Smart parking, missed Popla deadline

SamiamOo

Hi, I am looking for some advice, hoping this is the right place to post. A PCN from smart parking was received on 09/03/23 for issued on 02/03/23 for a violation on 11/02/23. Supposedly the cars registration was meant to be entered into an ipad at the front desk of the establishment, which was in tiny print on the signs and therefore missed. There are receipts showing that items were purchased, making the use of the carpark valid as a paying customer. An appeal was made with smart parking, with the receipt attached but they sent an email asking for the receipt again, which was never delivered (although they insist it was sent), and therefore rejected the appeal. It is unknown whether the 'I am the driver' box was ticked. The POPLA deadline has passed and it has been passed to DRP. The original smart PCN now shows that it has been cancelled, but this might be because it has been passed to DRP? Not sure what options there are for fighting this at this stage? Any help would be appreciated.    

Coupon-mad

Ignore them. Ignore DRP and CST Law. Smart don't sue.  Nothing to worry about.

Not Scotland is it?

Either way, what happened when you tried PLAN A in the NEWBIES thread?

SamiamOo

So just wait and see if I get a LBC then go from there? Not having to go to court would be good.  No, not Scotland.
Plan A - no response, although it was sent to the establishment, not sure if they're the landowner and can't seem to find who is. 

Umkomaas

Ignore DRP. They're powerless. Come back if you get anything further from Smart themselves or a solicitor acting on their behalf - extremely unlikely. You should now complain to the landowner and ask them to get this cancelled ... and put an end to all this rubbish bogging down your life.  

SamiamOo

Unfortunately this is their policy on parking: 
Car Parking -  We offer free parking for all customers. Please just pop your car registration number in our tablets when visiting. If you have any queries, or have received a letter, then please contact Smart Parking directly using the information they have provided in the letter. 

You can email them directly here.
Please note that we are unable to deal with customer service issues on this as the system is provided remotely.

SamiamOo

Considering paying so I don't have to worry about this in years time, or if I move property multiple times, or leave the country. Do you think it's worth it for peace of mind?

B789

You could complain to the establishment reminding them that no matter what their "policy on parking" is, if they are the landowner or have contracted the PPC, they are jointly liable for the actions of their agents and they should either get the PCN cancelled or forward this letter to their legal department or solicitors as you intend to fight this speculative invoice for an alleged debt that you deny, all the way to court if necessary.

You won't though as Smart won't initiate any court proceedings but it gives the establishment some buggerance factor for their cop-out.

Also, find out if the establishment has a social media presence and call them out and shame them by pointing out that using their establishment is likely to include an added invoice for £100 or whatever and that people should try elsewhere.

You get the drift?

Coupon-mad

SamiamOo said:

Considering paying so I don't have to worry about this in years time, or if I move property multiple times, or leave the country. Do you think it's worth it for peace of mind?

Absolutely NOT.  Don't be that person. Please.

All it takes is an email each time you move.

Did you miss that I said there won't be a court claim because Smart Parking don't sue?

Sadly, it's UK victims rolling over and paying the scammers out of misguided fear, that has caused it to become a £billion rogue industry.

I didn't spend 3 years since 2020, contributing to dozens of meetings and making multiple detailed submissions (all unpaid) to assist the Government to change the law on private parking, just to come here and tell people to pay the scam I'm helping to end!

What happened when you complained to the landowner? Don't be put off by their website.

Umkomaas

SamiamOo said:

Considering paying so I don't have to worry about this in years time, or if I move property multiple times, or leave the country. Do you think it's worth it for peace of mind?

Don't be daft!  You have peace of mind, it's just Smart Parking scurrying about, not someone like ParkingEye or UKCPM!

SamiamOo

Landowner didn't reply, although I'm unsure if the establishment owns the lands (Any good ways to check who does?)

Makes sense, I won't pay. Thanks for your help. 

Coupon-mad

SamiamOo said:

Landowner didn't reply, although I'm unsure if the establishment owns the lands (Any good ways to check who does?)

Makes sense, I won't pay. Thanks for your help. 

Great!  Don't fund the scam.  DON'T sponsor it!

Help us bring the worst excesses down.

One favour please:

We need you - as a genuine PPC victim of aggression, sharp practice and an 'extortion' attempt to add £70 - to respond robustly to the Public Consultation on the level of parking charges and banning of the false added DRA 'fee' that too many honest motorists currently fall victim to.

It will need consumer input (powerful voices) but change is afoot. It's taken about 5 years to get to this stage (this is the work I've been involved in):
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6333036/breaking-news-government-has-announced-the-statutory-code-of-practice-and-enforcement-framework/p1

And then the industry threw victims' money at it and blocked and delayed it - explained here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79310609/#Comment_79310609

Please now Bookmark BOTH threads and set up email alerts on your posting profile, so that you get an email alert when we post there, as we will, once the Public Consultation opens.

...anticipated in a few weeks...

...July we think.

We need people like you and your driving family & friends to respond in high numbers!

I am sure you want your voice heard to stop this happening again and by mid-Summer, you'll have been annoyed by a £170 threatogram or two.