UKCPS - Driver Observed Leaving Site - Have I Already Said Too Much?

Flounder

I received a PCN and stupidly thought I'd reason with UKCPS... I appealed and stated my case as the driver which I admitted in my statement:

 I explained I'd turned in to the wrong car park and walked out to see where I should have gone. The shop I needed to collect an item from was 50 metres away so I collected the item and left. I was away from the car for 5 minutes maximum. I have used this car park for years and was unaware there was a charge now.

I can't appeal to the retailer as I left the site. I did not see a parking notice between entering and leaving the site (should I go back and check if I passed a sign?)

Have I already blown any chance of appeal by admitting I was the driver and I left the site? I tried the IAS as advised by UKCPS but the PCN does not appear to work when entered.

Not sure of my next steps and whether I have a case for continuing to appeal?

Fruitcake

What a shame you didn't come here first.

Plan A is to always complain to the landowner.

For an IAS appeal, you need a code that should have been provided by the PPC with their rejection as well as the PCN number. Double check to see if you have a code, and if it is still valid. Note that the IAS is a kangaroo court and only allows 4% of appeals, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

You should also complain to your MP, and get photos of the site and signage in case the PPC tries court. Nobody here will ever suggest you pay.

Flounder

Very annoyed I didn’t check here but this is my first experience as I usually pay to park when I know I need to and thought I was doing the right thing!!!

So should I continue to engage with UKCPS or just wait for their next step? I can complain to MP (about UKCPS and others re: their tactics and fines?) and go back to check signage. 

Should I still fight this?

Fruitcake

They are not fines.

Like I said, nobody on this forum will suggest you pay.

I have suggested what I would do if it were me. It is up to you what happens next.

Complain to the landowner.
Appeal to the IAS if you have a code.
Complain to your MP.
Get photos of the site and signage.

Coupon-mad

You'd have lost at appeal anyway, so nothing lost.  Sit on your hands and only contact them if you move house (because you can't risk any PPC having an old address in their database).

Flounder

Ok. I'll try to work out who the landowner is. I have the code by the IAS site doesn't recognise the PCN when I entered it and told me I should appeal with UKCPS in the first place (which I did). I have asked IAS to resolve this if possible.

Thanks for the advice and apologies if I was unclear in my response. I didn't mean to question your advice rather whether I had any hope with challenging the process.

Fruitcake

If the IAS code doesn't work, complain to the PPC and the IPC as well.

Flounder

Thanks, I will. Everything to UKCPS has to be by post so I'll send them a letter. I have asked the IAS to see why the code doesn't work.

The problem is I left the site. There is not a charge to park on the site but because I walked off (it's close to Newark Northgate Railway so I think they are preventing people using the site for the wrong reasons). This is a photo that UKCPS provided.

Flounder

Dug about and it appears Limes Estates Limited are the landowners conveniently located in my home city. I will write a letter of complaint to them regarding the practices of UKCPS.

KeithP

Flounder said:

Dug about and it appears Limes Estates Limited are the landowners conveniently located in my home city. I will write a letter of complaint to them regarding the practices of UKCPS.

This sign on Google Street View seems to be saying that Lambert Smith Hampton are the managing agents at Northgate Retail Park...
[click on image to go to GSV]

Coupon-mad

Is there such a thing as an IAS code? For the non-standard version there isn't.  I really would not complain to the IPC because you DO NOT want to try their kangaroo court.

UKCPS are not currently litigious.