Made A Hasty Appeal to UKPC.

MikeyTT

Thank you guys. I wrote it an email to the CEO, Managing Director of Premier Inn Mr S. Ewans. I CC'd in some other people it may be in the interest of

Again, I'm glad you're all so willing to help despite me screwing it up big time...

The email I sent is as follows:
"Good Afternoon Mr Ewins,

I've been staying at Premier Inn hotels regularly whilst working around the country for my company, Anord Mardix.

I've always had positive experiences even throughout the Pandemic and requested the company to continue booking my accommodation with Premier Inn as a result.

However, yesterday I arrived at Premier Inn Slough Central (Windsor Road), where I was directed to a multi storey carpark for use by hotel guests. Unfortunately, the staff at the hotel failed to mention that the parking is only available for hotel guests after 6pm. 

I parked up at 5:52pm and as a result, I received a parking charge notice on the windscreen of my rented company vehicle to the sum of £60 from UKPC Ltd, who your company must have an Agreement with to manage parking in that private carpark.

I would like to request that this charge be dismissed. During these unpredictable times working away from home and receiving a hefty invoice due to an 8 minute mistake is extremely stressful news. 

The UKPC Ltd Parking Charge reference is: 1407103351752. I'd be hugely appreciative if you could help in waiving this charge as I can not justify staying with Premier Inn at the risk of another fine due to information that staff failed to provide, especially during these difficult times.

Attached is an image of the vehicle in question taken by the parking attendant. You'll see that it is parked in the immediate viscinity or the hotels reception signs. I've also attached an image of the PCN. 

Thank you for your time, I hope to hear back soon. 

Thank you, 

M****** ******. "

Hopefully I hear something back. God advice everyone. If i have to go to court over it I feel like I might take them up on the offer to be honest. It seems so unjust. 

Redx

It is unjust but there is nothing about fairness in this cowboy private parking industry , hence the impending changes by the Mhclg

I would have put £100 , not £60 , because unless you pay it promptly with no fuss it's not £60

If you argue or fightback , it's £100 , which I did mention earlier and is on that sign ( it's rare for it to be as low as £60 , it's usually £100 , even the Beavis case was £85)

Good luck ! 👍👍

Coupon-mad

Be aware that if this or POPLA doesn't work, you can still win in court: even if you lose you'd then pay £100 plus small costs: and there would be no CCJ, no risk, nothing bad.  Well worth the fight but it would have been a slam-dunk cinch 100% win first go, had you appealed as hirer, using the hirer/lessee template on day 26.

No criticism, but so frustrating that someone who got a PCN only yesterday has already thrown out their 100% winning stance by appealing badly.

D_P_Dance

UKPC have form, read this

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3229165/Is-PROOF-private-parking-firms-scamming-motorists-Drivers-say-timings-photos-doctored-legally-parked-cars-issued-fines.html

and complaim to your MP.

MikeyTT

Hi all, just an update on the situation if people are still willing abs able to offer advice. 

Of course, the appeal was rejected. They've stated this:

I'm unsure what to do from here... I got an email back from the Premier Inn executives team saying that the car park is private and Premier Inn guests can use it from 6pm-8:30am, but that there are NO TICKET MACHINES.

Since this is the case, is it unreasonable for them to invoice a cost if £60 since there is technically no loss on their part? You can't have lost money if there's no charge to begin with... The email from the Premier Inn executives states :

I know that this is absolutely my fault for parking early. But £60 for parking 8 minutes early by accident is unreal.

Thanks to anyone that can offer up advice. Tempted to offer a lower payment to settle it but I'm in the middle of purchasing my first house which is costly enough not to want to spend anything 😅

Mikey

Coupon-mad

Since this is the case, is it unreasonable for them to invoice a cost if £60 since there is technically no loss on their part? You can't have lost money if there's no charge to begin with...

Have you not read ParkingEye v Beavis, the Supreme Court decision about a free retail car park, that torpedoed that argument over five years ago?

Tempted to offer a lower payment to settle it.

Don't be daft.  Send UKPC that Premier Inn email if it helps your argument, if not, wait for your POPLA code.

 in the middle of purchasing my first house.

Once you change address, don't forget to change your V5C logbook address for the car (can be done online to the DVLA).  Sending off your driving licence does not change the address for the car and people then miss hearing about new scam PCNs from more parking firms that inevitably get concocted just from people going about normal daily life as a driver.

Also, tell UKPC your new address too because if you lose at POPLA you can't miss seeing the court claim.  Yes, a court claim. 
That is NOT a reason to pay.

And no, this process (as long as you don't ignore a claim) does NOT affect your credit rating for your mortgage.

Redx

You won't get away with lower offers and the Beavis case 5 years ago at the Supreme court in London put paid to the no loss argument , £100 reduced to £60 has been the standard for a decade so no traction there , especially if the signs and PCN stated £100 , preferably in large lettering , lord Dennings red hand rule , like the signs in the Beavis case is the standard for that aspect

Your objections and appeals should concentrate on what is achievable , not strange personal notions of dreams that have no bearing on reality or case law or established practices going back 5 to 10 years , your financial circumstances are irrelevant to contract law

You could just await your Popla code , I would , in the meantime plan A is still best , complaining to the team or managing agent at the Charles west link they provided , this is by far your best option

Fruitcake

Try a complaint to the landowner then, as well as a further complain to the hotel CEO. You weren't told by the hotel chain that the room rate would include an additional £100 charge from an unregulated parking company. Had this happened you would not have parked there until the free period began, and you would have registered the vehicle to obtain this complimentary parking rate. 

If it isn't cancelled, then make an appeal to PoPLA when you eventually get the PoPLA code, using all the template appeal points available to you from the third post of the NEWBIES.

The long inadequate signage point will feature prominently in this appeal.
Note that PoPLA appeals are being put on hold due to covid at the moment, so you can make an initial holding appeal using bullet points, then expand on them at a later date once PoPLA are up and running again.

Do inform the scammers of your new address if/when you move as well as changing your V5C and driving licence details separately with the DVLA.

D_P_Dance

Have you written bad stuff on TripAdvisor, Trivago,  hotels.com, booking,com et al?  Have you complained to your MP?