Countrywide Parking PCN & PureGym car park Rejected Appeal

chonkycat

Hello all

I’m seeking advice on this matter as I have very limited experience in this but I was slapped with a PCN by Countrywide Parking when I used the associated car park when I was using Pure Gym. My membership stated that as a member I had access to 3 hours free car parking and when I went into the gym there was a QR code to register your registration number. I did all of these steps and registered my Car reg number on their system but I wasn’t given a receipt or anything. All that happened was a confirmation popped up on my phone that stayed there for about 10 seconds before disappearing. I did not think to screenshot this at the time. 

The following month I was shocked to have received the PCN saying that I was in contravention of the parking terms. I reached out to Pure Gym on twitter as well as the general manager of the specific branch. I was told that they cannot get involved and advised me to go through the appeals process and use my activity log as evidence that I was a member of the gym.

I did this and my appeal was still rejected and a lot of BS was spouted about how they have exceptional signage about the terms of parking and need to register (very small print in reality) and glossed over the fact that this is in fact a fault in their system that me registering my reg no was not picked up. 

I was given another 21 days to appeal this with IAS but unfortunately due to moving addresses and illness I’ve just missed this window and now I’m unsure as to what to do as this feels incredibly unfair given that I wasn’t in contravention of anything. 

Other people were also charged in a similar way from the gym and were successful in their appeal but for some reason I wasn’t. 

Any advice on how I should move forward will be appreciated as I really don’t want to pay £100 for something I’m not at fault for.

Thank you

D_P_Dance

If the gym not help write very bad stuff on social media.  Have you complained to your MP.?  

From what you have told us they would be insane to take this to court so give them every encouragement to do so.  

KeithP

Tell PureGym - in writing - that you are considering your Gym membership options and are beginning to realise that there are better options elsewhere... that don't come with a £100 surcharge when their equipment fails.

chonkycat

D_P_Dance said:

If the gym not help write very bad stuff on social media.  Have you complained to your MP.?  

From what you have told us they would be insane to take this to court so give them every encouragement to do so.  

I haven’t complained to my MP yet and the gym have denied any responsibility for it as the car park is managed by Countrywide parking on social media and don’t really seem to care.

chonkycat

I’m more concerned now that in my initial appeal I’ve admitted to being the driver which may harm me if this went to court…

Trainerman

Just taking the long view. You say other people in a similar situation got their PCN's cancelled. Is it possible to get written evidence from them that the PPC accepted that there was a fault with the system and therefore cancelled charges?

A couple of good statements ... particularly signed under statement of truth ..... would strengthen your hand enormously

Coupon-mad

chonkycat said:

I’m more concerned now that in my initial appeal I’ve admitted to being the driver which may harm me if this went to court…

No it won't - quite the opposite.  In your case it will be all about you as an honest witness and what happened with their system.

What you must NOT do is try the non-standard (late) IAS where people pay £15 to lose. Absolute kangaroo court and due to be replaced by the Government next year as part of the new Parking (Code of Practice) Act.

It is not a bad thing to have missed the 'chance' (LOL) of the standard 21 day IAS because that's the same kangaroo court. 96% of appellants lose.

Can you gather emails or signed/dated statements now from other gym-goers, confirming the ame thing happened to them and the system is faulty?  And you can do the same by providing a witness statement for them, if anyone else still has a PCN being pursued.

Showing a pattern will assist your case when you win in court.

The gym or whoever owns the car park can cancel the PCN. The owner is not the parking firm.

chonkycat

Hi everyone thanks for your comments. Life kinda got in the way and I sort of forgot about it but the parking company has effectively sold the debt on to Trace Debt Recovery and now they’re threatening me with court action. I haven’t responded to them thinking if they took me to court I’d have a pretty strong case (and was counting on them realising that and not bothering in the first place) but I’m very concerned that my credit score is at risk of being ruined in this process. Do you have any advice on this? Thanks!

Grizebeck

No one has sold any debt

DE_612183

no impact to your credit score - unless:
1. It goes to court
2. You lose
3. You don't pay

in all likelihood it won't get past No1

chonkycat

Also can I take them to court? How would that effect my credit rating? Can I threaten them with that?