PCN Overdue

Coupon-mad

It won't happen!  There is no situation to avoid.  This pre-action procrastination cannot and does not touch your credit rating.  Not even if you get debt demands.

You are perfectly safe.  Sit tight.

The case is sort of frozen by the BPA investigation and you will both either see your PCNs cancelled as a shallow 'gesture of goodwill' or PARKWATCH will be told to allow you both time to appeal.

We know the BPA will take this seriously as it is a fundamental breach.

John79bhx

Coupon-mad said:

It won't happen!  There is no situation to avoid.  This pre-action procrastination cannot and does not touch your credit rating.  Not even if you get debt demands.

You are perfectly safe.  Sit tight.

The case is sort of frozen by the BPA investigation and you will both either see your PCNs cancelled as a shallow 'gesture of goodwill' or PARKWATCH will be told to allow you both time to appeal.

We know the BPA will take this seriously as it is a fundamental breach.

I see. I really appreciate your help. Thanks!  

John79bhx

My Parking Charge Notice has been cancelled after my complaint to BPA. Thanks everyone for your help in this matter. 

Query - I haven't received any letter from ParkWatch itself regarding this cancellation. Do I need to get one and keep it safe in case they raise this issue again saying it's still pending/due? I had seen one forum post where someone had received a notification like after 2/3 years so I just want to safeguard myself of any headache later if that does happen.

=========================================================================================

Good Afternoon

Thank you for your patience while I contacted Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch for further information.

It might be helpful if I begin by explaining that our role as an Accredited Trade Association is to investigate alleged breaches of the Code of Practice by members of our Approved Operator Scheme. Please appreciate that our remit does not extend to compelling operators to cancel charges or becoming involved in the appeals process.

Parking Charge Notice

Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch have responded to advise of the following timeline:

Timeline

– Vehicle found in contravention

– Request for Registered Keeper details sent to DVLA

– Response received from DVLA with Registered Keeper details

– Reminder sent to Registered Keeper

– Data Subject Access Request received

Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch have advised that this Parking Charge Notice was issued because the vehicle was parked in a No Parking area within the Arena Shopping Centre, Coventry car park on 30th January  2022. The signage states, “No parking at any time” and “No waiting at any time”. The vehicle was observed parked on hatched white lines.

 Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch have confirmed that on this occasion the application used to issue the parking charge defaulted to issuing a Notice to Vehicle rather than a Notice to Keeper. The Operative therefore treated this as if it was a Notice to Keeper and didn’t affix a notice to the vehicle (as would be the correct process for a Notice to Keeper).

 As per the BPA Code of Practice, 13.4 applies in this area of the car park as the vehicle is parked within a no parking area, clearly on hatched markings. By the Driver choosing to park the vehicle in contravention of the signage, they entered into a contract and agreed to comply. As such, a grace period was not required.  

 Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch  have commented that whilst there was reasonable cause to issue the Parking Charge (as the vehicle was parked in a no parking area with no authority to do so) they have cancelled the Parking Charge Notice, as a gesture of goodwill, rather than re-issuing a Notice to Keeper.

Summary

As the operator has responded accordingly and the parking charge notice has been cancelled this case is now closed. Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and assisting us to raise standards within the private parking sector.

I hope the above is helpful.    

Kind Regards

XXXXX XXXXXX

Head of Approved Operator Scheme

British Parking Association

Trainerman

That seems identical gobbledegook to the one we saw the other day in another thread. "parking charge notice - success".

Parts of it are literally nonsense. This is "driving standards up" is it BPA ??? 

Coupon-mad

Yes, exact same gobbledegook!

There's no such thing as a Notice to Vehicle and (unless a driver appeals immediately to a PCN) every case needs a Notice to Keeper.

And every NTK must offer appeal to the keeper.  Sara has mentioned nothing about the missing appeal wording, which was a serious breach and sharp practice.

Very good that these were cancelled but one wonders if that hybrid 'no appeal' NTK is still being issued to victims.  I expected a bit better from the BPA: stopping that NTK version completely.  Shame...

But 'scam over' for you - all good!

Umkomaas

There's no such thing as a Notice to Vehicle and (unless a driver appeals immediately to a PCN) every case needs a Notice to Keeper.

Despite them being in this game for over a decade, they still don't have a grasp of the fundamentals. All they want is the easiest, least brain-taxing route, to money!

John79bhx

I still haven't had any cancellation notice/letter from ParkWatch itself but only from BPA (the email above). Is this something I need to ask for?

Umkomaas

John79bhx said:

I still haven't had any cancellation notice/letter from ParkWatch itself but only from BPA (the email above). Is this something I need to ask for?

Why would PW want to do that?  Nothing in it for them. Most of them don't bother when they know they've just 'lost' £100.  You're not dealing with John Lewis or Marks and Spencer - these PPCs are on the lowest of all rungs of purported 'professionalism'!

Go to their website as if to pay the PCN (entering the relevant VRM and PCN references) where you can check its current status. If it shows '£0', 'cancelled', 'not found' or similar, take a screenshot and keep for posterity.  If it still shows as outstanding - fire another complaint to Sara at the BPA.

John79bhx

OK - I've just tried to check it on their website which shows it as cancelled now and as per your advice I've taken a screenshot of it. Thanks.

Also, their website paydefsys.co.uk is still showing as in-secure which I had raised it with BPA too stating that I can't continue to their website to see any details at all (however, one can continue in unsafe mode) - see below ParkWatch's response. 

Website
With respect to accessing their website Defence Systems Limited t/a Park Watch have commented that they were unaware of any issues. They have however passed your feedback onto their  IT department and apologise for the issues this caused you.  From additional communication now received from you they believe you have now managed to access their website

As per my SAR request, the data I received, shows even Sara mentioned it to them that she couldn't get on their website due to the same issue but ParkWatch doesn't want to admit it !!!

Screenshot of PCN showing as cancelled -



Any ways, I am glad that it's all sorted!