PPC from PCMUK - SAR Stage

Guardian82 · 7 March 2020 at 10:17AM

Hi, very sorry for starting a new thread. I have read the newbies thread but am still a bit confused and wanted to get some advice.

I have just received my SAR details back from Parking Control Management following a fine from them in September. (Long story short, driver ignored the ticket and they sent all correspondence to an old address and the landlord helpfully doesn't have the letters, meaning I am playing catch up.)

Now that I have the details from the SAR about the offence (parking in a restricted area, driver was visiting a friends flat and parked outside in an unmarked bay) including evidence, what is my next step? The letter states they will update Trace the debt management company who I assume they have passed my new address to as well. I understand that I can send them a strong letter denying liability, but what are my next steps for dealing with the charge from PCM?

Sorry again for the new thread.

Fruitcake · 7 March 2020 at 10:28AM

If the driver has not already been identified, edit your post to remove information about who did what. Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper, who are two different people. Do this before you do anything else.
If the driver has been identified then this is irrelevant.

Did you update the keeper details on the V5C with the DVLA? If not, do so now as this could otherwise result in a £1000 charge.

Debt collectors can safely be ignored.

Send a rectification notice to the DPO of the PPC telling them to erase your old data, and only use your new address for service.
You could try a late appeal to the PPC using the template in blue text from the NEWBIES, adding a one liner that the keeper had moved after the date of the alleged event and therefore the NTK was never properly served.

Get the friend to dig out their lease/AST to see what it says about parking/permits/issuing charges/court.
Just as importantly is what it doesn't say. This is crucial to your case.

Complain to the landowner/MA.

Complain to your MP.

D_P_Dance · 7 March 2020 at 10:29AM

what is my next step?

Read the stickies.

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and has been known to get the charge cancelled.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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.

Guardian82 · 7 March 2020 at 10:50AM

Thank you for the swift advice.

Yes the car was sold a month after the offence so the V5C was updated with then. Interestingly, despite this they sent the third NTK to the old address after the details were updated, so I guess they never bothered checking this again.

Thank you. Will try that appeal mentioned, will speak to the resident to find out more about contracts and write to my MP too.

How will I find out who owns the land though? Will this be in the tenants contract perhaps?

Coupon-mad · 7 March 2020 at 5:34PM

The letter states they will update Trace the debt management company who I assume they have passed my new address to as well.

Don't assume anything. Email the PPC and Trace, a RECTIFICATION NOTICE to their Data Protection Officer as found in their data privacy page. Tell them to 'erase' (use that word) the old address and that the address xxxx xxxxx (new one) is the only current address for proper service of letters.

Apart from that, stick around and read lots of Gladstone claim threads and see how people word their defences and WS and how poster here almost always see a discontinuance, or win at a hearing. Also read the template defence thread.

Guardian82 · 25 March 2020 at 1:52PM

Just wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who helped me out with this. After I submitted my appeal based on the NTK not being served properly, PCM have accepted my appeal, have cancelled the fine and no further action will be taken!

Thanks again for all the advice and support. Keep safe everyone.