Sudden change of use/multiple PCNs - worth appealing?

noisedude

A local car park which was previously unrestricted suddenly put up signs this week (or possibly last weekend). I have used it most weekdays for a number of years. I noticed the signs on the Friday and moved my car straight away. I did think the car park had been unusually quiet as the week had gone on but guessed it was because of school holidays!

This morning I got the first of what I assume will be multiple lovely letters I get from the new enforcement people - I think there could be up to four.

Obviously this would be a fairly expensive week. Is it worth trying one or more appeals? After years of using it, I had no reason to check for signs every day but I don't know whether they'll be inclined to let me pay just one charge and never darken their doors again?

Coupon-mad

Which PPC?

Le_Kirk

Were there signs up there for a "reasonable amount of time" before the new restrictions came into force?  Check the PPC's AOS Accredited Operator Scheme either BPA or IPC Code of Practice to see what they must do in this circumstance.

Where is the car park, who runs it?

noisedude

Coupon-mad said:

Which PPC?

UKCPS. (Thank you)

noisedude

Le_Kirk said:

Were there signs up there for a "reasonable amount of time" before the new restrictions came into force?  Check the PPC's AOS Accredited Operator Scheme either BPA or IPC Code of Practice to see what they must do in this circumstance.

Where is the car park, who runs it?

Thank you.

I didn't see signs prior to Friday; this week was the first week the car park hasn't been rammed as normal. (There's boatloads of free parking nearby, there's no reason to pay to use this one.) I don't think signs were up before this week, a number of my friends use the same one and are waiting to see if they've been stung too.

The car park is in England, behind a high street retail unit that was a bank until about a year ago. I guess the landlord is struggling to get a new tenant in and wants some money from the parking spaces.

UKCPS are operating it; they operate one almost adjacent behind a different property. 

Coupon-mad

You can ignore UKCPS if you lose at the kangaroo court of the IAS.

noisedude

Coupon-mad said:

You can ignore UKCPS if you lose at the kangaroo court of the IAS.

Thank you. I've read the newbie thread and understood the IAS was likely to be a waste of time. 

Just so I'm completely clear (as I've just read a lot of threads), currently with UKCPS it's a straight choice like the old days where you either ignore and hope it doesn't reach court, or just cough up if you don't want the stress of that? No in-between steps like appealing to the operator are likely to be worthwhile?

noisedude

Le_Kirk said:

Were there signs up there for a "reasonable amount of time" before the new restrictions came into force?  Check the PPC's AOS Accredited Operator Scheme either BPA or IPC Code of Practice to see what they must do in this circumstance.

Where is the car park, who runs it?

Having read the IPC code of practice, the signage isn't compliant in a couple of different ways (nothing at the entrance, no temporary/additional notices to flag that the car park is under new terms and conditions). 

But it seems like appeals are a waste of time with UKCPS/IAS anyway?

Coupon-mad

I'd try an appeal with evidence of lack of signs and quoting the IPC CoP.  Then do the same at IAS.

Reason being, it does no harm and although only 4% of assessed cases are found in favour of consumers, 20% are dropped by PPCs at IAS stage.  One in five chance that UKCPS drop it - the more evidence you have the better. Make it too hard for them to bother.

Le_Kirk

Coupon-mad said:

I'd try an appeal with evidence of lack of signs and quoting the IPC CoP.  Then do the same at IAS.

Reason being, it does no harm and although only 4% of assessed cases are found in favour of consumers, 20% are dropped by PPCs at IAS stage.  One in five chance that UKCPS drop it - the more evidence you have the better. Make it too hard for them to bother.

........ and if it should get to court, your actions show the judge/court that you tried your hardest to "narrow the issues".