Euro Parking Services - Home Bargains - 38 weeks pregnantPCN

GardaIT

Dear All,

I am looking for some guidance, clarification on whether my understanding of the newbees guidance is correct. 

We received a windscreen PCN over the weekend from Euro Parking Services whilst shopping at Homa Bargains. Allegedly "not parked correctly within the markings of the bay or space". We parked in a space that was available and was not obstructing anyone or anything. The note of the sign (which they put at 3m hight, so you cannot read) states that "no parking on yellow/red lines with hatched markings. No obstructive parking" - we have not breached that one - there are no lines it's like a corner space. The other one states "the vehicle must be parked wholly within confines of a marked bay" - one could argue on interpretation of thereof but looking at the sign, we have not crossed any markings.

I am 39 weeks pregnant. We genuinely went shopping to HB and I have receipts. There was no other parking space available and, due to pregnancy, I really needed to go to the bathroom.

I did complain to Home Bargains but, although feeling really sorry, they said they do not own the land.

On newbees you suggest to wait with the appeal - is that what we should do?

I am neither the keeper nor the driver but it's our car and I am noting your guidance on not disclosing who the driver was.

Do I use your blue template given EPS uploaded all photos online to the case or shall I twaek it?

I would really appreciate your steer to make sure I am understanding your guidance correctly.

Thank you very much.

Coupon-mad

Find out who runs the land. It will be on an entrance sign probably.  An estate agent like Savills or JLL.  Complain to them.

Fruitcake

If this was at a retail park, the management company should be contacted first. These details are often on signs at the site or on the retail park's website.
Failing a landowner cancellation, the keeper should wait for the NTK to arrive, then they should appeal using the template in blue text.

Get photos of the site and signage, and the space/place where the vehicle was parked.

Only the keeper can deal with this, not you, although you can help if needed.

GardaIT

Thank you Both for the guidance and time, that's much appreciated.

I have checked the photo of the sign and I cannot identify who the landowner is. Do you think there must be another sign to look out for?

Coupon-mad

It would not be on THEIR sign. The landowner is either on a 'welcome' entrance sign listing the retail units or online if the place has a website.

GardaIT

Noted. Thank you.

KeithP

Where exactly did this alleged parking event take place?

Umkomaas

I have checked the photo of the sign and I cannot identify who the landowner is.

SOME IDEAS ON DETERMINING WHO OWNS THE LAND 

1. Google searches

2. If a retail park, check on any signage which lists the on-site outlets

3. Ask retailers on the site if there is a managing agent

4. Ask retailers on the site to whom do they pay rent

5. Contact the local authority and ask who pays the non-domestic/business rate for the car park (some councils have a spreadsheet on their website)

6. Contact the local Valuation Office and ask if they know. They often have a website which might provide the information 

7. Contact The Land Registry and for around £3 they should be able to provide definitive detail

8. If you haven't already done so, give us the name of the car park/site/location, we may have seen other cases there. 

GardaIT

KeithP said:

Where exactly did this alleged parking event take place?

It was Hone Bargains, Alfreton, Derbyshire. I have just gone there to check and there is no information about the landowner displayed anywhere, so I guess I need to follow Umkomaas guidance to determine who they are. 

There are now cars parked exactly where we had at the time. I guess we were unlucky with it being the weekend.

GardaIT

Dear All,

Today I received NTK from Euro Parking Services. I intended to appeal using the blue text but they are denying the keeper right to appeal with the below rationale. 

The site name name is Home Bargains, Alfreton but when I contacted HB they told me that they have not used the land for over a year so cannot help me with who the landowner is. I've checked land registry and it can be that I am missing something but the land where the car park is does not have anything just the coordinates.

Given EPS (member of IPC) is denying me the right to appeal - they say I can post them my appeal if I have exceptional circumstances, what would you recommend to do next? Thank you for any guidance.

Unfortunately you are unable to appeal this charge. At the time that the charge was incurred, a Notice to Driver may have been affixed to the vehicle or sent through the post. This offered the driver the ability to appeal within 21 days from its imposition. You also as the registered keeper or the driver of the vehicle had the right to appeal within the 21 day period from the point of issue of the Notice to Keeper. Since we have received no further correspondence from you, payment is required within 14 days. ( click here to make a payment.) If you consider there to be exceptional circumstances as to why you should be allowed to appeal outside of this period then you should send your reasons to us, in writing, to Office 2, 51 Pinfold Street, Birmingham, B2 4AY.

Alternatively, payment can be made in the following ways:

By debit/credit card (Delta, Switch, Mastercard or Visa) by calling: 08451210065

By Cheque/Postal Order made payable to: Euro Parking Services Ltd

Umkomaas

Not much you can do other than wait to see what, if anything, their next move is. Maybe debt collector letters, which you can safely ignore, or a Letter of Claim from their solicitors (deal with that as per advice in the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post), or a Court Claim from the Northampton CCBC. 

Come back to this thread if you receive either of the latter two, we don't need to know about any debt collector stage - that's dealt with for you in the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, fourth post.