UKCPS Parking Charge Notice for unspecified location

Galileo_Figaro

I've not had one of these before. I have searched the forum but couldn't find an answer to this:

I have a UKCPS ticket for an unspecified location (it simply says KFC, Costa), is this normal? The charge is for "going beyond a stipulated time limit".

I appealed using the template and pointing out that the charge has no location and doesn't specify the time limit. They rejected the appeal within 24 hours, without addressing this point.

I'm wary of making a complaint to the retailer as suggested as this could look like an admission that I was in a that place and time.

So I see two courses of action: if I'm right that they don't have a leg to stand on given the lack of location I should just ignore this, or if that's incorrect I should go ahead and complain to the retailer and see if that works?

Any advice appreciated.

Redx

I would now ignore UKCPS and complain to the retailer as a patron, not mentioning who was driving, the royal "WE" will do

UKCPS have 6 years to try a court case

the NEWBIES sticky thread covers all you needed to know, please read it

rejection is almost inevitable by parking companies, so they are following their well trodden path, you must do the same , you have an unpaid invoice and only a judge can decide who is standing on whose legs

ShakeItOff

IPC member, so no point in appealing further. Just make sure that you keep any correspondence, and if they decide to go to court (any time within 6 years of the charge) come on back to talk defence.

Coupon-mad

I'm wary of making a complaint to the retailer as suggested as this could look like an admission that I was in a that place and time.

So I see two courses of action: if I'm right that they don't have a leg to stand on given the lack of location I should just ignore this, or if that's incorrect I should go ahead and complain to the retailer and see if that works?

I would complain to the retailers. Sometimes they can cancel PCNs during the first 2 weeks or so, without much trouble or maybe for a tenner that you could offer to cover, if the retailers please cancel these threats for you, a genuine customer.

Say all that to the Store Manager ONLY, not the first person you see in the shop!

Better than sweating about a possible court case in a few years time.

Galileo_Figaro

Thanks everyone. So, I complained to the store manager (Costa Coffee) and they said they can't do anything.

The charge is for being 14 minutes over the stipulated time limit. I assume this could be a problem were they to bring a court case in the next six years.

The PCN doesn't have a specific location on it (it says Costa, KFC...). So, my question is whether that in itself is a "slam dunk" argument that would make an IAS Appeal worthwhile (or make me a very simple winning case in court), or whether a specific location is not a necessary requirement on a PCM and so I would be at risk of using more money (and going through stress) in a court case.

I have read the newbies thread several times and done text searches on this question, but haven't been able to find anything.

Redx

its just an INVOICE nothing more , in an unregulated industry

an IAS appeal is unlikely to succeed, which the NEWBIES thread tells you

only a judge can tell you in court if you have a valid argument about the location, but I doubt that its a winner myself , these invoices can be vague and its all about the contract that the driver agreed to when they parked on the land in question

being a patron of the establishment , parking up and reading the signs within say 4 minutes and leaving promptly at the end of the parking period, say within 10 minutes are your grace period arguments and reason for being on the premises as a valid customer- so a judge may decide this is de minimis and strike out the claim


ps:- you can read the IPC CoP for grace period info

Coupon-mad

The PCN doesn't have a specific location on it (it says Costa, KFC...). So, my question is whether that in itself is a "slam dunk" argument

Not for IAS, no such thing.

That's why you can't find it in the NEWBIES thread. IAS is mentioned in the third post there, where we say never to bother unless you have an unusual thing like, a resident of the location appealed and can prove they don't even drive and were not the car's keeper either...(rare, but a good tactic to catch out the stupidest PPCs to get the wrong person to appeal a windscreen PCN...).

IAS deserves its reputation = a biased kangaroo court run by people with conflicts of interests.

If UKCPS try court (and they are NOT prolific, so unlikely IMHO) a 14 minute overstay is nothing really. If this was an ANPR postal PCN, the few minutes either side of parking time, are explained by driving in and out and looking for a space, queuing due to Christmas/busy sales time, etc.

Galileo_Figaro

Thanks everyone, sounds like the best course of action is to leave it and come back here if they do attempt a court action. I appreciate the support.

The_Deep

The PCN doesn't have a specific location on it (it says Costa, KFC...). So, my question is whether that in itself is a "slam dunk" argument

A judge would probably think so.

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 enacted a bill which will come into force later this year to regulate these scammers.