PPS "Parking Charge Notice" - Retail Park Car Park

BorisJohnson

Dear kind people of the Parking Tickets, Fines & Parking forum.
I was wondering whether you might be able to help me with the following:

A week ago, a Premier Parking Solutions (PPS) "Parking Charge Notice" was attached to the windscreen of my car, which was parked in Totton retail park car park. It has become apparent that, whilst not obviously clear, the 1.5 hours free parking available in that car park requires a free ticket to be placed on display on the car dashboard, though in this case no such ticket was placed on display in the car. The car was in the car park for approximately 15 minutes total whilst a shop (Argos) attached to the car park was used (Argos receipt time stamp was one minute before the PCN time stamp).

The PCN gives the reason "No Valid Ticket Or Permit Displayed". It requests payment within 28 days (the amount would be reduced if paid sooner).

Having read through this forum, including the stickies and FAQs, I understand that the first course of action should be to appeal the Parking Charge Notice after 20 days. Please could you let me know whether this is indeed appropriate in this situation?

Should I also contact Argos to express customer distress and request they resolve/cancel it?

Please could you let me know whether I should use the template appeal letter, or whether this should be tailored in any way?
Also, is it preferable to appeal by email or to instead appeal by post?

Many thanks to all responses!

The_Slithy_Tove

My one and only private parking ticket comes from that exact same place, and for the exact same reason. At the time (pre-POFA) I just ignored them and it's been silence for a few years now. However, things change, and that's no longer the best approach.

You can try Argos, but as it's a shared car park, they may not be able to do anything. You'd need to pursue the landowner, whoever that may be.

As the PPC is in the BPA, then wait for the Notice to Keeper before appealing, assuming the car is registered to you or someone known to you. Then appeal as keeper using the template letter, no need to embellish it. The idea is to get a POPLA code from them, at which point you can throw the kitchen sink at them.

If they allow an email appeal, then you can do that, and if you get any kind of auto-response or confirmation that they received it, then keep that. Otherwise, you can always do it by post, too, just to be sure, and getting a free certificate of posting from the post office.

peter_the_piper

It would not hurt to get pics of the entrance sign and the repeaters to show that it is not made clear that a ticket is required. Where are the ticket machines?(just for info)

The_Slithy_Tove

peter_the_piper wrote: »

It would not hurt to get pics of the entrance sign and the repeaters to show that it is not made clear that a ticket is required. Where are the ticket machines?(just for info)

To be fair(ish), the signs are there, though can't remember about entrance signs. But in a town where ALL the car parks are free, including the council ones, why would one even be looking out for such conditions. That's why I never looked or got a free voucher for the car. Back in those days of naivety concerning PPCs, I was just like most other people, falling for their entrapment.

The_Deep

If they took you to court they might have a mountain to climb, no overstay, no loss, no commercial justification. Take a hard line on this, even if you lose at POPLA.

BorisJohnson

Thank you all for your answers, they are much appreciated.

For reference, there are signs in the car park that based on Google Maps 2012 pictures say "Pay & Display is now in operation" with the small print "All cars must display a valid ticket including the 'free parking' period". At the Pay Here point, it says at the bottom "For 90 minutes free parking press Green button and display free parking ticket in windscreen".

Based on the above responses, I will wait until I receive the Notice to Keeper, and then send an email appeal.

My response would be based on the template:

"Date

Dear Sirs

Re: PCN No. ....................

I challenge this 'PCN' as keeper of the car and I will complain to the landowner about the matter if it is not cancelled.

I believe that the signs are ambiguous and the terms unclear to drivers before they park.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn. You must either rely on the POFA 2012 and offer me a POPLA code, or cancel the charge.

The driver was a genuine patron of Argos, a retailer on Totton Retail Park Car Park. Please see evidence attached.

I have kept proof of submission of this appeal and look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully..."


My questions:
Does the above approach appear to be the optimum one?
How long should I wait for the NTK before appealing?
Are the sentences in the appeal about ambiguous signs, and the driver being a genuine patron of Argos, worth including?

Thanks again!

The_Slithy_Tove

As I said before, and many other say every day, USE THE TEMPLATE APPEAL. It already has a generic statement about unclear signage, which is fine.

NTK should arrive after 28 days but before 56 days after the parking event.

Coupon-mad

I understand that the first course of action should be to appeal the Parking Charge Notice after 20 days. Please could you let me know whether this is indeed appropriate in this situation?

Do the above.

DO NOT wait for the NTK. The advice is there for a reason, so you can win at POPLA more easily later when they forget the NTK altogether. PPS only offer postal appeals I think so bear in mind Xmas post and maybe post it earlier - you are trying to ensure they receive it before day 28 but not too early.

Get a cert if posting from the PO counter - keep it safe. DO NOT use recorded delivery, just normal 1st class timed to get to them before day 28 bearing in mind the bank holidays & postal delays.

4consumerrights

BorisJohnson wrote: »

Thank you all for your answers, they are much appreciated.

For reference, there are signs in the car park that based on Google Maps 2012 pictures say "Pay & Display is now in operation" with the small print "All cars must display a valid ticket including the 'free parking' period". At the Pay Here point, it says at the bottom "For 90 minutes free parking press Green button and display free parking ticket in windscreen".

Based on the above responses, I will wait until I receive the Notice to Keeper, and then send an email appeal.

My response would be based on the template:

"Date

Dear Sirs

Re: PCN No. ....................

I challenge this 'PCN' as keeper of the car and I will complain to the landowner about the matter if it is not cancelled.

I believe that the signs are ambiguous and the terms unclear to drivers before they park.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn. You must either rely on the POFA 2012 and offer me a POPLA code, or cancel the charge.

The driver was a genuine patron of Argos, a retailer on Totton Retail Park Car Park. Please see evidence attached.

I have kept proof of submission of this appeal and look forward to your reply.

Yours faithfully..."


My questions:
Does the above approach appear to be the optimum one?
How long should I wait for the NTK before appealing?
Are the sentences in the appeal about ambiguous signs, and the driver being a genuine patron of Argos, worth including?

Thanks again!

Unless this is a hire/lease or company vehicle, I would advise waiting for the notice to keeper.

Whilst it is true some parking companies do not send them, from my experience PPS will send one.

The Ntk has more flaws to discredit at appealing in POPLA

Whilst you are waiting though - you should complain to the landowner, that customers of theirs are being penalised in this way..

appeals can be emailed directly to PPS

An appeal must be made in writing to this address:
Premier Parking Solutions Ltd
PO BOX 471
Newton Abbot
TQ12 9FX

Or via email to: appeals@pps.uk.com

BorisJohnson

To update anyone interested on this case, I appealed to PPS via email, and fairly soon afterwards received the following response via email:

Dear XXX,
Re: Parking Charge Notice Number XXX (Vehicle: XXX)
Site: Totton Retail Park
Issue date: XXX
Further to your email of appeal received on XXX regarding the above parking charge. I have now had the opportunity to review this case and my findings are below.
Having considered the content of your letter we are prepared on this occasion, as a goodwill gesture, to cancel this parking charge notice.
However, please be aware that future correctly issued parking charge notices will not be cancelled.
Yours sincerely,
XXX
Appeals Manager

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Coupon-mad

That's a good result from PPS. Maybe the receipt did it.

Glad to see you didn't wait for the NTK as that's really not good advice, IMHO.