Parking Group PCN - Chester le Street

jozxyqk

Hi, I've read through the Newbies thread and several posts but I'd appreciate some advice from people with way more experience than me.

Today I received a parking charge notice to registered keeper from Parking Group Limited in Durham. The car was parked in Market Hall car park (DH3 3AY) in Chester-le-Street town centre on the evening of 06 December. I didn't buy a ticket as I mistakenly thought that parking was free after 2pm (see https://www.durham.gov.uk/parking) - it was dark and I assumed that I was in a council-run car park as there are several dotted around that area. The car park doesn't serve a particular retailer, it's a general town centre one.

The invoice says they are a BPA approved operator and quotes POFA 2012. It has the correct car details, my name & address but that they are currently unaware of who the driver was. It states that the reason for issue is failure to pay for parking. It includes 2 photos of the car, one so dark I can barely make anything out, the other is slightly clearer and just shows the back of the car. Neither shows the signage etc.

They're asking for £100, or £60 if I pay within 14 days.

Is it worth me trying to appeal / contest? £60 seems a steep punishment for my assumption.

I'll head down there tomorrow morning to take pictures of the signs etc.

Coupon-mad

Yes show us pics of the signs but take them in the same lighting conditions (same time of day).

Your case is no different than any others though, and the NEWBIES thread appeal is what to send.  You can ignore them after that as I doubt you'd have a winning POPLA case UNLESS your photos in the dark are damning!

No paying them of course.  All the time that the rogue parking industry is unregulated and charges £100 as if it is nothing, they are NOT to be paid.

The law is due to change. Watch this space (this forum) next year.

jozxyqk

Thanks for responding so quickly. This has never happened to me before so I appreciate the support. I've taken a couple of pics today that I'll try and post below.

I'm willing to try appealing and contacting my MP, but if this gets dragged into court I doubt a defence of ignorant assumption on my part will work. I don't want to be dragged through a long stressful process just to end up paying £60 (or more) - life's too short.

jozxyqk

Info sign from roughly where I parked (it was a little darker on the night in question)

Grizebeck

This firm is a nobody so dont stress over it
You sound like a "willing victim"

jozxyqk

Info sign - I think this was changed recently as they changed the pay by phone provider

jozxyqk

Basically it says it's a private car park etc but I didn't pay attention to this as I'd assumed the council "free after 2pm" offer applied.

Coupon-mad

A gobbledegook sign!

Did you not get any photos showing a lack of signs?  That was more important. The corners with no signs at all.

Don't go paying for an easy life - eek no!  If everyone did that, there'd be no new law coming in.

I've spent two and a half years representing the consumer voice on the Govt Steering Group to change the law and we are nearly there.  In that time I also had a full time job.  Some things are worth your time and worth fighting for.

jozxyqk

Just this one, I can head back and get more.

KeithP

jozxyqk said:

Those parking bay markings look a bit complicated.
But I guess that's to trap people parking outside a bay.  

Coupon-mad

As it was darker, go an hour or two later and get some (several) photos showing no signs at all.

That's how to win at POPLA but you MUST embed the metadata (time & date) into your images or they are no evidence.