Parking Charge Notice - What should I do?

WalterWhiteStripes · 4 August 2014 at 6:47PM

I've recently received a Parking Charge Notice from TSP Car Park Management Ltd. In previous cases where i've received a PCN I usually just ignore them and eventually they go away. However, my circumstances are a little different this time.

Around two months ago I moved into a new apartment with a private car park. After speaking to my letting agency, they didn't really know much about the car park and weren't sure whether I had a space or not. However, I noticed in the communal area of my apartment block a board which stated what space was allocated to what apartment and I did indeed have a parking space. I parked in the car park for around 2 months up until recently receiving the PCN. I then rang TSP who said that I had to have a permit to park in the car parking space (I didn't give them my personal details, just my apartment block/location) and the person I spoke to was happy to sort me out with one on the phone for £16.50! I then asked if I would still be liable to pay the PCN, to which she said I would be. When I asked why, she said that as I had been there for 2 months I should have noticed the signs (there are indeed signs) and my letting agents/landlord should have informed me (though they didn't). I'm in a precarious position as I am soon getting a new car and although there is parking on the street, I would rather my car be in a safe car park. Im unsure whether to:
1) Appeal the parking charge notice and risk losing and having to pay £100 rather than £60
2) Just pay the £60 then the annoying £16.50 permit fee!
3) Ignore it and hope they go away and don't figure out where I live (my car is registered at a different address see.

I'm leaning towards appealing, but was wondering if you amazing people feel I would have a strong appeal against the PCN. Any advise/help would be very appreciated!

ezerscrooge · 4 August 2014 at 6:53PM

Don't ignore it - they have 6 years to come back to it. And don't pay it either.

Have a poke through the newbies thread and fight it - they'll reject your soft appeal, but it is POPLA where you will win.

Be aware of timescales - time may be running out so get a wiggle on with that soft appeal - you need the POPLA code so don't spend too much time on it - keep it short and to the point.

Also, if you have an allocated space then complain to the landlord - the PPC is interfering with your right to peaceful enjoyment.

Dee140157 · 4 August 2014 at 7:03PM

The PPC have to issue you the parking permit? I don't think so.

TEP are members of IPC, so you will need to appeal first to TSP then if they reject it you will have 21 days to appeal to IPC (Not POPLA).

Ringing any PPC is a bad thing. If they kept a record of your conversation, they would probably have enough balance of proof to show you were driver. So they may chose not to issue a NTK, but go straight to Threat stage. I'm not sure. It would sort of depend on how big your block of flats are! (In my sisters there are only 4 so it would be easy to identify!)

If they do sent a NTK it will go to the other address and they will eventually catch up with you, and then you might have a whole heap of other trouble.

WalterWhiteStripes · 4 August 2014 at 7:20PM

Dee140157 wrote: »

The PPC have to issue you the parking permit? I don't think so.

The Property Management said it was the PPC who did which I found strange. I was also surprised I would have to pay a fee for it also.

There's around 28 flats in total but they'd be able to tell what flat I lived in from the space I parked in potentially.

I will appeal it - I don't think it's fair when I was actually parking in the correct space, though I understand I should have had a permit. Thanks for the help!

Dee140157 · 4 August 2014 at 7:36PM

You need to look carefully at your tenancy documents/ lease.
To be scrupulously fair it is possible TPS manage the permit system, it just seems a little odd. Usually it is the managing agents of the flats etc.

Now what I will be honest I am unsure about is whether to wait for NTK or to appeal as driver given that you may have outed yourself.

As it is an IPC member, before you do anything it would be good to see signs from the car park to see what they say. Can you take some and up load to eg tinypic.com then post here with the http:// missing.

WalterWhiteStripes · 4 August 2014 at 7:56PM

tinypic.com/r/2drc80p/8

That's the sign which is dotted about the car park (Wouldn't let me post the full URL).

Dee140157 · 4 August 2014 at 8:59PM

[url]Http://tinypic.com/r/2drc80p/8[/url]

Dee140157 · 4 August 2014 at 9:05PM

My goodness me that's a lot of writing on a sign. Almost as much as a PE one.

I am hoping someone else will come along who has got their head round the IPC. It is a contractual charge, not on their eyes a GPEOL.

It seems there needs to be new ways to contend this, but not quite sure best way. Give it 24 hours and see what other suggestions come your way.

Umkomaas · 4 August 2014 at 9:36PM

Can you also scan a copy of the windscreen ticket (if one was placed on your vehicle) and a copy of the Notice to Keeper, both sides of each (if there's text on the other side).

Dee140157 · 4 August 2014 at 9:48PM

Don't think OP has NTK yet. Not sure if they will get one as they spoke to TPS, and although did not give name and address, intimated which block of flats they were from. So shown probable cause that driver was keeper. Hence some of my questioning.