Parkopedia and Civil Enforcement scam

Soph30

This is a long one! 

I booked and paid for a parking spot via Parkopedia a couple of months ago. A week or so later I received a fine stating I had parked illegally. Knowing I have paid and thinking it was a mistake, I appealed via their website. There is no way of contacting them of course, just via a form. I submitted screenshots of my booking and the payment.

A few after I received another letter, stating my appeal was denied as there was a 'keying error' because my vehicle registration was not entered correctly and that they would reduce the sum to £20. While that isn't a large amount, I'm refusing to pay due to the fact I logged in to Parkopedia and my number plate number is autosaved already and correctly! 

I appealed yet again stating that the law states you can't fine based on a keying error if the errors are minor (you can google the particulars). And that my number plate number was in fact correct and any error on their side, based on their system, should not be my issue to deal with. I received a third letter this time saying there is no record of my vehicle being registered (completely contradicting their letter previously). 

Anyway, I did my research and found that my last option is to appeal via POPLA - an independent appeals service for Parking Charge Notices issued on private land - and surprise, surprise, I've not been issued a registration number which according to POPLA should be in my appeals rejection letter. I can't make an appeal with POPLA without this so i'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place. 

There is no number available to contact Civil Enforcement LTD, POPLA are not able to help with registration numbers and Parkopedia - the original platform I booked the spot with - has ignored all my requests (they also have no contact number). 

I would have been happy to pay a fine if I had not paid, but to be charged £140 for nothing is just wrong. My concern also is that i'm trying to buy my first flat and don't want this to destroy my credit rating. I also need the money so would rather not lose that cash. 

Any ideas welcome. Do I take them to court, and if so, how do I do that? 

Half_way

What sort of so called keying error?
The letter I and number 1? the letter O and number 0? 

D_P_Dance

Mny judges regard these  claims as trivial, a waste of court time,  read this and complain to your MP..

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_minimis

Umkomaas

My concern also is that i'm trying to buy my first flat and don't want this to destroy my credit rating.

Irrational at this premature stage. Unless this goes to court, you ignore the process (be careful with CEL in this regard) or you lose, you refuse to pay the cost order, then and only then is your credit rating in danger. Forget it, because you won't let that happen, will you?

Do I take them to court, and if so, how do I do that? 

Issue a claim via MCOL. But for what? How much do they owe you?

I've not been issued a registration number which according to POPLA should be in my appeals rejection letter.

Complain to the BPA via the complaints portal of their website. 

D_P_Dance

f you google CCJs you will find out that your concerns are unfounded.

Coupon-mad

CEL will have given you the 10 digit POPLA code at the top or in the body of the FIRST rejection letter that offered to settle at £20.  Writing back to them was a mistake because your POPLA appeal clock was ticking and the code only lasts 33 days, so what date is on that first rejection letter, and you will find the POPLA code too (don't tell us it!).

Horrific, the way PPCs ruin people's lives, isn't it?

I really hope you have done the Government Consultation - by email attaching evidence of what has happened to you - and objected absolutely to ANY debt recovery fake 'costs' being added on top of a parking charge (of course) and told them what you think of them increasing charges to £130 instead of £100...

You have 6 days to do the consultation.  Please, please, do.

Also, I hope you've also registered for the Group Action, against the DVLA (open to anyone with a PCN since 2018?).  Gotta be in it to win it!  Nothing to lose, and it's genuine.

Read the threads about those important matters, they both need doing, right now, this week.