offence'.

Thanks in advance?

Coupon-mad

LaurenKPB wrote: »

What should I do?

Such a basic question - with a very simple answer. Read 'How to win at POPLA' of course, in post #3 of the NEWBIES thread at the top of the forum. Did you miss it, surely you were expecting this stage next?!

LaurenKPB wrote: »

I am no longer the registered keeper of the vehicle as it was sold on the day of the 'offence'.

Irrelevant.

LaurenKPB

Yes it is a daft question, sorry. , I think I was actually expecting the EPM people to cancel the charge at this point...

All the letters to POPLA in #3 start with something like 'I am the registered keeper...' so what would be the best wording to use to ensure that the letter is still going to do the job, as it were?

Thanks