Ignored first PCN from TPS - Is it too late

sisicool

Newbie here...sorry. Read the sticky thread for newbies but with a non-stop crying baby I don't have the time to read it all. Please, help.


I want to know if it's still worth to appeal or should we just pay and get done with this?


My husband parked in Halfords (Sutton) car park and popped to Argos. Came back after 15 min and found a ticket on the windscreen stating "The driver was observed leaving site whilst the vehicle remained parked on the premises". There is a sign there stating that the car park is for customers only. My husband complained to Halfords, saying that he observed the store but they didn't believe him and said (in short) that by parking in their premises he agreed to the contract rules and now he needs to pay the charge of £90.


We ignored the first letter from Total Parking Solutions and now received a second one asking for £110 and stating that it's too late to appeal now. I've sent them a letter (the template one from the newbie thread). Now I don't know if they are going to reject his soft appeal and give him a POPLA ref or they will send him to court.


I know it's my husband's fault, but do you think he can appeal and ask for a reasonable charge for his "crime" or it's better to pay.


Thanks a lot for your time.

bazster

God no, don't pay. It's only TPS, just ignore whatever garbage they send.

Coupon-mad

I want to know if it's still worth to appeal or should we just pay and get done with this?

If they turn down the template appeal then just ignore them . What do you think everyone used to do, just 2 years ago before POPLA existed as an appeal option? That's right they ignored PPCs and the debt collector letter chain that followed and it all fizzled out. TPS are not litigious so at least it's not ParkingEye. I have ignored four fake PCNs myself, and the sky does not fall in!

My husband parked in Halfords (Sutton) car park and popped to Argos. Came back after 15 min and found a ticket on the windscreen stating "The driver was observed leaving site whilst the vehicle remained parked on the premises". There is a sign there stating that the car park is for customers only. My husband complained to Halfords, saying that he observed the store but they didn't believe him and said (in short) that by parking in their premises he agreed to the contract rules and now he needs to pay the charge of £90.

Halfords Head Office 'Social Media' or 'Customer Service' Team have been good in the past at cancelling these when a complaint is made public - so try posting this grumble on the Halfords facebook page! Several people got PCNs cancelled last year by doing just that and you have further grounds to complain that the Manager 'didn't believe a customer' which Halfords won't want exposed on facebook.

ezerscrooge

And even if it ever did come to court, then TPS have clearly not attempted to mitigate the loss by pointing out to the driver that if they leave site, then it'll be £90.

sisicool

Thank you all. Very helpful as usual.
Definitely will post a complain on Halfords' Facebook page and let you know if that worked.

sisicool

Hi there,
Guess what? TPS cancelled my husband's ticket.
In their last letter they said that it's too late to appeal but I've answered them anyway with a letter that combines both template letters form the NEWBIES thread.
Today we received a very, very short letter from TPS apologising for "any inconvenience caused" ... LOL!


Thanks to all of your advice and support! Well done!

Coupon-mad

Well done - the template first appeal strikes again!