CPM PCN Notice at Vista Center, Hounslow

Derd

Hi all, 

I received a Parking Charge Notice this morning for a parking that I had paid for.
I visited the Vista Center, Hounslow to a Visa application on 29th Oct 2022 for a visa appointment.
I entered at 14:28pm as per the notice and I remember paying £2.20 for an hour initilly using the JustPay app.
As there was a long queue time went by and I noiticed it was 4.30pm. I tried to extend the pervious parking, which was not allowed and it also didnt allow me to make a new parking from 3.30pm to 4.30pm as it was already 4.30pm. I then created another booking of £2.20 from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. When we finally finished it was 5.30, I tried to buy a new parking slot at 5.30pm but it kept erroring out. The staff around told me, it might be cause its past 5.30pm(working hours).

Now to my surprise I got a notice on 9th Nivember stating "Vehicle Not Registered or Exceeded aAllowed Time".

In my defense, I had tried to pay my dues but their app didnt work and I have evidence of that.

Coupon-mad

Just do what the NEWBIES thread tells you to do. Template appeal but add a bit.

Deny that the vehicle was 'not registered or exceeded allowed time' and state that their system was not working properly but the driver did manage to make two full payments and was blocked from a further top-up by the non-functioning system.

This is all as per the NEWBIES thread which of course gives you a PLAN A as well (which is not 'appeal'). Do that first.  Plan A.

Just to add, I am very surprised that you were surprised to get a PCN.  It was nailed-on certain by using this car park (I would never ever have used it, due to the presence of UKCPM) and then as soon as you only paid for an hour.

Never do that in an ANPR car park.  They clocked your car from the second it drove in. An hour was never going to be enough.  Just avoid private car parks in future. Parking on-street is far better, and often free at weekends.

You have a whole unpaid hour in the middle there, and this was a private ANPR camera car park operated by a notorious ex-clamper, so of course you were going to get a PCN ... the minute your numberplate was seen & captured at the exit.

Derd

@Coupon-mad, thanks for the response.
I tried plan A, calling the visa office didn't get through and then the reception of the Vista center. The reception said she knows the pain but didn't know what and how to waiver the charge.


So now, I'm thinking of appealing. Is there a way to increase chances to get this done in the appeal itself(as I have evidence.etc.). I seriously do not wish to take this further, am sure I'll get dark circles 😭

Coupon-mad

You won't win by appealing which is why the landowner complaint is PLAN A.  Exhausting a landowner complaint doesn't mean only speaking to a clueless first point of call person.

Derd

@Coupon-mad
 Well there aren't too many options. 
1. I live like a 98 miles from the building.
, so going in is a hard option.

2. The office I visited was a visa office, they're phone lines are too packed answering visa queries.

3. I keep getting the same reception, who tells me my best way out is to appeal attaching my receipts.etc

4. I contact JustPark who sent me receipts and asked me to appeal to POPLA.

Im a bit stuck, getting tempted to give in pay and move on.

Coupon-mad

" I keep getting the same reception, who tells me my best way out is to appeal attaching my receipts.etc."

And when you ask to speak to their Manager?

I did advise you to appeal as well.  No-one said not to, we just said that has a lower success rate than landowner complaint.


"tempted to give in pay and move on.".

No.

People who did that - paying this scam operation for an easy life - actively paid to stop the new law the Government had been working on for TWO YEARS to regulate the parking industry and cap overstay PCNs at £50 (or £80 in London).

Hope those people are proud of what they funded for their 'easy life'. Two Judicial Reviews to block the legislation:
https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/driving-law/private-parking-code-of-practice-set-to-be-withdrawn-what-does-it-mean-for/

Don't sponsor this rogue industry.

Derd

Yeah, the main driver not to give in was that these people are taking advantage of folks like me. But it's very tempting for a newbie, when you begin to feel brain fogged. 

I took your points and pretty much bugged the receptionist, she claims she spoke to her manager.etc and says appeal is the best way forward. I'm not sure what really happened but nothing in my favor.

I even tried to see if there was a way using JustPark but that went no where.

At the end of it, am just concerned about getting debt letters and having to go to court.

Coupon-mad

Neither are concerning.

You will get debt letters.  Ignore them.

If you get a claim, don't ignore. Come back to us.

Derd

Alright, now what's the course of action here?
(My parking date is 28/10 and Notice date is 04/11)

1. 1st stage internal appeal.
Do it right now or wait for day no.  'X-Y'?

2. The regulator appeal
Do I need to appeal to regulator or just leave it ?
What day is this supposed to be done?

3. Some 10000 debt letters come. Ignore them.

4. May get a claims (court) letter. What happens then?

Please share a document link if that's saves you the trouble!

Umkomaas

1. Get on with it. Use the blue text initial appeal from the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, first post, and add on the bit that @Coupon-mad suggested. 

2. There is no regulator. If you mean the IAS second stage kangaroo court - forget that, only a 4% prospect of success, not worth the effort. 

3. Yes, 1,000 times!

4. You defend it. 

Derd

How does the defending bit go, it's a big unknown to me.