APCOA ANPR parking charge notice - entered a 0 instead of o

rich_j_b

I've just received a surprise PCN from APCOA for a parking session at a station which I had already paid for and displayed a ticket. I've dug out the ticket, and appealed this to them, but since noticed that I've entered a zero instead of the letter 'O' when inputting my vehicle reg. Having googled this, it seems that they will often reject the appeal when this happens. Has anyone any good templates to use in my defence if I need to take this to POPLA?

Also, the parking charge states Great Western Railways name on the letter, but there's no mention of Bylaws - should they be referred to in the notice? I also don't recall any signage clearly stating that the car park was monitored by ANPR, so assumed it was a patrolled car park.

I maybe jumping the gun and they'll see common sense, but just want to be prepared if they do reject it.

Thanks in advance!!

The_Deep

This is an outrageous scam. Many/most judges would regard this as such a trifling matter that they would throw it out as de minimis.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_minimis

I maybe jumping the gun and they'll see common sense

You most certainly are, besides it is a by-laws issue, so if they do not know who was driving they are Donald Ducked, they are loads of Apcoa station car park examples on here, search for a few.

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 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 House of Commons recently

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

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind they will be out of business by Christmas.
each year). They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

rich_j_b

Thank you 'the deep', only watched a bit of that video, but lets hope that more is done to clamp down on these firms. Having thought about this a bit more, I don't even believe its possible to have a zero at the front of a car registration, so you'd think they'd double check if this before issuing a notice!

Umkomaas

so you'd think they'd double check if this before issuing a notice!

What, and maybe miss the chance to gouge you for £100? You're not quite understanding this stuff yet!

Redx

as Umkomaas says - why ? , its a money making sc@m as some people pay up, nice little earner if they dupe people like you, they rig the system so heads they win, tails you lose

just read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread, appeal as KEEPER using the blue text template is what you should have done (not as driver, plus waiting until day 26 as well)

then read up on other TRAIN STATION appeals against APCOA and INDIGO and NCP on here

bylaws apply at train stations so if bylaws are involved at this station then a KEEPER has nothing to worry about, and after 6 months it "times out" and MAGS COURT is no longer an option for GWR after that time

if you dont understand this reply, then you ahvent read a dozen or more TRAIN STATION threads, as its all been explained ad nauseum , lol

hopefully you have not revealed who was driving nor who the owner is

post #3 of the NEWBIES thread has examples of popla appeals, plus look at other train station threads to see theirs, especially the successful ones , usually where APCOA have thrown in the towel having read a good appeal

do not assume that POPLA will cancel it due to a mistype, even though it is de-minimis

Fruitcake

Which station was this?

Byelaws will no doubt apply in your case so this will time out after six months. The scammers cannot pass your details to GWR or the landowner, who are the only entities that can take you to magistrates court.

Just follow the advice in the NEWBIES. Use all the template points available to you from post 3 of the NEWBIES.

Please complain to your MP about this unregulated scam. By the way, O and 0 on a number plate in the UK are identical.

rich_j_b

I think I may have caused myself more of a problem by stating in the appeal that I parked the car in the car park as recommended by the Holiday Inn I was staying in. Therefore, I think they will use this to say I've admitted I was driving the car (I appealed it as soon as it came in the post as I was convinced it was simply an admin error their end. It was only after looking at the ticket again later on that I realised the ticket had been entered as a zero rather then an O). So with the fact that I'm unlikely to be able to use the 'prove who was driving' approach, have I shot myself in the foot?

rich_j_b

BTW, this was at Swindon Station

twhitehousescat

whats it matter , they cannot take you to the magistrates court

why the hell has the keypad got buttons that do not exist on any motor vehicle registered with the DVLA

Umkomaas

I think I may have caused myself more of a problem by stating in the appeal that I parked the car in the car park

You need to be somewhat more specific than 'I think I may'. Do you have a copy of what you said?

have I shot myself in the foot?

Possibly, but that's not nearly as fatal as blowing your brains out!

There are a number of other appeal points (check out via forum research on keywords 'APCOA POPLA') and read and understand what else you can use to persuade them to decide not to bother with you.

Research develops knowledge, develops understanding, develops the ability to get these charges cancelled. How do you think we developed the knowledge.

HOW TO USE THE FORUM SEARCH FUNCTION:

Hit your 'Back' button to get back to the forum thread list. On the bar just above the threads you'll see the 'Search' function. Click on the 'Advanced Search' button and on the following page place your keyword(s) in the 'Search By Keyword(s)' and make sure the 'Show Results As' button (at the foot of the window) is changed from 'Threads' to 'Posts'.

KeithP

After having followed all the other good advice you have been given, take a look at your chances of being taken to court by APCOA:

http://www.parkingappeals.info/companydata/APCOA_Parking_UK.html