Heathrow T5 Drop off Zone APCOA Parking

TRIO74

Hi All.  As the registered keeper of the vehicle, i have received a parking charge notice for "contravention of use of drop off zone without making a valid payment"
The vehicle in question was trying to find the short stay car park, as this had been booked and paid for and a member of airport staff directed the vehicle to this area, which clearly was not the correct location, so the vehicle drove through the area without dropping anyone off.
This parking charge notice has been sent by APCOA saying that it is £80 reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days.
I am sorely tempted to pay the £40, but feel aggrieved that driving through the area by mistake hardly warrants a £40 fee.
please help? 

Half_way

Do not Id the driver if known or not.
By laws apply at this site so it's not relevant land.

D_P_Dance

I woukd be inclined to encourage them to take you to court.  where they may have a struggle.  Have you complained to your MP?

TRIO74

In my post i was careful to not mention the driver at all, just the vehicle.

Shall i go onto their site and register an appeal?

D_P_Dance

Of course you should appeal, Apcoa are known to cancel these tickets when they think they will lose.   

TRIO74

D_P_Dance said:

Of course you should appeal, Apcoa are known to cancel these tickets when they think they will lose.   

okay thanks

Coupon-mad

You are tempted to pay even though one online appeal from the registered keeper (see NEWBIES thread) kills it?

TRIO74

I appealed this and they requested evidence that i paid for the short stay carpark, which i provided to them. I did not hear anything back until this morning telling me that the payment has gone up to £80. I contacted them on the live chat as the registered keeper of the vehicle and they told me it was rejected on the 25th feb, although i have never received any letter or
e-mail regarding this. They then forwarded to me a letter dated the 25th February, which confirms the rejection of the appeal and a POPLA code, which is now out of date as it has been over 28 days. 
They are supposed to be sending me a new POPLA code.

Thoughts please?

Umkomaas

What did you say in your appeal to them - word for word please. This could have an impact on how you pen a POPLA appeal. 

TRIO74

The vehicle in question was trying to find the short stay car park and was incorrectly instructed by a member of airport staff to follow this road into what is now known to be the drop off zone. At no stage was any persons dropped off or collected whilst driving though this area and for this reason and the poor directions given, i request that this Parking Charge Notice be cancelled. 

Coupon-mad

Ok.  What makes you believe they are sending a new POPLA Code?   That's rare.

Codes last 33 days so you could have used it up until this Weds.