Need advice for PCM Parking Charge

AntoineFR

Hello,

I recently got a parking charge from PCM (ICP Operator) and I would like your advices and to know whether I should appeal via POPLA.

Here is the story:
I visited some friends and decided to park in the car park underneath their building. When you reach the entrance has a ticket machine and you press a button to get a ticket and enter the car park. The sign on the machine only mentions the price and the fact that the car park is shared between pay on foot and permit holders.
There are some signs on the side displayed on the wall but they are way too small to be read from the car.
The car park itself is very confusing as some parts are reserved for specific customers (there is a couple of hotels above). So I parked in an area that did not seem to be specific to any company and had no visible restrictions printed on the parking bay.
When I got back to my car (after paying at the ticket machine), I found out I had been issued a parking charge. The reason: I was parking in a space allocated to a permit holder!
I looked around and there was indeed some signs saying that only bays with a blue "P" could be used by pay on foot customers and bays WITHOUT any signage were reserved for permit holders. This sign was not readable unless you get really close. But I know it's like the fine prints on contracts you are supposed to read it.
Apart from the fact that this defies common sense (I have NEVER been to a car park where you get enter by getting a ticket from a machine and parking bays without any text or icons are actually restricted!), I am questioning whether this restrictions should have been made clearer on the entrance sign (along with the prices)

I made the mistake of appealing using their website. My wife owns the car and I stupidly give them my first initial, my last name and my address (which they used to reply the very next day to reject my appeal).

Do I have ground for appeal on the basis that the conditions were not clear enough at the entrance of the car park?
I have some pictures to share but I am too new to the forum to post a link... (Imgur /a/42EQR)

Thanks for your help!

Fruitcake

You can't appeal to PoPLA as the scammers belong to the IPC.

The second stage IAS appeal is pointless so you are now in ignore mode unless you get real court papers.

Pauloipam

Sorry to interrupt but can someone give me the email I should use to complain a APOCA PCN? Thank you

Fruitcake

Pauloipam wrote: »

Sorry to interrupt but can someone give me the email I should use to complain a APOCA PCN? Thank you

Please start your own thread if you need help. Answers on this thread are meant solely for the OP. Yours is about a completely different parking company.

Please also read the Sticky thread for NEWBIES that will tell you how to appeal and win.

DO NOT REVEAL THE DRIVER'S IDENTITY.

Please also make sure you have the correct parking company name as many have similar initials. I do not recognise the one you have mentioned.

AntoineFR

Fruitcake wrote: »

You can't appeal to PoPLA as the scammers belong to the IPC.

The second stage IAS appeal is pointless so you are now in ignore mode unless you get real court papers.

What is the likeliness of that? Should I pay up since the charge is going to increase if do not pay within 14 days?

Fruitcake

AntoineFR wrote: »

What is the likeliness of that? Should I pay up since the charge is going to increase if do not pay within 14 days?

Nobody here will advise you to pay a scammer. You are after the 100% MSE discount, not paying a nasty bunch of scammers.

The BMPA motoring charity are the best people to ask about the likelihood of this company doing court.

Coupon-mad

AntoineFR wrote: »

What is the likeliness of that? Should I pay up since the charge is going to increase if do not pay within 14 days?

Do you think we are going to agree with the 'I want an easy life, I'm scared of court so I will pay this trash' cop-out? Nope. You REALLY want to line the pockets of this ex-clamper? They even appeared on Watchdog in a programme showing a woman at PCM saying the 'make it up' most of the time.

If you pay them, it's not just about you. It's supporting and sponsoring this nasty business model and funding the next fake PCN against some naive person who has not found this forum like you have. You are here now and you need to realise this parking firm and Gladstones are beatable when well defended.

Have you seen all the Blogs by the Parking Prankster about Gladstones cases being won by Defendants - it makes good reading.

AntoineFR

Fruitcake wrote: »

Nobody here will advise you to pay a scammer. You are after the 100% MSE discount, not paying a nasty bunch of scammers.

The BMPA motoring charity are the best people to ask about the likelihood of this company doing court.

Thanks. I have contacted the BMPA and they have advised me to contact the landowner in the first place.
I am not sure of the best way to find who the landowner is though. Should I just give PCM a call and ask them?

Fruitcake

AntoineFR wrote: »

Thanks. I have contacted the BMPA and they have advised me to contact the landowner in the first place.
I am not sure of the best way to find who the landowner is though. Should I just give PCM a call and ask them?

Never ever call a parking scammer, ever.

Have you asked the friends you were visiting? Alternatively you can pay the Land Registry a few quid for the information.

Coupon-mad

Should I just give PCM a call and ask them?

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ring this old bag and her cronies?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02sh3sr

No.