Parking fines on motorway services

cheme7676

Hi,

I have received a parking invoice on the motorway services from CP Plus.

The reason being is that my tyre punctured on the motorway so ended up overstaying by 30 minutes. The NTK arrived yesterday (within the 14 day limit).

Just a question, should I bother appealing on this basis or should I do it the standard ‘one size fits all’ template then try and kill it at POPLA?

There were two other cars who also stopped at services as my car was being repaired (we travelled in a group), who also got tickets. I would take it that even if i could get away with breakdown, I have a feeling CP Plus wouldn’t be as forgiving for them. I take take this to mean that these other two cars will go through the standard appeal route. Would it be possible to use the exact same copied and pasted POPLA appeal for both cars respectively? Or would they need to be different? Or in the case that I wont appeal on the basis of breakdown, would it be possible to have three identical POPLA appeals?

Not to mention I genuinely saw no signs in the services asking for any sort of payment, neither did anyone else.

Thanks for your help in advance

The_Deep

Even if you were struck by lightening a PPC is likely to persist. Only a judge is likely to apply common sense. Popla is likely to support the PPC.

The whole industry is a scam, relying on threats of court, and the public's ignorance of the Law, A bill is currently before parliament which will regulate the scammers, many of whom are ex-clampers.

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 Second Reading in the Lords this month, and, with a fair wind, will l become Law later this year..

All five readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 7-8 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.

st999

Just do what we do in Scotland.

Ignore it.

No communication whatever, ignore it.

Umkomaas

I would take it that even if i could get away with breakdown, I have a feeling CP Plus wouldn’t be as forgiving for them.

They wouldn't be able to join the dots on this. More or less everything is automated.

I take take this to mean that these other two cars will go through the standard appeal route.

Yep.

Would it be possible to use the exact same copied and pasted POPLA appeal for both cars respectively?

Yep. They will more than likely be dealt with by different assessors.

That is ..... even if it gets to POPLA. CP Plus often cancel tickets on receipt of the forum's template initial appeal (NEWBIES FAQ sticky, post #1).

Have you also complained to the Motorway Service operator? That often secures a cancellation.

Just do what we do in Scotland.

Ignore it.

No communication whatever, ignore it.

Unless the incident took place in Scotland or you live in Scotland, this is trash advice. The only thing to ignore is the nonsense from this stranger to posting on this forum.

For st999. This is what can happen when things are ignored - even in Scotland!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5962283/scotland-advice-needed-please

Coupon-mad

st999 wrote: »

Just do what we do in Scotland.

Ignore it.

No communication whatever, ignore it.

I disagree, when it is CP Plus.

We have found that sending the template from the NEWBIES thread sees them off for good. They will cancel (even re a Scottish site) and there will then be no more letters.

But is the OP's case even in Scotland? Either way with CP Plus, send the forum template.

cheme7676

Thank you for your advice guys! Very helpful. I’m not in scotland no so that one’s off the cards.

So I think my next steps will be:

Complain to the Motorway Service Operator whilst appealing to CP Plus using template on Newbie section for all three cars (one size fits all) and wait for either a) motorway operator to cancel, b) PPC to cancel, or c) get a POPLA code

In the case of a POPLA, I’ll just build it up using help from the Newbie thread as usual. It will be one POPLA appeal for my car, and another appeal which is identical for the other two cars (or just use 1 identical appeal for all 3 cars?)

But it’s assuring that we may not have to even go as far as POPLA if they cave in to the one size template.

Thanks so much guys, I’ll get started and let you know how it goes

Coupon-mad

That is all correct, and you will win as long as the driver is not divulged.

Umkomaas

You've obviously genned up well on the processes in the NEWBIES FAQ sticky. Well done, it makes giving advice so much easier.

Please do keep us informed, as it gives us contemporaneous intel on how parking operators are currently behaving. They do morph from time to time, so latest information is important to have.

cheme7676

Thank you all,

I’ve just submitted the first stage appeals as per the ‘one size fits all’ template for the cars.

I now want to draft an email to send to Moto Hospitality as they are the operators of the service station in question. I want to send a sincere explanation explaining everything regarding the puncture and the other 2 cars getting tickets etc. I even have evidence of my flat tyre as a photo which is time stamped on my phone, although it doesn’t prove where it occured. I want to try to aim to cancel all 3 PCNs within the same email.

So I guess my question is, do i need to worry about disclosing driver identity to Moto Hospitality?

Le_Kirk

You could have been a passenger in the car!

The_Deep

Have you seen this

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2017/aug/26/parking-eye-takes-on-top-barrister-85-fine