Meteor PCN Railway Station

fuziduck

Hi All,



So last week I got a parking charge notice from Meteor at my local train station car park. It refers to a breach of terms for causing a nuisance to other car park users.



The car was not parked in a bay and it was parked in a line with other cars where there was ample space for other cars to manoeuvre around. In addition to this, certain parts of the car park show yellow hatches where you cannot park. Add to that a number of spaces were out of operation as they were re-laying kerbs. (This is most probably irrelevant, but I guess its worth mentioning) I’d also pre-bought the ticket the night before? What crooks!



I've read Louloukois thread which worries me as to the complexity of the appeal process from Meteor.

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4923901



As I understand, Meteor do not send a NTK, and CouponMad recommends waiting 21 days as per this thread: forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5003217

Is this still the recommended course of action considering LouLous thread?



On reading this thread I have copied the letter suggested by CouponMad as my claim is identical to the OP in respect of parking at a Southern station and not parking within a bay. I intend to post this on day 21 as discussed. forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5011649&highlight=meteor&page=2

Re the 'parking charge notice number xxxxxxx affixed to my car recently at a Southern Railway station car park.

Firstly I must state that I am aware that there is a Trading Standards investigation and a formal DVLA and BPA complaint lodged at present, about your 'parking charge notices' offering POPLA and then turning into something completely different when SouthEastern follow them up with completely unfounded threats. As an AOS member you cannot issue 'parking charge notices' and later call them penalties. Nor can any Train Operating Company (TOC) assume that your PCNs are some sort of hybrid penalty notice when quite clearly they are not. This being Southern Railway, not SouthEastern, I am sure there will be no such shenanigans but seeing as your PCN is the same format and there is a lot of discussion on forums about your current modus operandi, I felt you should know that I expect nothing less than open communication and a POPLA code or cancellation from you. This matter is a private parking ticket and cannot be passed to the TOC.

So, here is my appeal as the keeper of this car:

- your charge is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss
- you don't own the car park so have no standing
- a 'parking charge notice' cannot morph into a penalty under byelaws
- an allegation of parking outside a bay isn't a byelaw matter
- the signs at this site are wholly misleading about byelaws/contraventions

I suggest you cancel this ticket but if not, you are required to send me a POPLA code as promised in the wording of the 'PCN'. I remind you that the BPA Code of Practice says that 'drivers and keepers' can appeal to POPLA and I am the keeper. The driver will not be identified and there is no lawful reason for me to help you in that regard if you allege you formed a contract with that person. You have two choices, POPLA code or cancellation. Any other response will be added to the Trading Standards investigation and copied to the BPA and DVLA.

I expect an acknowledgement of this appeal within 14 days and a reply within 35 days.

Yours,





Any help would be gratefully received.
(Sorry as a new member I can't post links)



Luke

Coupon-mad

As I understand, Meteor do not send a NTK, and CouponMad recommends waiting 21 days as per this thread: forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5003217

Is this still the recommended course of action considering LouLous thread?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5011649

Yes as you will see from the above thread which panned out very easily. It helps that Meteor have been slapped by the BPA for this:

http://notomob.co.uk/discussions/index.php?topic=4311.0

and they have been reminded that a PCN which mentions POPLA has to...offer POPLA at the rejection letter stage!

Louloukoi's thread was an earlier one when Meteor were still playing 'silly devils'.

BTW I was pleased to see how much reading you have done to try to help yourself - much better than most newbies who just post a thread saying 'heeeeeeeeeeelp I have got a PCN, what do I do?'! Your research & attention to detail bodes very well for you to simply win by using a POPLA appeal like in the thread I linked for you first.

fuziduck

Many thanks for the reply, its clears up my queries. I certainly don't want Meteor to win at this! I dread to think how much they earn out of the people that are easily convinced into paying these, imagine how much worse it would be without the internet!


Ref your link, I'm glad to see the older generation contesting these as well, when some unfortunately get sucked into these scams without the ability to find out what they really are!


One more question, would you recommend I post this on day 21 or would I be better off posting before. I understand I need to get free proof of postage etc.


Let the battle commence!

Coupon-mad

Day 21 for various reasons, means they probably won't even send a Notice to Keeper - which is another nail in the coffin for them.

fuziduck

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Day 21 for various reasons, means they probably won't even send a Notice to Keeper - which is another nail in the coffin for them.

Sorry one more stupid question, is that 21 working days or just 21 days.


I received the fine on the 18/09/14 so should I send my first letter on the 09/09/14 or 17/09/14.


Looking at it like that I've probably answered my own question and its 3 weeks from receiving the fine so 09/09/14.

ampersand

fd - praise from c-m is high praise indeed, but your 1st forehead slap is for the using 'f---'word!

f---, stands for 'fake', as in 'invoice':-) on this Forum.

Month '10', not 9.

21 calendar days, as you've found in your reading.

fuziduck

Wow I couldn't have got much more wrong in my previous post!!! Was a bit stressed out with work at the time and then for some reason this stupid 'parking charge' entered my head and wound me up even more!

And yes 09/10/14 oops! Where is the year going!!

ampersand

It's whizzing all the way to your successful POPLA Appeal fd :-)

fuziduck

Right, just finalising this letter as its nearly time!


I have looked on the internet for the trading standards investigation, DVLA & BPA complaints but cannot find anything. Should I still include this paragraph in my letter? If I don't will I still get the same outcome of a POPLA code if I just appeal on the remainder of the letter?


Any help, much appreciated as ever!

Coupon-mad

Yes you will still get a POPLA code - you could remove the first bit and just have the appeal bullet points.

fuziduck

Right, final draft before I send this letter. Am I right to say the ticket was paid? And should I provide a copy of this?



Re: ‘Parking charge notice’ XXXXXX affixed to my car recently at a Southern Railway station car park.

I appeal as follows as the keeper of this car

- your charge is not a genuine pre-estimate of loss
- the parking ticket was paid by the driver so no loss has occured
- you don't own the car park so have no standing
- a 'parking charge notice' cannot morph into a penalty under byelaws
- an allegation of parking outside a bay isn't a byelaw matter
- the signs at this site are wholly misleading about byelaws/contraventions

I suggest you cancel this ticket but if not, you are required to send me a POPLA code as promised in the wording of the 'PCN'. I remind you that the BPA Code of Practice says that 'drivers and keepers' can appeal to POPLA and I am the keeper. The driver will not be identified and there is no lawful reason for me to help you in that regard if you allege you formed a contract with that person. You have two choices, POPLA code or cancellation.

I expect an acknowledgement of this appeal within 14 days and a reply within 35 days.

Yours,