Charge for stopping in traffic Bristol Airport

1505grandad

Pedantic observation:-

"Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan."

per website:-

"Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan"

Boudouche1

Thank you @1505grandad . I will change my future correspondence to include the correct name of the company that owns Bristol Airport

Fruitcake

I would have used, "There was no signage ..."

All the others admit something.

Boudouche1

Thank you @Fruitcake

Boudouche1

Good morning @Fruitcake @B789 @GrannyKate @Coupon-mad @1505grandad. I have received a reply from the Vehicle Control Services (VCS) to my appeal about the Penalty Charge for stopping in traffic at Bristol airport.

 

They state that the responsibility for this Charge is with the driver of the vehicle, but they cannot find out who it was from my appeal. They ask the driver to provide the name/address and appeal directly OR provide a signed/dated statement on behalf of the driver authorising me to appeal on their behalf (this statement would also include driver's name/address).

 

Alternatively, they want me to pay the PCN – they have, “as a gesture of goodwill”, gave me 14 more days to do so.

 

Having read the comments on this Forum, including the earlier one from @B789 , it feels like VCS are trying to trick me into revealing the identity of the driver so that they can pursue them in court.

 

They say they won’t reply if I do not adhere to the appeals process and provide Driver’s identity – yet their own appeals page provides the option to appeal as a Registered Keeper. How do I get VCS to listen to the substance of my appeal without revealing the identity of the driver? What will be my next steps please?

YankeeBrit

They are trying to trick you. Think about it... they have no idea who the driver is. You are the RK but are under no legal obligation to name the driver. Let them figure out what to do.

You could just email them and repeat the point that as the RK, you are not obliged to name the driver and will not be doing so. Point out that in order to save themselves time and money, they should now cease contacting you and should they refuse to do so, they should cut out the useless debt crawlers they use and go straight to a county court claim where a judge will spank them for abusing the process.

Boudouche1

@YankeeBrit , thank you for your comment. I feel that they are trying to trick me, but do not know how to proceed. There is no option of replying to the email sent by VCS, only to go through the appeal on myparkingspace.co.uk.

Umkomaas

How do I get VCS to listen to the substance of my appeal without revealing the identity of the driver? What will be my next steps please?

Haven't you already been through this in your previous VCS Bristol airport stopping charge in the last few months?  How different is this one?  What different advice are you looking for?

Fruitcake

Of course they are trying to trick you, but you aren't going to let them.

Have you appealed to VCS? If so, then do nothing until you get a rejection and an IAS code. You then have the option of ignoring everything except a court claim, or making an IAS appeal. The latter is not normally recommended, but I believe you good have grounds for appeal, and by doing so you would have "tried to narrow the issue and avoid court" even if it fails.
I think they would be stupid to try court, but they are bullish and will try to intimidate you in the hope that you will give in, which of course you won't. 

Alternatively, you could respond and simply tell them, you were not driving, you will not be naming the driver and they have no right to know it, then re-iterate all the previous points about frustration of contract etcetera, stating they might as well cancel now because you both know they would lose in court since their own photos (have you backed them up somewhere safe by the way?) proves your case for you.

Boudouche1

@Fruitcake , I have already appealed to VCS, and this is the result of my appeal. VCS are now asking me to appel again but revealing the driver's identity. Shall I simply repeat my earlier statements from the first appeal? If I go with the IAS, don't I have to reveal the identity of the driver?

@Umkomaas , you are right, VCS are my favourite client . The previous case is not resolved yet. This case relates to the car stopping in traffic due to the broken down vehicle, the earlier one relates to the penalty charge issued for stopping outside the VCS's area of responsiblity.