Received parking notice despite having entered my registration details

Top_Drawer

Coupon-mad said:

Well if it is a single digit keying error as you suspect, then the PCNs will be cancelled anyway.

So they've carefully considered my case (for less than 24 hours!) and rejected my appeal. They haven't provided any of the information requested either. 

They have also said that this is classed as a Major keying error - although again haven't stated anything which evidences this because my understanding is that one single letter error is in fact a 'minor keying error' 

This is the entire letter cut and pasted: 

We refer to your recent correspondence. Your appeal has been unsuccessful. When parking on private land, a motorist freely enters into an agreement to abide by the conditions of parking in return for permission to park.

This ticket was issued correctly as the driver failed to accurately provide their Vehicle Registration Number. We have carefully considered your appeal and the matters you have raised, including any evidence submitted of your legitimate use of the car park.

Under paragraph 17.4 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice (the BPA Code), this situation is considered to be a ‘major keying error’ because your vehicle registration mark was not entered properly, or at all or for some other reason. Therefore, whilst there was a breach of the terms and conditions of parking and the PCN was validly issued, in these circumstances we are able to deal with the matter in accordance with paragraph 17.4 of the BPA Code and accept a significantly reduced sum of £20.00.

This offer will remain open for a period of 14 days from the date of this letter after which the PCN charge amount will revert back to the sum due at the date of your appeal. If you appeal to POPLA within the 14 day time period you will be deemed to have rejected our offer. To make a payment at this lower rate please visit www.ce-service.co.uk or call 0115 822 5020.

We regret that the Parking Charge remains valid as the ticket was correctly issued in accordance with the terms and conditions stated. You have now reached the end of our internal appeals procedure. You must now either pay the PCN sum due or appeal to POPLA (see below) but you cannot do both.

If you are not satisfied with our decision, you may appeal to the independent appeals service via www.popla.co.uk using verification code # within 28 days from the date on this letter.

If your appeal to POPLA is rejected, you will lose the right to pay at the reduced rate. By law we are also required to inform you that Ombudsman Services (www.ombudsman-services.org/) provides an alternative dispute resolution service that would be competent to deal with your appeal. However, we have not chosen to participate in their alternative dispute resolution service. As such should you wish to appeal then you must do so to POPLA, as explained above.

Under paragraph 17.4 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice (the BPA Code), this situation is considered to be a ‘major keying error’ because your vehicle registration mark was not entered properly, or at all or for some other reason. Therefore, whilst there was a breach of the terms and conditions of parking and the PCN was validly issued, in these circumstances we are able to deal with the matter in accordance with paragraph 17.4 of the BPA Code and accept a significantly reduced sum of £20.00.


I'd really appreciate any advice on what to do next - is it worth fighting it further? I'm very skint at the moment as I'm having to work less due to having to have exploratory tests / health issues so this is really bad timing. I could probably find the £40 if forced but god do I resent this : (  I signed up for swimming lessons at this venue for my nephew, because I really wanted to help him improve at *something* as he's having significant issues re confidence and having dyspraxia. 

KeithP

Perhaps you should edit your latest post to remove the PoPLA verification code.
It would be a shame if someone not having your best interests at heart were to file a PoPLA appeal on your behalf wouldn't it?

Coupon-mad

Appeal to POPLA and state as your first point, that you believe this was at best a minor keying error (O instead of 0 or similar simple error) and instead CEL have declared it a 'major keying error' yet provided no evidence of this.

Then add the other template POPLA Appeal points as shown in the POPLA Section of the NEWBIES thread, which shows you what a good and robust PDF POPLA appeal looks like and which box to tick.

Top_Drawer

KeithP said:

Perhaps you should edit your latest post to remove the PoPLA verification code.
It would be a shame if someone not having your best interests at heart were to file a PoPLA appeal on your behalf wouldn't it?

Cheers. I redacted everything else but missed that bit. Least the internet doesn't have my addy )

KeithP

Top_Drawer said:

KeithP said:

Perhaps you should edit your latest post to remove the PoPLA verification code.
It would be a shame if someone not having your best interests at heart were to file a PoPLA appeal on your behalf wouldn't it?

Cheers. I redacted everything else but missed that bit. Least the internet doesn't have my addy )

Have another look.   

Boat_to_Bolivia

KeithP said:

Top_Drawer said:

KeithP said:

Perhaps you should edit your latest post to remove the PoPLA verification code.
It would be a shame if someone not having your best interests at heart were to file a PoPLA appeal on your behalf wouldn't it?

Cheers. I redacted everything else but missed that bit. Least the internet doesn't have my addy )

Have another look.   

I can't see it! Where?

KeithP

Boat_to_Bolivia said:

KeithP said:

Top_Drawer said:

KeithP said:

Perhaps you should edit your latest post to remove the PoPLA verification code.
It would be a shame if someone not having your best interests at heart were to file a PoPLA appeal on your behalf wouldn't it?

Cheers. I redacted everything else but missed that bit. Least the internet doesn't have my addy )

Have another look.   

I can't see it! Where?

Sorry, should've been clearer. There is still a PoPLA Verification Code showing in that earlier post.

In this paragraph...

If you are not satisfied with our decision, you may appeal to the independent appeals service via www.popla.co.uk using verification code 1234512345 within 28 days from the date on this letter.

Top_Drawer

Cheers. Removed @ last. 

Top_Drawer

Coupon-mad said:

Appeal to POPLA and state as your first point, that you believe this was at best a minor keying error (O instead of 0 or similar simple error) and instead CEL have declared it a 'major keying error' yet provided no evidence of this.

Then add the other template POPLA Appeal points as shown in the POPLA Section of the NEWBIES thread, which shows you what a good and robust PDF POPLA appeal looks like and which box to tick.

Is it stardard that they refuse the appeal on a minor keying error? According to the BPA guidelines this should be dealt with, are they likely to lie in order to extract that £20 anyway? 

I'm concerned that I'll lost the second appeal and be landed with the full cost of the tickets. 

Coupon-mad

You aren't going to be paying anyway, not if you lose!

A simple keying error should see a PCN cancelled altogether, so they should not have rejected it and must show POPLA evidence that this was a MAJOR keying error.