Am I giving away more by appealing PCN online?

SidneyS

Dear all,

I hope you'll forgive me asking this question (I have read the newbies post and made a search of the forum) but I wanted the advice of more experienced members.

My understanding is that the initial appeal (due to say ParkingEye 'golden ticket' issued more than a month after the ANPR) is practically just to get the appeal number, which is hopefully a subsequent certain win.

I've read advice to just do this online (take a screenshot also). But is this not giving them an advantage since you're going through their process. For example you're agreeing to certain terms and conditions that you wouldn't need to via your own recorded letter and the real low blow is 'driver' is included in their drop down box. Not a trap many might fall into but nonetheless an example of how they do have a home advantage?

I suspect I'm being over cautious but advice from experience members would be welcome.

Many thanks

Sid

The_Deep

When there is a likelihood of matters ending up in court, I always prefer to write a letter.

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.

Umkomaas

1. Are you aware that some PPCs refuse to sign for 'Recorded Delivery'?

2. Are you aware that if you use a method of appeal not following the PPC's approved procedure, they will likely ignore what you've sent, they'll time you out and you'll never get a POPLA Code?

3. Are you aware of how many letters are (apparently) never received by PPCs?

Quentin

Advice here is never reveal who was driving and send appeals online if you have that option

SidneyS

Thanks for all your timely replies- on balance it looks like cautiously appealing online is the way I'll go.