UKPS "Parking Charge Notice" - Parked in disabled bay

RustySpoons

Hi all,

We have just received a "Parking Charge Notice" from UKPS for parking in a disabled bay, the letter is dated 13/06/2023 and the incident date is the 04/06/2023.
They are requesting that we pay £60 within 14 days at a discounted rate or £100 after that.

It was a very warm day and both of us were very hungry after visiting the garden centre so we decided to get some food on the way home, we went to Taco Bell, parked up, went and got food, then returned to the car to eat it.

I am physically disabled and have a valid blue badge, the problem is I am also neurodivergent and extremely forgetful, I have assistance from advocates and autistic minds. 

When we parked up I had forgotten to put the badge up in the car, but I am almost certain I put it up when we sat back in the car to eat our food.

We then received this letter, I have looked at the photographs on their website and it shows us arriving and then leaving the car to get food, but it does not show the part where we were parked up eating our food when I'm certain I put the badge up.

I have been back to the site to check signage and read what it says, but where we parked there were no clear views of any signage and the one that is closest to the bay we parked in was facing sideways. 

I have attached a picture of the "Parking Charge Notice" and some photographs of the site.

I am not just trying to get out of this charge I feel it is unfair as I do hold a valid Blue Badge and that I am very forgetful due to being neurodivergent. Due to my disability I am unable to work so have no income and certainly no disposible money. I am extremely stressed and worried about this situation.

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Le_Kirk

I note that the PCN does not state that it was issued because you did not display a Blue Badge - even though Blue Badges hold no sway in private car parks - just that you "parked in a manner whereby.........."  Have you read the NEWBIE sticky where it is written that your first step is Plan A - a complaint to the retailer that their tame parking monkeys are disadvantaging customers and issuing PCNs to genuine patrons.

B789

The third paragraph does mention the reason as not displaying a blue badge. However, the PCN is not PoFA compliant so no mentioning who was driving unless there's something on the back of it.

Umkomaas

There is no evidence in the two photos on the NtK that a BB was not displayed. Visit their website, going as if to pay (obv don't!), and see what other photos they may have of the parking event, but given the NtK photos seem to have come from a CCTV camera above the accessible bays, I doubt they have much else.

Coupon-mad

I'd send a pic of the Blue Badge saying that their CCTV 'evidence' is appalling and only shows the car at a distance, on arrival. Say of course the Blue Badge was displayed whilst parked and here's a copy, in case they need to go to Specsavers.

Do not say it might not have been immediately displayed.

Do not talk about the POFA 

DO ADMIT TO DRIVING (they have CCTV so no point pretending).

Demand ALL the CCTV footage under your GDPR SAR rights. Demand ALL OF IT.

Say you want the entire moving image CCTV clip of you and your car throughout the stay until the car left.  Say that if they have deleted the rest, and just cherry-picked a couple of early arrival still images, they may as well throw in the towel now because this would never get past a judge.  The outgoing (consumer failing) 'IAS' will not be tried because it is well-documented to support the view that it is a self-serving, futile farce.  So you'll see them in court and will be complaining to your MP immediately.

Then when they inevitably (IPC AOS stylee) reject the farce of 'appeal' and refuse to show the images, just COMPLETELY ignore it, AND ignore all the £170 threatograms that follow.

Do nothing at that point, except for 3 complaints:

Your constituency MP
The Landowner
The ICO.

RustySpoons

Thank you all for your replies, 

I called the store that I was parked in front of and although they were sympathetic and helpful they have connection with the parking company so gave me a number for the Landlord. I called them but was given a mobile number for someone by the Landlord which doesn't answer and I have idea who the number belongs to.

I will try and call it again today.

Regarding the driver, the car belongs to my partner and she was driving. So the parking charge was addressed to her. 

I will contact the parking company and request the whole video as suggested.

From what I've read my Blue Badge isn't even relevant in a private car park and the signage that states about it being displayed is not visible from that parking space as per the photos I put up, is that applicable in this situation?

Umkomaas

I will contact** the parking company and request the whole video as suggested.

You won't be entitled to that, it's your partner (against whose name the charge has been raised) who will have the entitlement. You can do the letter, but in her name. She will say that you as the passenger on the day have a BB, attaching a copy of it as proof. 

** I hope you don't mean 'telephone them'?  Nope, everything in writing. Never phone a private parking firm. 

Coupon-mad

Everything has to be done in your wife's name.

She uses the wording I gave her (robust and assertive including the bit about Specsavers and specifically referencing her GDPR right to see the CCTV footage in full) and she attaches your Blue Badge - but covering your first name so they don't try to pursue you.