UKPC letter for parking out of allowed hours - should I appeal?

AppealAllUKPCCharges

Yesterday I received my first private parking letter in my 8 years of driving. It was for parking outside of allowed hours. I intend to appeal under these conditions:

- There is a barrier outside the car park, which I believe should be used in conjunction with the disallowed hours of parking. I won't publicly include the photo of the barrier unless I am asked to do so, but I believe in doing so will reveal its location quite obviously.

- I have parked in this car park at similar times (sometimes even later) for over 2 years without any issues prior to this - so there must have been a recent change of signage which I was not aware of.

- According to the sign, which is accurate to me writing this post today, I cannot park between 20:30 (8:30 PM) to 08:30 (8:30 AM), however the letter shows I cannot park between 09:30 PM to 07:30 AM. I believe that this alone should invalidate the charge.

- I am a regular visitor to at least one of the retailers on-site (at least 3 times a week).

- I was there for a mere 18 minutes, which should be an acceptable grace period even just to check the signs which were not visible until entering.

- I was not staying overnight, I was not there for many hours, I was not there with ill-intent nor do I believe that the land owner was affected by my short stay to where it values a £60-£100 charge.

Photo of the sign:

Photo of letter with specifics censored. If too much is censored, let me know and I can replace the image:

I understand from the FAQ that I should use the blue template if I were to appeal, however as I am sure it is not a simple 'copy and paste' job, it would hugely appreciated if someone can assist with what I should add to the template (or alter) to assist with the appeal, should everyone agree that I go ahead with an appeal. I want to be very careful with what I write after all.

Thanks so much for reading and any responses are greatly appreciated!

D_P_Dance

Of course you should appeal, UKPC have form, read this and contplain to your MP.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/11858473/Parking-firm-UKPC-admits-faking-tickets-to-fine-drivers.html

Have you read the newbies?

AppealAllUKPCCharges

D_P_Dance said:

Of course you should appeal, UKPC have form, read this and contplain to your MP.

<<Removed link as 'I need to be around for a little while longer before I can post links'>>

Have you read the newbies?

Hi D_P_Dance, thanks so much for your response. Yes I have read the newbies post, which is where I found the blue template.

As I intend to appeal using their online service, would I be able to get a little help with wording and/or which parts of my conditions I should and should not include in the appeal? Along with anything else anyone may be able to spot in the letter and/or the sign that may seem off.

Many thanks once again!

Redx

Copy and paste , appealing as keeper , no blabbing about who was driving

No changes to the template , use as is

Check the NTK PCN for POFA compliance , or not

Do plan A first , appeal is plan B on day 25 after the PCN date

Trainerman

As you have not been aware of the signs before, I would be looking to see if there are recent changes. Recent changes that have not been emphasised would give some defence. Google can help with past images. Also, is the ANPR recent? If it is not then how come you have been parking for 2 years and this is the first PCN?

AppealAllUKPCCharges

Redx said:

Copy and paste , appealing as keeper , no blabbing about who was driving

No changes to the template , use as is

Check the NTK PCN for POFA compliance , or not

Do plan A first , appeal is plan B on day 25 after the PCN date

Thanks for your response Redx.

Plan A is a little tough to approach. I wouldn't be so sure which retailer to complain to, for a start.

Without attempting to admit to too much on a public forum, of which I'm aware that private parking companies are known to read, let's just say they have those 'out of hour' restrictions for a reason.

Unless any advice can be given specifically for Plan A, I would probably just have to skip to Plan B.

No ticket was placed on the car, only an NTK through the post. Should I still wait 25 days after the charge date?

AppealAllUKPCCharges

Trainerman said:

As you have not been aware of the signs before, I would be looking to see if there are recent changes. Recent changes that have not been emphasised would give some defence. Google can help with past images. Also, is the ANPR recent? If it is not then how come you have been parking for 2 years and this is the first PCN?

Thanks for your response Trainerman.

The ANPR has been there for as long as I have parked there, but it was managed by someone else, according to Google Street View, however the latest imagery they have is from 2018.

Trainerman

OK understood. I would still underline the advice from redx, particularly about checking for POFA compliance, and make any appeal as keeper. Do not let on who was driving (so maybe edit your first post)

Redx

Looks like it was Highview and is now UKPC , so has changed in the last few years sometime

Plan A is not just retailers or businesses , many of whom are tenants

If it's a retail park.  Complain to the managing agent responsible for the parking contract , or the end game is complain to the actual landowner

You gave up too easily !!  🤔🤔🙃🙃 I wouldn't !

AppealAllUKPCCharges

I haven't really given up with Plan A, I'm just not sure how to approach it. I wouldn't even know what to write in my complaint. But thanks once again for any advice, I will update the thread as soon as I can!

Redx

Download and read the BPA CoP version 8 dated January 2020 , especially regarding signage , and especially regarding extra signage when taking over a new site , because the UKPC signs have different terms and conditions compared to the Highview Parking ones