Missed POPLA 28 Day Period due to Corrupt PDF from APCOA

cardriver1

I got a PCN from APCOA at a Train Station for not paying. This was due to an error in their payment app setting, up a new vehicle. I appealed directly to them. Unfortunately, I didn't use the template at **NEWBIES!! PRIVATE PARKING TICKET? OLD OR NEW? **READ THESE FAQS FIRST!**. I did not admit to being the driver, however I said that I tried to pay using the app.

The final reply to my appeal had no information in the email body and only a PDF attachment, which was corrupt. This would not open on the device I regularly use for emails as well as regularly reading other PDFs. I tried to view this in several different ways, but could not open the PDF. At this point I took no further action.

Over a month later, I received a reminder letter, with details on how to appeal to APCOA. I tried to do this but APCOA's website said I could only appeal once through their website. I took no further action at this point as I had no POPLA number and no other contact info, other than a payment address.

Now I am receiving letters from DRP (Debt Recovery Plus Ltd) on behalf of APCOA.

I have now used a different device to try and read the email attachment and, with some fiddling, have opened it and have a POPLA number. This now past the 28 day period as stated on their website.

What should I do next? Appeal to POPLA, contact APCOA or let APCOA/DRP make the next move?
Many thanks

The_Deep

Have you read the stickies/FAQs? They give clear and precise advice on how to deal with debt collectors, ignore, ignore, ignore.

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

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week, hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. It has even been suggested that some of these companies have links with organised crime.

Watch the video of the Second Reading and committee stage in the House of Commons recently. MPs have a very low opinion of this industry.

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

https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-19/debates/2b90805c-bff8-4707-8bdc-b0bfae5a7ad5/Parking(CodeOfPractice)Bill(FirstSitting)

and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind they will be out of business by in the not too distant future..,

Fruitcake

PoPLA codes last up to 32 days. If you are within that timeframe then you should appeal.

Show us your appeal here before you submit it if you have time. You should use all the template appeal points available to you from pst 3 of the NEWBIES.

If you are out of time then you need to complain to the BPA, which you should have done anyway as soon as you discovered that the pdf was corrupted.

None of this is critical anyway if railway byelaws apply as the scammers can't take you to court, and it becomes statute barred after 6 months. This assumes the car park is railway land.