PCS parking Ticket - Train Station

Dutch19

Hello Everyone, a newbie here so please be gentle!

I received a parking ticket whilst parked in a restricted bay at my local train station - I was visiting the doctors nearby. The parking area is controlled by Parking Collection Services (PCS) and after following the advice on the newbies thread, I waited for a Notice to Keeper letter which arrived within the time limits stipulated.

As a result, I copied the template letter on the newbies thread and sent it off to PCS on 5 July 2014. I have today received, unsurprisingly, a letter from PCS saying that I still need to pay the charge. The main points from the letter are as follows:

1. They say the matter relates to a Penalty Charge Notice issued under the Transport Act 2000. It is not a privately issued Parking Charge Notice based on a contract.

2. Their letter is dated 11 July and was received on the 31 July. They have instructed me to pay by the 25 July or they will recommend that court action will be taken to recover the balance.

3. Despite my later stating that it was my form of appeal, they have not given me a POPLA number.

What is my next action given that I don't have a POPLA number? Do I write back and ask for one. They have stated in their letter that any further correspondence that doesn't provide further evidence will be noted but they cannot guarantee to reply to it.

Grateful for any assistance that anyone could provide me in this case.

Best regards.

Umkomaas

You need to post up scan/photo of the ticket, the subsequent correspondence and of the sign(s) at the railway station. Host the photos on Photobucket or Tinypic (both free hosting sites) and post the URLs (with http removed) on here.

With Train Operating Company is it please?

gertysingh

Was the envelope the letter came in date stamped?

From my experience and what I have seen, PPCs are known to pre-date their correspondence and send them in business envelopes that are not stamped. GRRR! Think this should be changed at the post office!!!

Dee140157

This again sound s like one of the hybrid PCNs that PPS try to use dressed up as a byelaw type PCN.

Definitely need those photos.

Dutch19

Thanks everyone so far. The train company is South West Trains. The envelope was delivered by Royal Mail and does not have a date stamp on it. Very convenient.

Photos will be hosted shortly.

Dutch19

Dear All,

I hope this link will take you to a set of photos that show all the details you requested. I have emailed SW Trains to complain to them about the lack of POPLA number on CP Plus' letter despite me asking for it. I have also suggested that the underhand tactics of sending a letter that arrives 20 days after it is written is unacceptable. I have asked them to rescind the parking ticket and have said that I will complain to the DVLA and BPA. I have also said I will escalate further if required.

Hope this link works

s1270.photobucket.com/user/Dutcha380/library/?sort=3&page=1

bod1467

http://s1270.photobucket.com/user/Dutcha380/library/?sort=3&page=1 << Clicky link

Umkomaas

You might want to try to get the photos re-hosted, I'm fed up standing on my head to read them!

Dee140157

Yup as I suspected, railway byelaws hybrid.

Now as far as I understand it is the TOC that have to prosecute you under byelaws, not a PPC. However PPS masquerade their PCNs as penalty notices under byelaws. They therefore try to get out of issuing POPLA codes.

This is about the third case we have seen here recently.

Now in the experience of a previous poster she is now getting debt collectors letter. Which is ok, because the TOC only have 6 months to bring a prosecution under byelaws. So all the time they are sending debt letter, the TOC are doing nothing.

I would be complaining to the BPA, telling PPS that as they are members of POPLA they have to send you a POPLA code and you do not accept their authority to issue a byelaw penalty notice.

And on top of that complain about the length of time to took to send.

I think it is about time the BOA sort this particulate hybrid PCN out.but they probably won't

I think this would be a good one to go to court over and get a clear definitive answer to be honest. That's if the judge understood the difference!

Dutch19

Oops, sorry about the orientation of the photos. They should all be correct now.

As a Private Parking Company, should they have issued me with a POPLA code when I wrote to them?

As ever, grateful for any advice received.....

Dee140157

This is a question you may well have to ask the BPA. They say not, we say yes, who is right?