PCN from Armtrac Security - wrong number plate entered.

tessajforsyth

Hi there.  I have been issued a PCN by Armtrac Security for not buying a parking ticket at Porthpean Carpark in St Austell Cornwall.  I had paid for the ticket using the Justpark App but selected the wrong car registration number by mistake.  Assuming they would let me off the ticket as I had bought one I followed the 'contesting the parking charge' information on the PCN which took me to the IAS.  They are ignoring the fact that I did buy a ticket and are fining me £100 for breaching terms and conditions.  I have mentioned the BPA which Justpark are members of and offered them £20 admin fees. They have pointed out they are not members of the BPA. And I have also mentioned the new Government Code of Practice. They have said this doesn't come into full effect until 2024.  I had not looked on this website initially but I see that if we go to the IAS arbitration it is highly unlikely they will rule in my favour.  What should my next steps be please?  Any advice would be appreciated thank you. 

Umkomaas

Contact the landowner and see if they will help in cancelling the ticket, unlikely, but unless you try you will never know. 

Beyond that we can't in all conscience recommend appealing to the IAS so the 'next step' is to ignore anything further unless you receive a Letter Of/Before Claim or a formal Court Claim from the Northampton CCBC. Come back on this thread if you receive either. 

Le_Kirk

The NEWBIE sticky suggests that Plan A should be tried first.  Also you could search the forum for that car park, it features several times - see what others have done.

dean01979

Hi TessaJForsyth, I have exactly the same issue. I took it one step further and appealed to the IAS. What a complete waste of time that was. The Adjudicators response states the following ''As the guidance to this appeal explains I am bound by the law of contract and cannot consider mistakes or extenuating circumstances, only legal challenges. I supplied both the appeal with Amtrac and the IAS evidence in the form of a receipt of payment and further instances of me using the app later the same week with the new vehicle added (Once I realised). I can prove that I paid the correct amount for my stay although it was for a vehicle was not in their car park. I tried to pay the £60 today and was informed I have forfeited my right to a reduced payment by appealing. This is a joke in itself if the IAS cannot factor in mistakes. I refuse to pay £100 as compensation for a stay in a car park that I the driver have already paid. I am still gobsmacked that the IAS have sided with the land owner. I am confident a judge may take a different view on the matter. 

Coupon-mad

tessajforsyth said:

Hi there.  I have been issued a PCN by Armtrac Security for not buying a parking ticket at Porthpean Carpark in St Austell Cornwall.  I had paid for the ticket using the Justpark App but selected the wrong car registration number by mistake.  Assuming they would let me off the ticket as I had bought one I followed the 'contesting the parking charge' information on the PCN which took me to the IAS.  They are ignoring the fact that I did buy a ticket and are fining me £100 for breaching terms and conditions.  I have mentioned the BPA which Justpark are members of and offered them £20 admin fees. They have pointed out they are not members of the BPA. And I have also mentioned the new Government Code of Practice. They have said this doesn't come into full effect until 2024.  I had not looked on this website initially but I see that if we go to the IAS arbitration it is highly unlikely they will rule in my favour.  What should my next steps be please?  Any advice would be appreciated thank you. 

dean01979 said:

Hi TessaJForsyth, I have exactly the same issue. I took it one step further and appealed to the IAS. What a complete waste of time that was. The Adjudicators response states the following ''As the guidance to this appeal explains I am bound by the law of contract and cannot consider mistakes or extenuating circumstances, only legal challenges. I supplied both the appeal with Amtrac and the IAS evidence in the form of a receipt of payment and further instances of me using the app later the same week with the new vehicle added (Once I realised). I can prove that I paid the correct amount for my stay although it was for a vehicle was not in their car park. I tried to pay the £60 today and was informed I have forfeited my right to a reduced payment by appealing. This is a joke in itself if the IAS cannot factor in mistakes. I refuse to pay £100 as compensation for a stay in a car park that I the driver have already paid. I am still gobsmacked that the IAS have sided with the land owner. 

Welcome!

