TPS - PCN when working in store

Time2GrowUp

Hello,

After reading the sticky posts I am now completely lost as to the best course of action to take and am conscious that time is not on my side.

I have recently received a PCN from TPS - Total Parking Solutions for overstaying the free parking at Waddon Retail Park, Croydon, CR0 4NX back on 30/07/2016. According to the letter this is the final reminder, apparently a notice was served on 08/08/2016 with a reminder on 23/08/2016 neither of which were received (is this a trick they use? - wouldn't surprise me). Its only a small RP with a pets and home, poundland and mcdonalds drive through I believe (maybe 1 more shop but cant recall).

Apparently because of this I have missed the opportunity to appeal and also the discounted penalty. Although from what I have read I assume I can still appeal it regardless of what they may say/imply. According to the letter I have 14 days from 21/9 to pay £90.

Circumstances of why I am now confused of how to proceed:

I was working in the Poundland store in the RP - the picture clearly shows my electricians ladder on my cars roof bars (although I appreciate this is not proof). I was there to complete a planned maintenance visit for 3 hours (actually finished everything early and left after 2 and a bit hours, free parking was 2 hours and hence the charge for being 2:22 hours. However I don't know if I can get proof of the fact I was working there as its a bit of a strange scenario, the company who Poundland contracted the maintenance work to, then subcontracted it to another company who then subcontracted part to us, but this was only for a couple of months and stopped at the end of July (I think this was actually the very last job I did for them). It has either now ceased completely or they are completing it themselves or it was subcontracted elsewhere.

What's the best course of action now, should I confirm I didn't receive the initial notice and first reminder? Complain to the store and hope they remember me and are prepared to do something about it?

Wasn't sure if I should treat matters differently given I didn't receive the initial letters and as I was working there as opposed to being a customer.

I also am struggling to find the agents of the site through google etc. so unsure if someone else can help how to get this info should I require it.

Coupon-mad

According to the letter this is the final reminder, apparently a notice was served on 08/08/2016 with a reminder on 23/08/2016 neither of which were received (is this a trick they use? - wouldn't surprise me).

Yes this is the sort of trick this rotten industry play.

I would get confirmation from Poundland if you can, and/or from ONE of the chain of contractor firms, even if they are just a mate who will email to confirm this (without naming YOU as a driver/individual!, just the van!):

on xx date, the van with the VRN xxx xxxx was authorised to be at xxxxx retail park due to ongoing authorised work at the Poundland store.

signed xxxxxxx xxxxxxx (company name)



Then attach that proof to a late 'appeal'. You said to us:

was working in the Poundland store in the RP - the picture clearly shows my electricians ladder on my cars roof bars

So has the PCN been sent to you by name as an individual keeper of the van, or your firm or your trading name?

If it's in a trading name then appeal in the name of the 'firm/trading name' as a corporate entity because that 'company keeper' cannot be held to be 'the driver' for obvious reasons. So write as the company/firm with your name merely given 'for and on behalf of' the firm.

If it's you as an individual that has received this letter I would respond as the registered keeper and talk about 'the driver' in the third person, point out about the obvious tools of the trade on the van (shown in their photos) and state that this letter was the first one received so you expect the charge to be cancelled as the driver was authorised to work at Poundland. Witness statement from xxxxxx company attached.

Time2GrowUp

Thanks for the help and reply, it was actually my car not a van so it was addressed me to as an individual.

It may be easier getting the store to confirm than the company who sub-contracted the work to us. Given the circumstances with the firm, I think my dad who I work for would rather pay the £90 than hassle them for some form of confirmation email etc.

I did have a little rapport with this store given the first month visit I managed to sort out a lock for an outside storage container which had been broken and out of use for over a year, so hopefully I can play on that for them to remember me and give me some form of proof to send to TPS. In the meantime I will write to them as you said but make no reference/admittance to who was driving/completing the work and see whether they will budge.

pappa_golf

as you were on site , presumably the manager met you , pointed you to the work and signed a ticket to say the job was done to his satisfaction,


why not go back to the shop , IN PERSON speak to the person (manager?) that greeted you and signed the form , ask him to get it cancelled as you were invited to the site

Time2GrowUp

Unfortunately all paperwork etc. including signatures were all done via Poundland's maintenance hub app on my work iPad and as soon as you sync it to the server to upload the completed job, notes etc. it disappears from your device and is fed to them. However, I will see if I can contact the manager as per my previous post as he should remember me when I mention fixing the storage container lock when I visited in June.

Going back in person is not hugely convenient given it is a nightmare to get to and isn't on my door step. I will however attempt to call the store tomorrow and hope they are accommodating.

Coupon-mad

Good - you do not have to pay the £90 anyway you know, it's not a question of 'appeal or pay'.

You could ignore it, put up with the letter chain and just take seriously any Gladstones letter/court claim (rare).

And people who pay are funding the next PCNs against more victims, hence why no regular here would pay one.