What can I do now?

poor_country_girl

Hi Forumers - I am feeling exceedingly depressed about this, and was wondering if anyone can offer me some advice on what/if there is anything else I can do?

I am a uni student in Blackburn and for the past 2 years have been parking on a car park right next to the uni at St Pauls working mens club - who charge during the day with a ticket machine.

I use it because its very convenient and I always have a lot to carry, and to support a local business - however almost every other day the ticket machine isn't working, either your money just keeps coming out again, or it is jammed up, takes your money but won't issue a ticket.
Last Monday it was jammed up - the person in front of me at the machine had lost her money and it wouldn't issue her with a ticket, so rather than loose my money as well I did the same thing I have done every week for the past 2 years, leave a large clear note on my dash board stating the machine wasn't working and that I would be back at lunch time to purchase my ticket - I even leave the £3.50 there for them to see - and I have returned EVERY time and paid (Someone has always contacted the club who assure them the machine will be fixed)
I returned to my car at lunch time to find a penalty ticket stuck right in front of my note.
I appealed straight away to PCN (who issued the ticket) and have just had a bog standard rejection stating I was not displaying a ticket.
It now states I can appeal further but automatically loose the right to pay the £60 if it fails and will have to pay £100.

The parking company are PCN Parking solutions for PCN (NW) Ltd

I am so in debt right now I am having nightmares how I will pay this! Any advise will be gratefully received.

Kath

trisontana

Could you tell us the name of the parking company

Redx

who issued the ticket and the subsequent rejection ?

also read the NEWBIES sticky thread, this tells you your options and explains things in detail

poor_country_girl

Hiya - I have edited my post - but it is PCN Parking SOlutions for PCN (NW) LTD

Sorry, I am obviously useless at the forum thing, only been on one once a couple of years ago! feeling a bit bewildered - did I mention I was quite a mature student?

I think I have checked the BPA correctly and it says they are a member - and yes, I appealed straight away without checking here first - feeling like such an idiot right now - penalised for honesty.

Redx

IPC member so same advice as this one

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5340144

poor_country_girl

Thank you for that, I will appeal to the IAS and write to St Pauls club - sorry, i'm a total coward, what happens if I do get court papers? How likely is this? In 26 years of driving I have had one other parking ticket I know I was in the wrong for, and 1 speeding ticket - I must be (almost) the worlds most law abiding driver!

trisontana

Don't forget you have not broken any laws, just a silly made-up rule thought up by the parking company.

traceynob

Don't get disheartened when your appeal to IAS gets rejected, most of them do, as reported on many threads on here and various other websites.

More information on PCN (NW) can be found on the BMPA website (see link below), they don't seem to do court very often and I would imagine the fact that the machine was broken means that they have a poor case, as I would imagine it's their responsibility to make sure they have a working machine to enable motorists to fulfil their end of the contract?

http://www.bmpa.eu/companydata/PCN_NW.html

The_Deep

If your appeal to the IAS is rejected it is most likely that the decision will be anonymous, perverse, partial towards the PPC, and the legal arguments, (if any) will be flawed. The PPC will always be given the benefit of thee doubt.


For these reasons it is most unlikely that they PPC want a judge to see it. A PPC must provide a fair appeal regime, the IAS is not that service.

Coupon-mad

poor_country_girl wrote: »

Thank you for that, I will appeal to the IAS and write to St Pauls club - sorry, i'm a total coward, what happens if I do get court papers? How likely is this? In 26 years of driving I have had one other parking ticket I know I was in the wrong for, and 1 speeding ticket - I must be (almost) the worlds most law abiding driver!

You will lose at IAS. Don't bother, is my advice - just wait to defend it properly and we'll help.

poor_country_girl

Hi - I hope you don't mind me asking further advice, I did not pursue this any further and decided to wait it out - Today I received a letter from UCS (Ultimate Custome Solutions) saying that my case has been passed to them, that PCN have not received payment OR any VALID dispute, so now it's too late to pay the discount fee. The balance is now £100 PLUS £60 admin fee, and if it isn't paid within 14 days they will prepare papers for their solicitors.
Is this normal? Should I still just ride it out, or do you think this will go to court? I am so worried! (Plus being pregnant and extremely hormonal isn't helping!)

I would appreciate any further advice or pointing in the right direction.

Thanks again for all your help so far

Kath