Armtrac aren't the landowners.

Didn't you realise that IAS is a well-reported kangaroo court?  It's a shame you expected that self-serving farce to work, but no harm done!

Have you both now searched and found all the Arntrac threads (and the Daily Mail and Cornwall Live articles) about how they are ruining Cornish car parks with dodgy systems that put an unfair burden on the motorist to get a numberplate right?

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6369965/armtrac-issued-pcn-for-rockpool-car-park-cornwall-outside-the-relevant-time-period/p1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6368218/sennen-cove-parking-scam-incorrect-number-plate-recorded-week-of-30th-june/p1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6366919/sennen-cove-top-car-park-fine-half-number-plate-on-ticket-dodgy-ticket-machines/p1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6365205/sennen-cove-car-park-ticket-scam/p1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79304242#Comment_79304242

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/countless-tourists-preyed-on-armtrac-7275984.amp

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/drivers-landed-100-charges-scandalous-24372317.amp

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10973643/amp/Cornish-beauty-spot-visitors-100-parking-fines-despite-having-paid-displayed.html

Doesn't matter that this is about a slightly different problem and car park. All ARMTRAC cases are the same predatory rubbish being played out. 

No-one here pays Armtrac parking charge notices.

Come back if you get a court claim and you MUST email to tell them if you move house within 6 years (to make sure you don't get a default CCJ without seeing the claim forms).

That's it!

Sit tight. No paying.  Keep ALL the letters you get and keep your proof of payment.

I am confident a judge may take a different view on the matter. 

We agree and we do this every day. 99% win rate in court since 2016. No risk.

tessajforsyth

I am now being chased and threatened with legal action by BW Legal.  I have sent them all my information evidencing I paid for parking but selected the wrong car number plate and offering £20 compensation for administration costs.  However they have sent the following reply: 

Good Afternoon 

Thank you for your recent email, the contents of which have been noted on file. 

In order for a contract to be fulfilled, all terms and conditions must be met.

Payment forms one of the terms of parking within this site, however entering the full and correct registration forms another.

 It is imperative you enter your correct registration as the car park in question is camera controlled. 

As a result, it is irrelevant whether payment was made, as this was not made for your vehicle registration and your vehicle was not authorised to park on site.

 Our Client is not accepting a reduced balance or settlements and the full balance of £160.00 remains due and owing.

 If you are unable to make payment for the balance in full, we do offer affordable repayment plans which can be paid in instalments.

 You can register and log on to our online portal where you can find further details in respect of the above matter.

Shall I continue to ignore them? Any thoughts would be welcome. Thanks very much. 

Coupon-mad

Yep, as before. Sit tight. No paying.  Come back here if and when a court claim arrives.

Keep ALL the letters you get and keep your proof of payment and proof you offered to cover any administrative cost caused by the typo. Your offer was very reasonable and in keeping with the BPA Code of Practice (£20 settlement for major keying errors) and with regard to the IPC's clear instructions to their members to treat consumers fairly when it is only a keying error.

Indeed, the new incoming statutory Code of Practice recognises that keypad typo situations are avoidable by the parking industry, and put an unfair burden on the public, and as such the new Code of Practice will say that ALL keying error cases must result in PCN cancellation at no cost to the motorist.

Umkomaas

The IPC have a campaign 'Get Your Reg Right'.  It's haughty aims include:

1. Educating motorists in typing correctly
2. Encouraging PPCs to be more sympathetic when typos are made
3. Encouraging parking technology firms to devise more user-friendly equipment (a tacit confession that the current stuff is a crock of ....!)

There is a list of organisations who have signed up to these principles. Can you spot any you recognise in the list?

https://www.getyourregright.info/supporters

tessajforsyth

Thank you @Umkomaas and @Coupon-mad.  I'll sit tight. And yes!  Armtrac are signed up to the IPC campaign. Unbelievable! 

Coupon-mad

Not exactly a 'campaign' though.  It's the IPC paying lip service to an issue and blaming motorists, as usual/always.