Total Parking Solutions PCN - missed appeal deadline!

parkingfinepanic

Hi all. Please help!

I think I may have made a series of mistakes in dealing with this, particularly now I've read the newbie sticky on how to deal with these.

I live in England and am the registered owner of the car. My car was keyed in a TPS car park at the end of October. Trying to deal with that meant that my car was parked longer than the max allowed stay. I rang the police on the day to report it, in case they could get hold of any CCTV footage from TPS showing the damage being done, but unfortunately the cameras were only on the entrance and exit.

I have since received the PCN BUT, I moved house a few months ago and hadn't updated my address with the DVLA yet. The new owner didn't pass the mail on to me until after the 28 day deadline for appeals specified in the PCN. I have now updated my address details with the DVLA and hastily emailed TPS to appeal, which may have been another mistake - I should have read your sticky first.

In my email I gave them my new address (should I not have done that?) and explained that I didn't get their letters (should I not have admitted that my details were out of date with the DVLA?) and told them about the damage, quoting the police crime number I was given as evidence, and said that was why I was parked for too long. In doing so I indirectly (although not explicitly) admitted I was the driver. I also said that it was due to looking for their signs etc for contact details to give the police, so I admitted I saw the signs. Oh, and I said that I was parked for too long because of trying to find witnesses etc, so that takes away my chance of asking the retail outlet to cancel the PCN doesn't it?

I guess my appeal will just be rejected anyway, because it's after the 28 days? It says they'll give me contact details of the POPLA, but I didn't know to ask for a number until after I'd sent the email.

Have I irrevocably messed it all up, or is it still salvageable??? I'm panicking!!

Coupon-mad

I reckon wait for the rejection and if you get no POPLA code, then complain to the BPA as they have confirmed there is no deadline and all rejection letters should have a POPLA code.

Also TPS are pretty tame and easy to beat at POPLA. Certainly do NOT panic, do NOT pay!

parkingfinepanic

Thanks so much for your response. I'll just wait then and see what their reply says. I did try ringing the shop I'd been at, but they say they don't own the car park. I've looked it up and the whole retail park is owned by the same company. I could try contacting them?

Coupon-mad

Yes, of course. That's what the sticky thread 'Successful complaints about PPCs' is all about. One of the stickies collated by Crabman, full of successes re retail parks.

parkingfinepanic

Just received notice that my appeal was successful! Happy days! Thanks for all the excellent advice! ��