VCS: Incorrect PCN Number issued

Curzoner

Hi all - I was issued a ticket back in March 2018 in a retail park by VCS with a hand written serial (PCN) number that turned out to be missing a digit. The vehicle reg was correct, though. I did try to pay the £60 fine within 14 days but obviously the myparkingcharge site couldn’t accept it. I have photos of the PCN and a screenshot of the online PCN retrieval failing.

I subsequently changed address and have now collected a deluge of letters form my old residence, the most recent being a LBC from VCS Services Ltd.

The incorrect PCN number (rather than reg) seems quite unusual, so I haven’t been able to find anything on this particular kind of case.

Would anyone have any advice on whether to ignore or appeal please?

Many thanks

Coupon-mad

You need to go on their online privacy page and provide your current address and require them to rectify their data and to 'erase' the old address data, and while you are about it, ask for a SAR (see the NEWBIES thread).

You will need to attach/upload ID to show you are the data subject.

That will assist you when they try a doomed court claim, and you certainly do not want to miss post as it's going to an old address, or you could get a CCJ and find out too late. It is VITAL you do not ignore this and that you see any claim, in time to defend.

Very defendable, these claims!

No paying it, please read the NEWBIES thread 2nd post all about court and pre court letters and doing a SAR.

Fruitcake

For proof of ID, include a copy of your V5 (which hopefully shows your new address otherwise you could end up paying the DVLA £1000).
The ICO have stated that them asking for photo ID is unreasonable as they have nothing to compare it to.

Coupon-mad

Yes, not your passport or your driving licence, as that's too much information for any scumbag parking firm to be given.

Curzoner

That's a great help - many thanks. Following advice now with Data Protection route and SAR.

Will keep you updated.

*** EDIT : I neglected to mention that the space in question was a disabled bay (not proud of that but it was literally 5 minutes) - not sure what effect that has on action. Thanks again ***

Curzoner

@Coupon-Mad, from what I can tell from the Newbies threads, presumably it's too early at this stage mention the incorrect PCN number since that's something that may be useful if it goes to claim?

thanks

Coupon-mad

The DataPO can't consider that sort of thing, it's not an appeal email, it's purely there for data related issues like rectification, data erasure, and a SAR.

The incorrect PCN number will be something to mention at defence stage, but not anything to hang your hat on. The main defence will not be about that it will be about contract law issues and facts, like other defences you see linked in the NEWBIES thread.

Grimble

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs Coupon Mad, I was given to understand that to hold the keeper liable under POFA 2012 the ticket and NTK had to match, if they have different numbers they cannot match or have I missed something?

Umkomaas

Curzoner wrote: »

That's a great help - many thanks. Following advice now with Data Protection route and SAR.

Will keep you updated.

*** EDIT : I neglected to mention that the space in question was a disabled bay (not proud of that but it was literally 5 minutes) - not sure what effect that has on action. Thanks again ***

It might not impress a Judge.

99% of people know not to park (for however long) in a disabled bay if they have no entitlement, yet a number continue to do it and are then rather miffed that they've been caught out.

Only the fact that I object more to private companies enriching themselves on such events, that persuades me to help in these cases.

Curzoner

Umkomaas wrote: »

It might not impress a Judge.

99% of people know not to park (for however long) in a disabled bay if they have no entitlement, yet a number continue to do it and are then rather miffed that they've been caught out.

Yup, that's fair. It's in a retail park where outside Halfords is fine but PC World next to it has disabled bays. Wasn't thinking, which I know is no excuse.

I was more miffed at the fact that I tried to pay the ticket but the guy wrote the PCN number incorrectly, which is why I'm at this juncture.

Coupon-mad

Grimble wrote: »

Not trying to teach you to suck eggs Coupon Mad, I was given to understand that to hold the keeper liable under POFA 2012 the ticket and NTK had to match, if they have different numbers they cannot match or have I missed something?

Totally agree and I would happily argue that at a hearing (one day I will go to some and surprise people!). But for most newbies I think it's a secondary point that - unless argued robustly with reference to the POFA - a Judge might think was semantics.

Clearly it's not, and you are right, but defences built on 'no contract' are a better basis as the first argument offered up, IMHO.