PCN Euro Car Park

Mazu24

Hi all,

Recently, the person I rent a car from received a letter from Euro Car Park with a parking penalty of £70 with a discount of up to 40 if I pay within 14 days.

Unfortunately, this was caused by my inattention, because the parking lot is located in the area of the sainsbury shop where I was shopping at that time. Being convinced that the parking is free for the customers of the shop, before entering the parking lot there is a display on which the license plate number of the car is displayed along with the time until which the car can be left there. Because I used the same parking lot in another shop in which also the rules of 2 free hours for customers were in force, I did not pay attention to the fact that in this parking lot is information that the parking is free for only 30 minutes, but after exceeding this time in the kiosk you need to activate the ticket that gets at the till, unfortunately is written in small letters on the plate at the entrance to the store, which I did not pay attention to.

While shopping I exceeded the time by a little over 15 minutes, unfortunately I did not take the ticket from the tillr, as well as the bill, all I have is a confirmation from the bank that that day I was shopping in this store for an amount that would allow me to park for up to 2 hours.

I have appealed against this decision on the EuroCarPark website, with all my explanation of the situation. Unfortunately, the only response I got was that the appeal was rejected because the parking ticket was not activated before leaving the parking lot.

My question is whether it's better to pay the £40 deadline, but I don't really see how I can pay that amount for 15 minutes of parking in a shop where, like any other customer, I shopped.
Should I try to appeal this decision in POPLA?

Thanks

Fruitcake

Nobody has received a penalty.

What a shame you revealed the driver's identity. You should have appealed as lessee/hirer as most parking scammers are incapable of meeting the PoFA 2012 requirements where hire/lease cars are concerned which would have meant an easy win for you.
Never mind, you have other appeal points available to you.

If you have a PoPLA code, use it. The alternative is to pay, which nobody here will recommend. Don't miss the PoLA appeal deadline. PoPLA codes last 32 days. Tell the person you hire from in writing that you are dealing with it and they must not pay this on your behalf.

Since the driver has been identified, that person now remains liable and the scammers cannot (should not) go back to the keeper begging for money.

Use all the appeal points available to you from post 3 of the NEWBIES and post your draft here before you submit it.
These would normally include, not the landowner, no standing to issue charges, inadequate signage, and lack of grace periods.

Get photos of the site and signage, especially of signs with small text that can't be read from a moving vehicle. Also signs that are damaged, hidden behind foliage, high up on walls etcetera.

What happened when you complained to the landowner/retail manager where you visited?

You should also complain to your MP about this unregulated scam.

MistyZ

Mazu24 wrote: »

Because I used the same parking lot in another shop in which also the rules of 2 free hours for customers were in force, I did not pay attention to the fact that in this parking lot is information that the parking is free for only 30 minutes, but after exceeding this time in the kiosk you need to activate the ticket that gets at the till, unfortunately is written in small letters on the plate at the entrance to the store, which I did not pay attention to.

For heaven's sake! I go into Sainsbury's to shop!

I suppose Sainsburys are trying to make the experience more stimulating. You have to look for small letters (never mind that every item, every square inch is covered in small letters) and then you need to remember to 'activate your ticket'. So where do you get that ticket again .....?

It's a ridiculous system. You do have proof of custom. 30 minutes is nothing. Complain vigorously to both the manager of the store and the CEO of Sainsburys. Use email and refer to bank statement evidence of spending. Itemise the sorry tale as you've done here and insist on cancellation.

Get ready for the POPLA appeal too, but do the complaint ASAP, before commencing POPLA.

The_Deep

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.