NE Parking Fine - Blackpool

SenatorMendoza18

Hi all,

I'm new to this but long story short my wife got a PCN from NE Parking (owned by Smart Parking), her crime was parking for 5 minutes outside of a business in Blackpool last Saturday (18/02/2023) - the business was closed, but the signs were there etc. The reason my wife left the car is that she is 8 months pregnant and needed the toilet so popped into one of the nearby hotels, when she got back the PCN had been issued.

I wish I'd looked on here initially and used this forums template to appeal, but I ended up finding another site first which asked for details/supporting info, so I wrote a summary as mentioned above and it generated a template which you can find below. I have since sent this to the NE Parking as my appeal.

My question is, is this adequate for a first stage appeal? As far as I can gather from the newbie sticky I should have waited for the NTK to come through, and I'm not sure if I've damaged my case by admitting knowledge of the drivers situation - even though I have specifically referred to myself as the vehicle keeper.

I don't know whether I'm better cutting my losses at this stage and paying up if I've sabotaged my chances of getting this quashed. I also don't know if the fact she did blatantly ignore the signs (however mitigating the circumstance) means I don't have a leg to stand on.

Any advice on whether this is still worth pursuing would be greatly appreciated.

I have also included images of the PCN and parking situation outside the local business below.

"To Whom It May Concern,

I am the Vehicle Keeper responding to the parking charge notice: NEXXXXX issued to the vehicle

SGXXXXX by NE Parking.

The driver's pregnant wife stopped for 5 minutes outside of [Business Name] in Blackpool so that she

could use the toilet at a nearby local hotel. When she returned, they had been issued with a

PCN.

Evidence Requested:

1. Proof of authorisation from the land owner for the operator to act as creditor at the contravention

location with signatures from both parties.

2. Signage Photographs: Two signs are requested, (i.) the entrance sign and (ii.) the sign showing

the full terms of contract with the driver which were at the location on the contravention date

Thank you for taking time to read my letter. I look forward to hearing from you and I sincerely hope

we can resolve this matter.

Yours faithfully,

[My Name]"

KeithP

Why did you write this?...


Doesn't that say that the driver was the lady's husband - i.e. the keeper?

SenatorMendoza18

KeithP said:

Why did you write this?...


Doesn't that say that the driver was the lady's husband - i.e. the keeper?

I wasn't aware of the ins and outs of how these things should be done because I've not had a PCN from a private company before - if I'd found this forum first things might be different.

As mentioned I used another site which asked for supporting information, I took that as them wanting a brief summary of what happened and they spat it out onto a template with "my wife" changed to "the driver's wife" etc.

What I'm after here is essentially an honest opinion on whether I've shot myself in the foot, and if it's even worth continuing with this appeal.

B789

Well, at least you have confessed to making three BIG mistakes. First was not to have come here before taking advice from a less educated website, second was giving away the identity of the driver and third was appealing before you even received an NtK.

This is still winnable on several other points but the easy ones have been blown away because of bad advice from elsewhere. You now need to read, re-read, read again and begin to understand the content of the Newbies thread near the top of this forum. Help yourself so that you may receive helpful advice on here.

DO as advised and if this ever gets to a court claim stage, know that 99% of these case are won or discontinued before they ever reach a courtroom. The 1% that lose is because they didn't bother really reading and understanding the content of the Newbies thread, didn't strictly follow the advice given here or just gave up and paid up for an easy life.

Are you a 99 percenter or a 1 percenter?

SenatorMendoza18

To be honest it sounds like it's not worth continuing in light of what's been said.

B789

So... you think you're a 1 percenter?

There are still several useful defences for your case. 

Which bit of this didn't you understand?

This is still winnable on several other points

Coupon-mad

SenatorMendoza18 said:

To be honest it sounds like it's not worth continuing in light of what's been said.

Whaaat?  That's just not true and you haven't even told them who was driving in that appeal.

It's not well worded but doesn't matter.

Which firm is this again? 

PCN from NP Parking (owned by Smart Parking)

Who?

SenatorMendoza18

Coupon-mad said:

SenatorMendoza18 said:

To be honest it sounds like it's not worth continuing in light of what's been said.

Whaaat?  That's just not true and you haven't even told them who was driving in that appeal.

It's not well worded but doesn't matter.

Which firm is this again? 

PCN from NP Parking (owned by Smart Parking)

Who?

Thanks for the advice, I was a bit lost with the mountains of information but having read the newbie thread I now feel a lot better about this potentially ending up in court. I had confused losing in court with a CCJ (and subsequent destruction of credit rating).

I appreciate you are probably inundated with messages but I have a couple of questions if you wouldn't mind letting me know your opinion.

1) After reading the newbie thread I know I should have complained to the landowner before appealing. Should I still pursue this now, or wait until the LBC stage?

2) If I lose in court, what is the likelihood I will be liable for additional costs, i.e. their legal fees, admin costs etc? I couldn't see too much about that on the newbie thread.

Many thanks again, your contribution on the newbie thread is a great resource and has helped make me feel way more confident about the whole thing.

Umkomaas

1). Get on with that straight away. No need to delay. 

2). Typical cost of a court loss - £100 (original charge), £35 (court filing fee), £50 (capped max legal fee), £27 (hearing fee). +/- £212.

Coupon-mad

Can you clarify this please:

"NP Parking (owned by Smart Parking)".

I don't know who you mean. Didn't know Smart owned another PPC.

Grizebeck

Coupon-mad said:

Can you clarify this please:

"NP Parking (owned by Smart Parking)".

I don't know who you mean. Didn't know Smart owned another PPC.

Its NE Parking.  A small outfit