Southampton Leisure World Parking Eye Unfair PCN

cici1988

Hi, 

Wondering if anyone is able to offer any advice. I visited the Odeon at Southampton Leisure World, followed parking instructions correctly and entered my car reg no as instructed upon entering the showing. 

I received the PCN, and assumed it must be a scam company, as I was a customer of the odeon and had entered the car reg as asked. Because of my ignorance, 28 days passed with no appeal. It wasn't until I received a letter from the county court that I took the PCN seriously. (lesson learned!) 

Now, i'm wondering where I stand, I have the Odeon showing on my bank statement for the date that applies, but no longer have the physical tickets. 

After explaining the situation to Parking Eye and quite frankly wasting my time on something when I have done absolutely nothing wrong, they have offered to bring the charge down to £100 rather than £185. However, considering I was a genuine customer and had entered the car registration I am wondering why I should be paying this charge when it is not my error.

Can anyone offer advice? Should i stick to my guns or suck it up and let them take £100 from me unjustifiably? 

It seems the Odeon has since shut down so I am unable to contact them, but i have contacted the 'Lesuire World' brand and am awaiting a response. 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Trainerman

If you have a Court Claim, you need to say the date of issue so that regular poster @KeithP can fill you in on dates. If you have not sent a SAR to the parking company, do it so that you can see what have.

Was the PCN for non payment or non registration or something else ?  I think one of the things we would need to do is to challenge the PPC to prove that the registration terminal was working, but more knowledgeable people will be along to advise on that

KeithP

cici1988 said:

It wasn't until I received a letter from the county court that I took the PCN seriously. (lesson learned!) 

Now, I'm wondering where I stand...

And I too am wondering what this 'letter from the county court' is?

Care to enlighten us?

Is it perhaps a County Court Claim Form that you have received?
If so, please tell us the Issue Date on it.

cici1988

The letter I have received most recently is headed by 'county court business centre' - issued on the 21st Feb 2022 and yes it is a claim form.

I no longer have the pcn letters, but the claim form says the following.

"Claim for monies outstanding from the Defendant in relation to a parking charge (ref no here) issued on 20.10.2021. The signage clearly displayed throughout leisure world, Southampton, stats that this is private land, managed by Parking Eye Ltd, and that is is subject to terms and conditions, including the payment of parking tariffs, by which those who park agree to be bound. Parking Eyes ANPRn system captured the vehicle entering and leaving the site without a valid parking ticket..."

cici1988

Trainerman said:

If you have a Court Claim, you need to say the date of issue so that regular poster @KeithP can fill you in on dates. If you have not sent a SAR to the parking company, do it so that you can see what have.

Was the PCN for non payment or non registration or something else ?  I think one of the things we would need to do is to challenge the PPC to prove that the registration terminal was working, but more knowledgeable people will be along to advise on that

Thank you for helping, I am unsure of the abbreviations, SAR... after a google i can find this means suspicious activity report? 

The PCN was for non payment, I am unsure if they have physical pay meters on site, I just followed the instructions to enter reg no on arrival. 

Trainerman

SAR = subject access request. You need to send this to the parking company so that they have to send you any data about you. This will particularly root out the 'evidence' that they will rely on.

Second post on the Newbies reveals all 

cici1988

Thank you! Im just writing a draft email now, and will request any info held. Im wondering if i have any right in requesting data that had been input into the car reg entering machine (unsure of the proper name) for the date and time of my arrival...

I'm fairly confident that with a little bit of research and much of my time wasted I will be able to put something together, i just wondered if there was anything i need to consider regarding my late appeal. Am i legally bound to pay just because i have missed a deadline? Do i still bother going through Parking Eye/ Odeon / Landowner themselves or do I need to just leave it to the Court Claim.. 

D_P_Dance

PE;s signs are pants, imo, read this and complain to your MP

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5972164/parking-eye-signs-oxford-road-reading/p1

cici1988

D_P_Dance said:

PE;s signs are pants, imo, read this and complain to your MP

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5972164/parking-eye-signs-oxford-road-reading/p1

I agree, but in my circumstance are the signs even relevant.... I had done everything correctly. They are quite literally making up a lie by saying i was not a paying customer therefor I am in breach of contract. 

This is why i assumed it was a scam, i'm so mad that I am having to waste time trying to put an end to their own mistake! Not shocked at all that the place was almost derelict and has since closed down... Karma to them i suppose! 

Trainerman

Yes, it is a scam and it is a waste of time but there is really only one way out from this point, and that is to be really clued up and go through the process.

If it cheers you up .... I am doing this times four ( for various people)

D_P_Dance

I agree, but in my circumstance are the signs even relevant...

The signs are the single most important element of this branch of contract law.  They ARE the contract into which you agree to engage.