I got my UKPC Parking Charge cancelled

SisterResister

I hope this helps anyone out there who’s received a parking charge from UKPC. I recently got one and managed to get it cancelled quite easily. £100, £60 if you pay within 14 days.

I got mine for over staying at a retail park. The limit was 3 hours, which I was unaware of due to insufficient signage (totally deliberate I’m sure). 

I didn’t want to challenge UKPC as the charge automatically goes up to the maximum. They want you to challenge so they can get the full amount. So, I rang the retailers directly including head office customer services. They weren’t helpful and wouldn’t give me anyone else’s details. 

The next day I rang again and finally got to speak to someone with a bit more sense. They gave me the phone number for the ‘Facilities Management Company’ for the retail park. I calmly explained what had happened… the charge, the disproportionate time limit compared to the smaller park close by (5 hour limit), poor signage and, most importantly, I was a genuine, long standing customer. They asked me to send a copy of the UKPC letter and an explanation of my experience. The charge was then cancelled. The last thing they want is for their customers to be driven away. They just don’t want anyone abusing their car parks.

You just need to speak to the right person. Don’t lie, get angry or threaten in anyway. And, don’t ignore the charge thinking it will go away. Take a step back and tackle the problem from another angle.

Hope this helps and good luck.

Coupon-mad

Very good to hear.  PLAN A STRIKES AGAIN!  

This is always the first thing to do, as is stated in the NEWBIES thread and at the end of the TV show 'Parking Con?' that was on Ch5 last week.

Could you add a reply to 'SUCCESSFUL COMPLAINTS ABOUT PPCs' which is the first link given in the NEWBIES sticky thread?  If you could name the retail park and town, and state who the Managing Agents are (Savills?) in that thread then it will be there for posterity and easy for new posters to find who to complain to.

Nicely done.  The parking industry will be properly regulated by Government next year but complaining to the retailer for unfair PCNs will absolutely still have a place.

Umkomaas

Nice result and some very good advice posted above. Well done. 👍

patient_dream

Well done, PLAN A really does work.

The last thing they want is for their customers to be driven away. They just don’t want anyone abusing their car parks.

I like that "they don't want people abusing their car parks" ???

Why the hell have they employed UKPC who are the biggest abusers of their customers

95Rollers

Great news. Would you mind telling us what Retail Park it was?  Just so that anyone who finds themselves in the same situation visiting there can find thr info via Search. 

SisterResister

I’ll share the location and who I contacted once I’ve cleared it with them. Hope that’s ok?

They also told me that if you think you’re going to need longer than the allotted time, ask any of the retailers for an exemption. Who knew that??? 

Fruitcake

SisterResister said:

I’ll share the location and who I contacted once I’ve cleared it with them. Hope that’s ok?

They also told me that if you think you’re going to need longer than the allotted time, ask any of the retailers for an exemption. Who knew that??? 

A store manager at a local retail park once told me that manager of all the stores on the site have the ability to get a PCN cancelled. Again, it's not something that is readily advertised, but it certainly worked in your case.

Well done, and thanks for letting us know.

Coupon-mad

SisterResister said:

I’ll share the location and who I contacted once I’ve cleared it with them. Hope that’s ok?

They also told me that if you think you’re going to need longer than the allotted time, ask any of the retailers for an exemption. Who knew that??? 

We did, because that is standard but only niche knowledge.  Not advertised anywhere.