Despite paying cash into PDT I am being pursued for non-payment

Ortrud

I paid cash to park in a car park with a pay & display (PDT?) machine and ANPR.  A few months later I received a Letter Before Claim saying I hadn't paid, and asking for an extortionate amount.  I hadn't kept the receipt.  I know I paid, because I keep a very detailed record of what I spend.  The landowner washes their hands of the matter.  The solicitors haven't replied to anything so far.  That was before I came across this forum.  There are a few other complications including change of address, but I thought I'd keep to the problem at the heart of the matter for now.  I am about to send a SAR to the PPC as per MSE guidance, asking for relevant correspondence and the records of the PDT machine and their ANPR, which I assume show timings.  I would be very grateful for any other ideas to help my case.  

Trainerman

Did you pay cash, and do you remember having to input a registration number?

D_P_Dance

Let them take you to court where a judge can decide, OTBOP, who is telling the truth.  Have you complained to your MP?  Have read the newbies?   

Ortrud

Thank you both.  I don't remember inputting my car reg on the day, but I've been back to the car park since and found you have to input a registration number in order to pay.  I paid for my car on the latter occasion and took photos of the display on the PDT machine screen at each step.  Interestingly I also typed in a second (fictitious) car reg and it accepted my cash payment for that one too.  I plan to ask for the PDT & ANPR data for that day too.  

What is OTBOP, please?

I haven't complained to my MP but will do as you suggest. 

I have read the newbies section and couldn't find a comparable situation. I am staggered by the quantity of info there. 

Trainerman

That was my point about the PDT terminal. You might (eventually) get a redacted copy of transactions that show that you tried to input your VRM. This in itself would constitute a keying error and the PPC are supposed to check for that.

OTBOP- on the balance of probabilities

Ortrud

Perhaps I should search for "keying error" in other discussions here!  I will be intrigued to see a list of PDT transactions.  While in the car park (for about half an hour) I don't think anyone else drove in.

1505grandad

Who is the ppc.

Ortrud

Minster Baywatch

Ortrud

The only computer data I received from Minster Baywatch in response to my SAR was a one-line printout showing when the car entered the car park, but nothing to signify whether or not I paid anything, and nothing about other cars who parked there that day.  Can I press them for more detail, and if so is that in the form of another SAR or something else?

I now realise I need to ask in more detail because if it did not register the £1 I paid into the machine there must be a discrepancy in the cash it collects.   I'd want to explore the records between the last time it was emptied of cash and the next time, which could be days apart.  (Another complication is that some parkers may be members of the Cotswold Lakes Trust, who the ANPR would recognise could park for free; that would have to be allowed for too.)

There are two other matters I would appreciate your advice on, based on browsing separate forum discussions.

1) One of your colleagues advised someone else, "You need to get pics of the signs because if they say the site is managed by Bransby Wilson but the PCN has come form Minster Baywatch, then you will have a strong defence point to use against them."  The signs in my case do indeed say, "This car park is managed by Bransby Wilson" and my PCN is from Minster Baywatch. 

2) I find no sign of planning permission being granted for the ANPR cameras here.  At least, no planning, building control or licences for the car park's address on the District or County Councils' websites.

Regardless of the cash data, are these grounds for optimism?

Thank you for your help.

Trainerman

I would be quite hopeful of your point 1) above. If the car park is managed by Bransby Wilson, then you cannot have formed a contract with a different entity entirely (Minster Baywatch).

If you did not form a contract, you did not breech one, and cannot be invoiced for it.

D_P_Dance

If this were to go to court, a judge would have to decide who is telling the truth, an upstanding citizen or a company well known for lying and flse court claaims.  Have you complained to tour MP and Trading Standards?

Are you considering a counter claim foea data breach?