Stressed Mum (and daughter!) - please help!

Jks16

Hi all,

I'm a long time lurker but this is my first post as I'm desperate for some advice (I have read hundreds of posts on this now inc newbie thread but I have quite a specific question)

My Dad received a PCN from Parking Eye today. It alleges that we were in one of their car parks for 21 mins. Parking is free for patrons of various facilities there inc cinema. We pulled into the car park so that we could check the opening hours/film times. The cinema was closed at the time. While my Dad was doing this, I remained in the car to breastfeed my newborn baby (hence why we were 21 mins and not 5)

In an aside, we had already been to the same car park earlier in the day, not for the cinema, and paid for 2 hours parking yet stayed only 30 mins (prob not really relevant but another reason why I'm so mad!)

Anyway, dad has called the cinema and they have said they will contact PE and get them to cancel it and we should receive a cancellation in a week's time. However we only have the manager's word for this. In the meantime, PE are up to their usual tricks and have only given us until 30/9 to pay the penalty. I know - and have read on these threads - that this is not a real discount to their made-up charge but my parents are panicking.

Should I be putting in an appeal just in case? Or just forget about it for a week?

And out of interest, would they definitely not class this as mitigating circumstances? My husband thinks that as soon as you mention breastfeeding they'll be cowering in the path of Mumsnetters!

Really appreciate any advice that can help me reassure my parents.

Thanks!

Dee140157

Ok, you can send an appeal as per the newbie thread from your father as registered keeper. Simple short and sweet.

If the PCN is cancelled either as a response to appeal or to manager's notification, then you will hear.

You have 28 days in which to appeal, so if you have time to wait the. Do so if you wish. Either way it won't make much difference.

If appeal gets rejected and for some reason you don't get notification of cancellation as a result of managers information, you will just appeal to POPLA using a well trodden path of legal arguments with a bit of EA 2010 thrown in.

TheFlamingRed

First, you all need to not panic,

Then you need to read this thread, and then come back here if you have any questions...

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

ampersand

op - 'I have read hundreds of posts on this now inc newbie thread ', but you have skimmed over the constantly repeated FACT that ppcs couldn't give a toss about mitigation, and neither will POPLA.

YOU WIN POPLA APPEALS AND CASES ON POINTS OF LAW ONLY

Press that cinema manager to put his pledge in writing, inc. that the registered Keeper{[Dad]requires Parking Lie's acceptance/cancellation in writing within 10 working days.

Note well Dee's words here: 'a well trodden path of legal arguments with a bit of EA 2010 thrown in.'which will be your winning POPLA path, if this becomes necessary.

Welcome to the world to your little one:-)

Jks16

Thank you. I think I'll wait for a week for a cancellation but get an appeal letter ready to send if we don't hear anything. I'm just so cross that these people are threatening my Dad just because I had to feed my baby and despite having got free money-for-nothing from us earlier in the day. After reading the amazing info available here I'm confident we'd win at POPLA but it's just the stress and time involved. Something I can do without with a new baby and a toddler!

ampersand

Jks16 - yes, we have all felt that, as 1st timers in the clutches of these scammers.

What you CAN do is ring that cinema chap again tonight/tomorrow and state what is needed. It could go like this:
'Hello Mr Blah. You'll perhaps remember[what happened/date]? Unfortunately the registered keeper of the car hasn't had any further word from you or a cancellation from parking lie. When did you send your letter? We need a copy' Puts Mgr on spot to promptly do something.
#
Well done for not calling the fake invoice a 'f---'. :-)

Redx

is it the one in southampton at the port ?

Jks16

No - it's Canvey Island. My first and last visit there!

Coupon-mad

And out of interest, would they definitely not class this as mitigating circumstances? My husband thinks that as soon as you mention breastfeeding they'll be cowering in the path of Mumsnetters!

Nope - you would think so, but NOPE. A retailer might care, when you write or email to complain, but a parking company don't give a stuff about the Equality Act or that little chat forum Mumsnet (I have looked in there a few times myself as I'm a Mum of four and share your anger at this scam...). Anyway there's a whole sticky thread about successful complaints about PPCs which includes complaint letters already written to Supermarkets where maternity discrimination was caused by a PPC. Have a look in the forum stickies 'Successful complaints about PPCs'.