i-Park NFU Mutual Penrith

vivaespana

Hello.
I have used the forum (successfully) before along with help from other sources to challenge previous unfair PCNs and I have read the Newbies stuff. I am currently helping my brother out with one and following the recommended process but I have come across a few issues that I wanted to ask about further. 
This is the first time I have dealt with a PPC that is a member of the IPC rather than the BPA and I have read various recommendations about the appeals process through the IAS and the bottom line seemed to be not to bother as they will reject it.  I might do it anyway as it's part of the process for if/when it gets to court. 
Secondly, the company in question is called i-Park Services Ltd and I can find very little information about them (other than Companies House) or their practices elsewhere.
I have a feeling that you may be hearing a lot more about them as they are currently causing chaos at the NFU mutual office in Penrith with some McDonalds customers (next door) having received four PCNs in a week! They started back in March I think, at a time when the didn't have planning permission for their cameras or signs - which I now believe has been granted retrospectively. Some of their PCNs back then were none POFA and I think some have been successfully appealed. Now they possibly seem to be POFA, well at least the one I am dealing with is. 
Lastly, this is also the first time I have dealt with a PCN for "No Stopping" rather than parking and almost all of the previous threads and posts I have found for this involve an airport road. In this situation, they definitely seem to be claiming to protect the parking spaces of the NFU office although it isn't actually clear from their signage just which bit of the area is "private".
I haven't posted the particulars here as I didn't want to bog you down. And whilst I understand that the basis of all these PCNs and the appeals are the same ie the law/contract, I really am struggling to find any points of reference regarding the circumstances or previous history of the company.
I am happy to post the full details if required and where I am up to at the moment in the process. But if anybody has any guidance on the above points I would love to hear.  Thanks. 

Redx

Think you are the pathfinder on this one , the name doesn't ring any bells

I would be trying for plan A to start with

Plus an appeal as keeper using the blue text template from the newbies FAQ sticky thread , from the keeper as a keeper before day 18 following the incident

I probably would not try the IAS unless I had excellent legal points to raise , like POFA , signage or no landowner authority

Bear in mind that with no stopping forbidding signage there is no parking contract on offer , no consideration , no offer of parking , so trespassing which only a landowner can issue

There is a ukcps thread for no stopping at gateway house near Piccadilly station , by miss bizzita , that seems to be more like your scenario , so not bylaws which airport ones are. You will find a few non bylaws ones if you look

Ralph-y

is this the road/ car park that runs up the side of the MFU building towards the COOP funeral building with McD's off to the side? If so then you need to get pictures of the (non) signs  asp 

Ralph

D_P_Dance

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs, and in some cases, cancellation. 

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 later this year,

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

KeithP

We have seen one other incident at NFU Penrith.

Using those bold words in the forum's search facility throws up this thread from last month.

Maybe PM @W4LS to compare notes and see how they are getting on.

Coupon-mad

Also, although this involves a different PPC, the OP should read the UKCPS group no stopping thread about Manchester Picadilly.

vivaespana

Response and update:
Thank you everyone!
I had already looked at some of the threads you have suggested. The @W4LS one relates to a non POFA whereas I am dealing with a POFA one.  Also, the Manchester Piccadilly one is slightly different to this as the signs seem to be at the bottom of the "road" whereas the sign here only relates to parking spots I believe, but I will re-read it in full.
A local has set up a specific facebook page for those affected by the "fines" being issued - many of which are McDonalds customers as I am led to believe that the the big sign at the entrance to the NFU parking area is not quite so visible if you are leaving the McDonalds drive-thru. This, together with the fact that there are no markings clearly defining which is the private land, many have fallen foul of turning left out of McDonalds and stopping outside the NFU offices to eat their food. The group has also alerted the local Councillor although I don't think anybody has contacted the MP Dr Neil Hudson yet. 
I contacted the Penrith office of NFU Mutual who told me they could do nothing and to contact the Landlords (NFU) and/or i-Park. I replied to them again in addition to contacting the landlord NFU as they suggested. 
The second reply from the Penrith office told me to forward the details of the incident (PCN number etc) so that they can confirm a visit to the offices with i-Park but in the meantime, the Head of Compliance of the NFU (the Landlord) replied and refused to have it cancelled:

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) are the owners of Agriculture House, Cromwell Road, Penrith, CA11 7JW (the Property).  NFU Mutual are tenants at the Property.  As the Landlord we are responding on behalf of NFU Mutual.

There have been significant issues over a number of years with members of the public using the carpark at the Property in a way which has resulted in damage to our reputation and threatened the safety of customers, staff and tenants at the Property.  Sadly last summer a deceased person was found in the carpark. 

As a responsible landlord and employer, the NFU has had no option but to install ANPR to prevent further instances of trespass, verbal abuse, unlawful activity and littering on this piece of private property. 

In selecting an agent to operate the ANPR solution care was taken to ensure that a reputable firm was appointed.  I Park Services Limited has been given legal authority to act on the NFU’s behalf as its agent, to prevent the unauthorised use of the Property.   

I Park Services Limited is registered at Companies House, the International Parking Community (IPC) and the DVLA as a registered Car Park Operator.  

We have reviewed your complaint and we have determined that as you were not authorised to enter the Property we are unable to rescind your PCN. 

Please note, any appeals should be done through  I Park Services Limited. 

We cannot enter into further discussion with regard to this matter. 

Regards. 

{Text removed by Forum Team}
Head of Compliance

It took me a while to stop chuckling at how on earth ANPR prevents the inconvenience of dead bodies turning up!
What is also interesting, although I know not a legal point, is how much NFU Mutual bleat on about supporting their local community....... I've got some fantastic quotes to use from their 2019 Responsible Business Report.
I totally understand the need for businesses to protect their customer parking spaces, but to say they had "no option but to install ANPR" is laughable - installing a barrier would have been simple, fair and effective. 
And lastly, they clearly state they use Manual Number Plate Recognition, not ANPR as the landlord refers to - although probably does not make much difference??

Le_Kirk

The @W4LS one relates to a non POFA whereas I am dealing with a non POFA

Not sure I understand, did you mean to take out one of the "NON"

Ralph-y

we would like to see the signs as they do not show on GSV

Ralph

Coupon-mad

There is no such thing as MNPR.  It is a phrase the PPCs have made up.

vivaespana

Le_Kirk said:

The @W4LS one relates to a non POFA whereas I am dealing with a non POFA

Not sure I understand, did you mean to take out one of the "NON"

Yes, sorry, I am dealing with a POFA one. Amended now thanks.