First Reminder but did not receive original PCN

Booloo1977

I have received a First Reminder from Premier Park Ltd dated 19/01/2023 in which reference is made to  a Parking Charge Notice issued on 21/12/2022. I never received this original PCN. The letter states that I am now liable for a £100 charge and "if after 16 days the parking charge has not been paid in full and we do not know both the name and current address of the driver Premier Park Ltd have the right to recover any unpaid part of the parking charge from you".  The letter also makes reference to Paragraph 9(2((f) of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012. It then states "Failure to pay the full amount of this notice within 28 days may result in the proceeding of debt recovery action and/or issuing court proceedings against you. Additional costs may be incurred". 

I spent three hours last night reading a 20 page thread in this forum about a similar case from 2020. I believe I am right in having interpreted from this thread that me not having received the original PCN is pretty much irrelevant, and that Premier Park Ltd are required only to provide proof of posting. Out of interest, what constitutes proof of posting?

My concern is that I am now outside of the appeal timeframe. On advice seen in another thread, I have emailed sara.r@britishparking.co.uk with details of the PCN, explaining that I never received the original PCN. I am not sure what to expect from this; I am hopeful that I will be granted an opportunity to appeal or pay the original PCN fee. 

Aside from this, is there anything else I should be doing right now?

Thanks in advance.

Coupon-mad

Premier Park Ltd are required only to provide proof of posting.

They aren't.  They don't have to prove it.

My concern is that I am now outside of the appeal timeframe. 

Are you?  Not necessarily. You've tried the online appeals portal today, to put in the template appeal?

Booloo1977

Coupon-mad said:

Premier Park Ltd are required only to provide proof of posting.

They aren't.  They don't have to prove it.

My concern is that I am now outside of the appeal timeframe. 

Are you?  Not necessarily. You've tried the online appeals portal today, to put in the template appeal?

Thank you @Coupon-mad. I am surprised that no proof at all is required as, in effect this means that such companies can skip straight to First Reminder stage, and I imagine some people would just pay up £100.

I had just assumed I was outside of the appeals timeframe as the First Reminder letter does not contain info on how I can appeal. I will look into the online appeals portal, though in honesty, I did not pay for the whole period of parking. 

Coupon-mad

Just put the template appeal in.

Booloo1977

Coupon-mad said:

Just put the template appeal in.

Am just completing the online appeal using the template from NEWBIES THREAD.

The First Reminder clearly states the reason for the PCN "Whole Period of Parking Not Paid For". For this reason, should I omit the following paragraph from the template:

"If the allegation concerns a PDT machine, the data supplied in response to this appeal must include the record of payments made - showing partial VRNs - and an explanation of the reason for the PCN, because your Notice does not explain it."

Thank you in advance. I am neuro-divergent and processing information can be challenging.

Umkomaas

You can leave it out if you wish. It's when people start wanting to add stuff we get concerned. 

Booloo1977

Umkomaas said:

You can leave it out if you wish. It's when people start wanting to add stuff we get concerned. 

Ah. I was going to add at the beginning:

"In response to First Reminder of 19/01/2023, within which you refer to a Parking Charge Notice issued on 21/12/2022, which I never received".

Do you recommend I leave this out?

Coupon-mad

That can stay in!

Booloo1977

Morning all. Thank you for your help so far. I have submitted an online appeal to Premier Park Ltd and I simultaneously contacted British Parking, who kindly raised the fact that I did not receive the original PCN with Premier Park Ltd.

This morning I have had an email from Premier Park Ltd who, as a 'gesture of goodwill', have reduced the PCN to the original amount, to be paid within 14 days. In this email it is stated that the PCN was issued because I parked for a period of time in a particular car park 'with no payment for the full, correct registration paid for'. The First Reminder letter I received (and only letter I've had from Premier Park Ltd thus far) states the reason the PCN was issued was 'Whole Period of Parking Not Paid For'. I happen to have found the pay and display receipt from said date and, actually, I did pay for the correct amount of time. I did however enter the wrong registration details into the machine (the machine allowed me to type in just three letters and issued the pay and display ticket -- I recall the sun shining onto the machine at the time and me not be able to see it properly, but the ticket was issued and I placed it into my windscreen assuming my payment had covered the cost of parking).

Part of me was just going to pay the reduced fee and I know lots of people will think I would be giving in by doing that. However the case I referred to in my original post went to court and that person lost their case and I don't think I can cope with the stress hanging over me. However, now I have found my ticket and it proves I did pay the correct amount, I feel more confident that a court would perhaps rule in my favour. Any thoughts?

Le_Kirk

Is the reduced amount for £20 as that is the standard for keying errors?

Booloo1977

No @Le_Kirk, it is for £60...