PCN from Euro Car Parks

blackterror

Hello Good People,

I have scoured the forum, including 'newbies' thread and all the usual FAQ, tried searching for specific keywords relating to my particular case all to no avail. At least, I think. Apologies to you Mods if this has been answered, I just couldn't find it.

I received a PCN from Euro Car Parks dated a few days after Christmas for an 'offence' that occurred just prior to Christmas. I only received this yesterday, as due to the nature of my job (Military), my post goes to the camp and I have been Home (different area of the country) over the Christmas period.

I already feel like I have run into an issue at the first stage.

I went directly to the Retail Store on which the PCN relates to, and spoke to a Duty Manager, as the Store Manager was 'on lunch.' I explained to the Duty Manager that shopping there at their principal's establishment (backed up with bank statements as proof) was the only cause of the driver's overstay, that the PCN is not backed by law, and that it is harassment to demand money the way they do. To that, he seemed sympathetic. He was immediately saying how they've had so many cases recently. Almost straight away, he 'submitted a cancellation request' to Euro Car Parks, but told me that he won't receive any confirmation/receipt acknowledgement from them to confirm the cancellation. He said that he just put that I had broken down, perhaps he knows this is a sure fire 'off the hook' reason, despite that I personally didn't give him any reasons for mitigation, unless he was simply trying to get rid of me.

So my question, is how will I know if it's been cancelled, and should I just appeal anyway? And if I do need appeal, do I just 'go along' with the 'story' the duty manager came up with?

Apologies again for the essay, but also Thanks in advance to any solutions..

- BT

KeithP

Appeal anyway.

Send the already written for you blue text template appeal that you will find in the first post of the NEWBIES FAQ sticky thread.

Send it unchanged - no additions or alterations necessary.

Send it as the keeper.

The_Deep

And complain to your MP.

It is the will of Parliament that these scammers be put out of business.

Hopefully that will take place in the near future. The Bill has passed through the HOC without hitch, and goes to the Lords soon. In the meantime involve your MP, the poor dears are buckling under the weight of complaints about these scammers.

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. Is has been suggested by an MP that some of these companies may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, (especially 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.

Sir Greg Knight's Private Members Bill to curb the excesses, and perhaps close down, some of these companies passed its Third Reading in late November, and, with a fair wind, will become Law next year.

All three readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 6-7 hours), and published in Hansard. MPs have an extremely low opinion of the industry. Many are complaining that they are becoming overwhelmed by complaints from members of the public. Add to their burden, complain in the most robust terms about the scammers.

blackterror

Went to Euro Car Parks appeal section.. typed in my PCN Ref no. and Vehicle Reg, and it came up with: 'This Parking Charge Notice has been processed cancelled. No further action required'

Unbeknownst to me, speaking to the duty manager did the trick and more importantly you can actually see if it's worked by typing in those 2 details.

Thanks again, not just for the response (KeithP) but also to all Posters & Mods on the advice and steps needed to follow on the FAQ thread :beer:

blackterror

I absolutely will complain to my MP.

Yesterday was too soon for these low life money grabbers to be put out of business.

I agree, if everyone that ever receives a PCN knew how to challenge it, AND wrote to their MP, we would see them dead in the water.