UKPC - driver left site PCN (Invalid reference number on UKPC website)

rp112

Hi MSE

Earlier today, i received a driver left site parking charge. I went into Matalan which is part of a retail park which has a shared car park.
I did go into Matalan, but didn't buy anything as I was only looking at the suitcases. Hence, I have no bank transactions or proof to say I was in Matalan.

To my surprise, I received a ticket on my windscreen. The issue time and first time seen is also the exactly same time at 12:46.

I spoke to the store manager of Matalan who said she couldn't do anything, i messaged Matalan on Instagram who again couldn't do anything and I also emailed Matalan customer services who again refused to help and told me to follow the appeals process.

This is my first ever parking ticket and it's kind of stressing me out. I did try to pay it online to get over this and be done with it, but it keeps saying Invalid reference number and vehicle registration mark combination. Please try again.  Also tried to pay via their phone payment number, but also says its invalid.

It's the same error on the appeals page. I unfortunately don't have a cheque book, so can't pay via post.

I was wondering what advice you would give please?

Many thanks,

Umkomaas

Is the car registration number (VRM) shown on the ticket that for your vehicle?  Is it accurate?

It's a strong possibility that as you only received this today, the parking weasel hasn't uploaded his day's haul to the company server yet. 

You do not rush headlong into paying this, there are good ways of avoiding doing so. Read the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, to understand why you do not respond to a windscreen ticket until around day 26. Plenty of time for you to start to understand how this all works, and how you can come out on top. 

Knee-jerking can prove very costly, don't do it.

KeithP

rp112 said:

I unfortunately don't have a cheque book...

That's lucky, isn't it?  

As @Umkomaas says, read the first post of the NEWBIES thread to discover the most cost effective way of dealing with this.

rp112

Umkomaas said:

Is the car registration number (VRM) shown on the ticket that for your vehicle?  Is it accurate?

It's a strong possibility that as you only received this today, the parking weasel hasn't uploaded his day's haul to the company server yet. 

You do not rush headlong into paying this, there are good ways of avoiding doing so. Read the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, to understand why you do not respond to a windscreen ticket until around day 26. Plenty of time for you to start to understand how this all works, and how you can come out on top. 

Knee-jerking can prove very costly, don't do it.

Hi,

So the ticket does show my correct registration plate.

I did see the note about waiting until day 26 and seeing if the notice to keeper (NTK) letter arrives. My main concern with waiting until around day 26 is my ticket will increase from £60 to £100 if not paid in 14 days. Is there a solution to this?

KeithP

rp112 said:

Umkomaas said:

Is the car registration number (VRM) shown on the ticket that for your vehicle?  Is it accurate?

It's a strong possibility that as you only received this today, the parking weasel hasn't uploaded his day's haul to the company server yet. 

You do not rush headlong into paying this, there are good ways of avoiding doing so. Read the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, to understand why you do not respond to a windscreen ticket until around day 26. Plenty of time for you to start to understand how this all works, and how you can come out on top. 

Knee-jerking can prove very costly, don't do it.

Hi,

So the ticket does show my correct registration plate.

I did see the note about waiting until day 26 and seeing if the notice to keeper (NTK) letter arrives. My main concern with waiting until around day 26 is my ticket will increase from £60 to £100 if not paid in 14 days. Is there a solution to this?

Surely you are expecting to pay nothing, aren't you?

Why are you even posting on this forum if you are looking to pay £60?
If you want to pay £60 you'll be able to do that tomorrow.

Umkomaas

Bye bye sixty smackers. How many hours/days wages does that equate to? Rhetorical question rather than a nosey one.  Get a grip!

rp112

Umkomaas said:

Bye bye sixty smackers. How many hours/days wages does that equate to? Rhetorical question rather than a nosey one.  Get a grip!

thanks for your encouragement. I have spotted some letter templates on this forum with regard to the "driver left site" scenario. I will utilise these resources.

One thing that is clear, there clearly was no defined site boundary. I'm going to take a picture of the car park sign tomorrow. 

patient_dream

rp112 said:

Umkomaas said:

Bye bye sixty smackers. How many hours/days wages does that equate to? Rhetorical question rather than a nosey one.  Get a grip!

thanks for your encouragement. I have spotted some letter templates on this forum with regard to the "driver left site" scenario. I will utilise these resources.

One thing that is clear, there clearly was no defined site boundary. I'm going to take a picture of the car park sign tomorrow. 

This is an old wheeze by UKPC ..... did they send pictures of you leaving the site, what do the signs say and yes, they must define the boundary .....  Trouble with UKPC is nobody can trust what they say, not after their fraudulent attempt to scam motorists

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3229165/Is-PROOF-private-parking-firms-scamming-motorists-Drivers-say-timings-photos-doctored-legally-parked-cars-issued-fines.html

rp112

patient_dream said:

rp112 said:

Umkomaas said:

Bye bye sixty smackers. How many hours/days wages does that equate to? Rhetorical question rather than a nosey one.  Get a grip!

thanks for your encouragement. I have spotted some letter templates on this forum with regard to the "driver left site" scenario. I will utilise these resources.

One thing that is clear, there clearly was no defined site boundary. I'm going to take a picture of the car park sign tomorrow. 

This is an old wheeze by UKPC ..... did they send pictures of you leaving the site, what do the signs say and yes, they must define the boundary .....  Trouble with UKPC is nobody can trust what they say, not after their fraudulent attempt to scam motorists

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3229165/Is-PROOF-private-parking-firms-scamming-motorists-Drivers-say-timings-photos-doctored-legally-parked-cars-issued-fines.html

So this morning, i took a look on the website and the charge does now appear.

On the website, they've uploaded time-stamped pictures of my car from multiple angles and a picture of the sign (which you can't read the small print). Note this car park is usually free for 2 hours.

This morning, i went back to the retail park and took a picture of the sign closer up. 

It says you may receive a parking charge if you leave the site. Very confusing sign and almost impossible to read unless your very close up. 

Umkomaas

This particular UKPC leaving the site stunt is at the far edge of all their stunts. From memory, they've not succeeded in squeezing a cent from 'leaving the site' motorists who have come here, followed our advice and fought them. Do similarly @rp112 and you're likely to keep your money in your pocket.

patient_dream

So, as it was a windscreen ticket, that means a warden placed it..  They say ANPR is in operation but they are fixed cameras that point to number plates.  There is no mention on the sign about CCTV which can caputure people.

In this case UKPC must prove you left the site and that is photographic evidence. A walk about goon is not evidence.  

I thought UKPC had stopped this rubbish ..... prove it UKPC and pictures of the invisible border