Heathrow APCOA online portal

oluolope

Hi,

I have recently received 2 letters from a debt collector with regards to non-payment of the £5 charge for using the terminal drop off area at the airport. These are the first letters I receive and they want me to pay a £300. I have researched this forum and I am aware of the blue template in the newbie thread. However, I don't know how to go about submitting my appeal. Basically, the letters are from a debt collector and they mention that I have lost my appeal right. Also, I have tried entering the reference on the online portal but I got an error saying that it is impossible to pay the tickets because they have already been forwarded to an enforcement agent. Could you please help me figure out what my options are? Is there still a way to submit an appeal? Should I submit one with POPLA? If yes, how do I go about it since I don't have any code? Is there anything else I should consider?

Thank you in advance.

Coupon-mad

Same advice as here and on every Heathrow thread.  OMG, clearly APCOA are having a feeding frenzy there right now, not that it matters, as no-one in their right mind worries or pays them:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6355398/apcoa-notice-to-hirer-heathrow-terminal-5#latest

If it's with so-called 'Debt recovery' (LOL!) ignore them except for confirming which address is correct (NO PHONING ANYONE).

Sounds like the PCNs went to your old address, so is that due to you failing to update your logbook when you moved?  Check.

oluolope

They mentioned that they used DVLA to retrieve my address. I moved more than one year ago and I had already communicated my latest address to DVLA at the time (unless there is a separate process for the logbook. I'll double check.)

How do I go about confirming the address? They invited me to phone them but I figured it wasn't the best idea indeed.

KeithP

oluolope said:

They mentioned that they used DVLA to retrieve my address. I moved more than one year ago and I had already communicated my latest address to DVLA at the time (unless there is a separate process for the logbook. I'll double check.)

There is an independent process for updating a vehicle's registration document and for updating a driving licence.

And if you have more than one vehicle, the registration document for each vehicle in your household needs updating individually. Can be done online. Best do it now.

You might want to complain to your MP that Data Protection legislation applies to the DVLA as well as every other business in the land. The DVLA should be required to update all instances on their records when they are notified of a change.

You must also ensure that APCOA are advised of your current address to avoid a surprise County Court Judgment against you without you having any opportunity to defend yourself.
And instruct APCOA to tell their agents - the debt recovery guys - too.

Do not phone anyone.

oluolope

Thanks KeithP.

I have tried to update the vehicle registration documents immediately but I wasn't able to proceed because the online service is available from 7am to 8pm. I'll do it first thing tomorrow. I've actually missed the tax reminder because my address was not up to date.

It would be great if DVLA updated all instances of their records when they are notified of a change indeed. It would lead to less confusion. I'll take your advice with regards to complaining to my MP.

Regarding how to contact APCOA, I still don't know how to proceed. I never had to deal with such situations so I'm a bit confused. Please provide more details. Which channel would you recommend to contact them? How could I obtain the right address? From what I understand, I should inform them about the fact that my address has been updated and instruct them to tell their agents. Should I still submit any kind of appeal with them? If so, how should I start the process? Should I consolidate everything in the same email for address update? Sorry if I repeat some questions but it is really not clear to me how to proceed yet.

Thanks

Umkomaas

Update APCOA of your current address via their Data Protection Officer whose email address should be shown on the APCOA website's Privacy page. Tell them to erase (use that word) your former address and replace with your new address. Require them to inform all third parties with whom they have shared your data. 

In terms of anything further with APCOA - as your appeal window has closed there's nothing more you can do with them, unless they start court proceedings (they never have ever before, so I wouldn't be lying awake at night wondering if you'll be the very first of the millions of motorists they harass to be sued). 

Just ignore debt collectors. 

fisherjim

oluolope said:

Thanks KeithP.


It would be great if DVLA updated all instances of their records when they are notified of a change indeed.

The DVLA are not the most organized bunch in the UK, in fact they are in many ways not fit for purpose, that would not be a good idea at all.

aferns

Just to confirm, I appealed the PCN  using advice from this forum and it was dropped. 

oluolope

@Umkomaas
Thanks for the info. I will write to them

@aferns
Thanks for the info. I was trying to do the same but I am not provided with the appeal option from the online portal anymore.