Tesco APCOA Parking Charge Notice - Do store receipt appeals ever work?

Puzzled14

Hi

Asking on behalf of a friend who as the keeper of the vehicle has received a parking charge notice from APCOA for an "overstay above allowed period or failure to validate parking". The timestamps on the car pictures show there was no overstay so APCOA must be alleging that they didn't validate the parking voucher but they insist it was validated and still have the store receipt and car park voucher.

If they sent copies of the receipt and car park voucher to APCOA would that be enough to cancel the parking charge notice or would they dismiss it and claim they must have forgot or similar cop-out? Everything I've read about them doesn't give me much faith in how they will respond.

Also the letter isn't clear, if the appeal fails does that mean the charge would now be £70 or would they send another letter with an even higher charge? 

I've read the parking newbies thread and seen the template response which personally is the route I would go down. But they are worried about having follow up letters with threats of higher charges and feel they might just be better off paying the discounted penalty of £30 and avoiding the store in future. Tesco have been useless in the matter and just say all appeals must be made to APCOA and that Tesco may be able to intervene if it is rejected. However when pushed for an answer on how Tesco would intervene (having been sent the receipts) they admitted that all decisions by APCOA are final so can't really expect much help from them.

I've attached the letter but it looks the same as others I've seen on here so I'm sure the template would do the job but again they don't want the hassle of follow up threats. Would it be best to send the template and include the receipts or could that go against them as the template is based on not identifying the driver?




Sorry I'm sure you've been asked this before, really I just want to be able to tell them if an appeal using the store receipts is likely to work?

Thanks

Umkomaas

Sorry I'm sure you've been asked this before, really I just want to be able to tell them if an appeal using the store receipts is likely to work?

What will work is the blue text initial appeal from the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, with an added line to the effect that as the APCOA NtK has been issued out of time to invoke keeper liability under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Schedule 4), they cannot hold the keeper liable. Tell them to confirm the cancellation of the parking charge. 

I wouldn't bother with sending copies of receipts. 

fisherjim

What an utter crock!

Another template demand from scammers that don't even know whether they are claiming an over stay or a failure to validate parking all we know is it's a scam to make them money.

Follow Umko's advice and what ever you do don't indicate who was driving.

Coupon-mad

APCOA always lose at POPLA as long as the keeper doesn't say who was driving/parked.  Dead easy to appeal.

Read any other APCOA thread.  A cinch!  No need to bust a gut, just use the blue template appeal and no ticking any ' I was the driver' box.

Puzzled14

Thanks for the replies.

So despite the receipt showing the vehicle was eligible to park free of charge you don't think it adds much to the appeal.

I'll tell them about the appeal using the template again but I think they are just worried about receiving threats of higher charges if it the appeal is rejected and has to go through POPLA.

Does the template appeal normally cancel the parking charge notice on the first attempt or do I need to warn them to be prepared for it to go further?

Personally I despise these companies but I think they've had a bad experience being hassled before so just want it to go away. 

Coupon-mad

You don't need it.

It probably won't even go to POPLA.

Have you read other APCOA threads?  They give up when they see the template, that's the point of it!

This is the easiest one a person could ask for.

fisherjim

So what if it goes to POPLA if you follow the advice given on here, it's when people wobble and add their own spin on things they drop themselves in it.

Puzzled14

Thanks

I'll see what they say. I'd like to see them fight it as its that fear of higher penalties that these companies thrive on but ultimately its their choice.

Coupon-mad

No-one would pay this.

If they pay that is a wrong choice.  There is no danger whatsoever with APCOA.