PCN Appeals

Quickathri

I wrote to the shopping centre because of the further letters received from the PPC and the Debt Collectors. I sought clarification whether they had instructed the PPC to cancel the charges or just requested that they be. I was sent a shortish reply to "assure" me that the PPC had been asked to confirm that they had "called of" the debt collectors and "they have confirmed that they have" and the letter I had received was "probably sent or going through the system" before the request to cancel got through to the necessary department". I'm told I "do not need to do anything further including appealing to POPLA as they cannot help" me "if there is no case to answer to and this may just confuse matters".


Further the shopping centre "are unable to respond as to why PCM did not reply to my letter 25th March [sic], this is something that" I "will have to take up with them." Plus, the reason I was told that the shopping centre had requested that the PPC cancel "your tickets, is that PCM are an independent company who have issued the ticket in line with the Blue Badge Scheme and therefore do not have to cancel tickets even at our own request, which is why it is important to remember to display your Blue Badge in future as it is unlikely I will be able to arrange for further tickets to be cancelled if this happens again."


Then" Once again I can confirm that your tickets have been cancelled, however, if you are in any doubt you can of course contact PCM direct for confirmation."


Whilst I am happy that I have been told that I should not receive anything further from the debt collectors, I am bemused by the misinformation the letter contains. It feels like I'm being brushed off (remembering my first letter was passed downwards for a response). Bluewater seem to not accept any responsibility for the actions of the PPC. Also, they haven't grasped I'm a customer (or was) and the damage all of this does to their reputation. People I've spoken to say they will being going elsewhere to shop.


Anyway, my appeal to POPLA had already been sent. How long do you think I should wait to get an acknowledgement from POPLA (by email I suppose) that they have received it? Maybe POPLA will write back saying the PPC has cancelled the charge so they will take no further action on the appeal.


When I complain to the DVLA and the BPA do you think I should mention the Blue Badge comments - I'm presuming that the person responding on behalf of Bluewater is being advised by the PPC.


Am I correct in thinking (from reading other posts on this forum) that the PPC should not keep the papers relating to the charges once the appeals are successful or the charges cancelled?


Thanks.

ColliesCarer

Did you send your appeal to POPLA by post or did you submit it via their web site?

If via their web site you should definitely have had an acknowledgement email by now. There is usually an initial acknowledgement email from London councils (they have the POPLA contract with the BPA) followed a little later by an email confirming receipt of your appeal from POPLA themselves which gives the date the assessment will take place.

Check your spam folder and if there's no trace of emails (and also if you sent by post) send an email requesting acknowledgement of receipt of your appeal to appeals@popla.org.uk

Quickathri

Thanks. I sent it by post. I will send them an email as you suggest.

bod1467

Did you get a certificate of posting when you sent it in?

ColliesCarer

Quickathri wrote: »

Thanks. I sent it by post. I will send them an email as you suggest.

Looking back at your thread it looks like you are still within the 28 day POPLA submission deadline.

If so, rather than just emailing for confirmation of receipt of your postal appeal, I would submit the appeal again via their web site appeal facility.

Coupon-mad

And once you are sure POPLA have it, you could read about the compensation trubster got from PCM and how his car reg is now on an exempt list.

Google:

bluewater pcm compensation trubster site:forums.moneysavingexpert.com

...his case was at Meadowhall but that search finds all the times we've mentioned it and lots opf Bluewater threads for you to read about other people's experiences.

Quickathri

Yes, I did get a certificate of postage. I have asked POPLA to check their records for receipt. I gave them another chase today. As said elsewhere on the forum, it is rather worrying how much post does not seem to be delivered. I'll send another copy of my appeal as you suggest.

Quickathri

Still no acknowledgement of receipt of my appeal despite chasing POPLA again. I sent another copy of everything yesterday, with a covering letter saying it was the second time it had been sent and asking for an email to say it had been received. Nothing heard so far. I know you suggested I email my appeal when I sent it the second time but for reasons I won't go into it was easier/quicker for me to just photocopy all the original material and put it in the post again. Needless to say I now have another proof of posting. Unless you think differently, I'll give POPLA the rest of today and Monday and then I am going to complain about my being ignored to the Chief Adjudicator (whose name I think I saw on a thread somewhere on this forum). Perhaps I should also include reference to my difficulties in finding out if my appeal was being dealt with in the letter of complaint I am drafting for BPA.

Do you think the POPLA silence might be because the PPC have left BPA or because the PCN really has been cancelled and no one at POPLA is going to tell me that? Is the lack of courtesy and professionalism usual for POPLA?

Re the DVLA, I saw the info about mentioning KADOE in any complaint. Should I use that as my opening and then go into specifics? I've looked at the archived copy of the KADOE contract on the Gov website and jotted down the sections that I think the PPC has breached. Should I list them in my complaint, along with BPA Code breaches and then ask for each to be investigated?

Thanks.

Quickathri

I've still not heard anything further from POPLA, so I have written to complain that they have not even acknowledged receipt.


My complaint has gone off to BPA and I am waiting to hear further on that.


DVLA complaint about to go off.


I'm thinking about what I want to say in my follow-up to the shopping centre and if I want to go down the Meadowhall route, as brought to my attention.


I appreciate the help you have given me thus far. Do you still want me to keep you updated or would you rather use your precious time helping newbies? Should I only post something further if I encounter problems?

Coupon-mad

We are happy to help throughout, it's just gone quiet as you seem to be doing fine!