ParkingEye Cambridge Retail Park

Coupon-mad

You should be saying that 10 minutes and an alleged (unsynchronised and unproven)  "11 seconds" taken from two different camera readings taking separate images of cars in two different lanes, is certainly within the region/range of the BPA Code of Practice minimum grace period (which isn't a maximum).

Given that POPLA like to tell people that "£100 is in the region of £85" when using their template 'Beavis' appeal rejection paragraph, this appellant argues that it must surely follow that ten minutes 11 seconds is also within the region of 'a minimum of ten minutes'.  There is surely not one 'in the region of' rule for operators and another for consumers...

It would be disingenuous for a professional operator to suggest otherwise when this retail park is clearly inviting people to enjoy 4 hours free PARKING on the very large sign (not 4 hours 'total stay' which a far smaller sign says).

You could certainly also say that this is a large car park with a short approach roadway, and a sign with choice of three lanes (see sign with three orange arrows including 'customer parking' requiring the driver to continue ahead and drive on).  This large sign comes after the in/out camera positions, so the image on arrival has already been taken by the time a car gets into the actual customer car park, by driving on and following that arrow.  So, the idea of charging £100 for 11 seconds is clearly against the intention of fair minimum grace periods and this event shows completely reasonable conduct by the driver.  It is unreasonable and sharp practice by ParkingEye to even begin to think this PCN is acceptable conduct by them, which is why the retail park management wish to cancel it.

camelcx

Thanks, CM. I have appealed yesterday night as per my last update. I was running out of time for POPLA appeal, so was not able to include your latest reply (Sorry, I should have started this process much earlier). I'll update when I receive one.

Coupon-mad

No worries.  You could use some of my words at comments stage.

camelcx

Got reply from POPLA around 9am this morning saying that PE has withdrawn the appeal. Around 1 hour later, they have replied to my complaint to Railpen (landlord) confirming the cancellation of the parking charge. I have checked the PE website, the remaining balance is now showing as 0.

Thanks all for the help. Much appreciated!

P.S.

They have replied to the same complaint I sent to JLL (managing agents) last week saying that they will not do anything and that I should appeal to POPLA. So not sure if it is the complaint to landlord or the POPLA appeal that does the trick.

P.P.S.

For anyone who might be in a similar situation now or in the future, here is a summary I found regarding the car park:
1. Individual retailer does not seem to be able to help. As per my experience, Nando's has said they actually have contacted PE and been turned down saying that "individual retailers have no jurisdiction over PCNs issued nor the restrictions in place."
2. JLL is the managing agents. However, their helpdesk says they know nothing about parking and they only deal with maintenance.
3. On contrary to point 2, beehive center is welcoming you to contact their security office for parking appeals but stating it is the managing agents, JLL. They have confirmed that they also manage Cambridge Retail Park (I couldn't find any info elsewhere stating the beehive center security is managing Cambridge Retail Park for parking...) They certainly have the ability to cancel the PCN as far as I heard, but I was a bit late in contacting them.

"Parking Appeals. If you still have queries after having followed the appeals procedure to Parking Eye as specified on a parking notice, then please contact the owner’s managing agent, JLL. You can call them on 01223 307048 or email security@beehivecentre.co.uk"  https://www.beehivecentre.co.uk/information/

4. Railpen is the landlord at the moment. They have not yet replied to me (their standard processing time for complaint is 10 working days). But complain to them copying PE might have helped in this case.

B789

Good old Plan A.

Coupon-mad

Well done you and that's great info for others.