PCN from CEL LTD advice

Feanor1971

Hi,

I hope someone can help me.

A driver recently parked for the day in a hotel car park that is often used by colleagues at work. It was the first and only they used this car park and on that day the driver went to see the receptionist and asked what they needed to do. The receptionist asked for the driver's Car registration and initials and they paid the fee for the day and provided a receipt. The receptionist didn't advise the driver to do anything else.

Roll forward 6 weeks and the driver received a PCN From Civil Enforcement Ltd. They were obviously shocked to receive it and can no longer find the receipt. The driver contacted the Hotel to see if they could find a record of the stay. They were able to forward an image from their computer which proved the driver had paid for the day, with the correct date and registration. The driver was relieved but puzzled why they had received the charge. The hotel said the driver had failed to enter their registration on an electronic keypad inside even though the receptionist never mentioned they had to do this and as the driver had already provided the registration then why would they need to anyway?

The driver is about to appeal to CEL, but was hoping for advice or the correct wording. Does the driver have a good case for appeal? This seems extraordinarily unfair seeing as the driver paid the correct fee.

Many thanks.

beamerguy

OH dear, these hotels are being sucked in by the
CEL scam

You case is perfect to win but don't expect CEL to
listen to you as they are only money junkies

First thing to do is to contact the CEO of the hotel
requesting he cancels and at the same time to
re-train his staff before other customers get scammed

Which hotel please

On this forum, it is expected that you carefully read
the Newbies thread before we continue.

More reading .... CEL

http://parking-prankster.blogspot.com/search?q=cel

fisherjim

Obviously the signage was not very prominent either.


In addition to BG's advice, read the newbies thread and use the template appeal, do not state who was driving, you could include the hotel print out but they are unlikely to uphold the appeal, they aren't interested in cancelling it make no money for them.


What ever you do you don't want to give the scammers anything to indicate who the driver was.



If you have only just received the PCN from an ANPR system they cannot hold the keeper liable.

Umkomaas

Just use the one size fits all template from the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #1. CEL quite often cancel the charge on receipt of this. Do not alter it. But if you've got something from the hotel to show the fee was paid, you could copy that with the appeal with the sentence 'Please find attached proof from xxx Hotel that the driver* paid for parking on xx/xx/xxxx'.

*The identity of the driver should never be revealed, that's why it's never 'I, me or myself'. You need to edit your first post as you've identified the driver frequently in it. Parking companies read the forum and can use 'admissions' against you.

The_Deep

You would win this hands down in court, but, from what you have said, you have done nothing wrong, why should you have to spend any time sorting it out.


This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and another company have already been named and shamed, as has Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each year). They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

Hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned.

The problem has become so rampant that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. Watch the video of the Second Reading in the HofC recently.

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind they will be out of business by Christmas.

Fruitcake

If you haven't revealed the driver's identity to the hotel or PPC, then you need to edit your post to remove information about who parked.
Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper, who are two different people.

Please do complain to your MP about this unregulated scam, and complain to the hotel CEO/manager as advised. Leave negative feedback on Trapadvisor etcetera to warn others that an unregulated bunch of scammers operate there to rip off genuine customers.

The_Deep

If you haven't revealed the driver's identity to the hotel or PPC, then you need to edit your post to remove information about who parked.

Why do you think that this is important FC? IMO the poster would fare better in court by not hiding behind POFA. .

Feanor1971

Thanks for all the advice it is very much appreciated. I have edited the original post as advised and got the required template appeal response ready to send. Reading the sticky post it is suggested I appeal online, which I am now trying to do. However even though I am entering the correct registration, PCN number and my postcode it is stating the details are invalid so won't allow me to go any further. Is this another con by Civil Enforcement Ltd?
I intend to complain to the Hotel and the local MP over this, it's a disgrace.

Umkomaas

By what method(s) do CEL require appeals to be lodged? At the back of my mind is something about them requiring them via post? Do they offer an electronic method?

Feanor1971

Yes and even refer to it in the letter received stating that You can appeal in writing only through their website or by post within 28 days.

Umkomaas

However even though I am entering the correct registration, PCN number and my postcode it is stating the details are invalid so won't allow me to go any further.

There's a possibility that they have cancelled the charge. Go through the motions of trying to pay the charge via their 'Pay My Parking Charge' (or whatever they call it) portal. That will give you the current status of the charge. Take screen dumps of each page, especially those that state they don't recognise the charge, or that it's been cancelled.

Come back with what you find.