APCOA Parking Fine

priyesh13

Hi

I was hoping to get some advice on a parking fine my parents received from APCOA.

My sister booked a night at a Travelodge in Bradford for them as they were visiting family for a party. At the time of booking she also purchased car parking, of which she has an email confirmation. On arrival at the hotel, my parents asked at reception if they needed to display anything on the car and were told, as long as it's paid for then it's fine.

A few weeks after their stay, APCOA sent them a letter with camera screenshots of their car saying they never paid for parking and had to pay a fine. £30 within 14 days or £60 thereafter. We chose to appeal, through their website as instructed, attaching a screenshot of the car park booking confirmation email. We thought this would be straightforward as it must be a mistake.

Yesterday we received an email saying essentially, 'Thank you for sending us your hotel booking confirmation, but you still didn't pay, so your claim is unsuccessful and the fine stands.' 1) It wasn't a hotel booking confirmation it was a car park booking confirmation and 2) what the hell did my sister purchase if it wasn't valid for the car park?

They've made it difficult to counter now, as the appeal process is to go through POPLA or the Ombudsman (I get the impression they don't want you to take this route as they really play it down). My poor parents just want to pay the £30, which they probably will, but this has angered me as this is clearly wrong. I've contacted Travelodge who have advised me to contact their customer service via their online form, which I have, and APCOA are ignoring my contact.

Please can someone advise what our rights are here and offer any advice as to what to do? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

fisherjim

I am certain the nothing in any letter or email mentions a "fine" does it?


You are dealing with greedy scammers not real parking managers they aren't interested in your appeal only getting more money.


If payment was made why would anyone pay their stupid charge?


The parking fees are collected via a link from the Travelodge site direct to APCOA's parking bookings site providing the correct destination, dates and times are selected it is possible this was entered incorrectly.


https://travelodgeparking.apcoa.co.uk/Home.aspx


Check on the receipt that all the details match the booked hotel details dates and times.


Scammers only need one little error to start their little games.


Read up on the newbies thread on here it tells you all you need to know about these despicable PPC's and their sharp practices along with the route to take to appeal etc., though the first stage appeal has been thrown away.


Of course the POPLA appeal should be made but don't do that without getting it scanned by the experts on here.

The_Deep

My poor parents just want to pay the £30,

Why if it has been paid? It is a scam. Never mind PoPLA, it is hardly impartial, let them take you to court, it really is no big deal, and your parents might be able to get some worthwhile compensation for unreasonable behaviour and wasting the Court's time.

These are not fines, they are private invoices for the damage the PPC alleges they suffered when, allegedly, you breached a contract they allege you had agreed with them, we call them scams. They only need to be paid if a judge so directs,

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams so complain to your MP.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

,

Umkomaas

Make sure all appeals are made in the name of the person (the Registered Keeper) named on the Notice to Keeper from APCOA. You can do the work on it, but it needs to go out in the RK's name (you can sign it with a squiggle, doesn't have to be a 'real' signature).

My poor parents just want to pay the £30, which they probably will,

Why not ensure that doesn't happen, by emailing APCOA's DPO via the Privacy section of their website, informing them that the 'address for service' (use those words) relating to the PCN (put in all the reference numbers) is <your address>, that way your parents will hear no more - make sure, again, that the 'rectification notice' (use those words) is in the RK's name, not yours .

Tell your parents you've sorted it and got it cancelled (which it will be once we help you through the next stage!).

Coupon-mad

I hope the first appeal didn't blab about who was driving or tick the box 'driver'?

APCOA are 100% beatable at POPLA when the driver has not been implied/admitted.

What did Travelodge Head office say when you complained about them causing this?