Civil Enforcement, Parking paid, PCN received - HEARING SCHEDULED

SMus

Hi Everyone,

I hope you're well and able to enjoy some time off.

I'm here to write as I'm desperate and don't know exactly what to do with my specific situation.
I have been searching similar threads but couldn't find anything that is exactly like mine.

my case it's this at the moment:

1. I paid and displayed the receipt for the duration of my vehicle’s stay in the carpark. I still have the physical parking receipt.
2. I never received a letter with the original Parking Charge Notice.
3. The first letter I received was a reminder notification issued on 8/6/2023, stating that the PCN was issued on 15/5/2023 and the circumstances stated were “Payment not made in accordance with notified terms”. 
4. This means I had no way to appeal as the 28 days of the PCN issue date had already lapsed when I received the reminder, and I was also not made aware of what terms I did not comply with. Therefore, I do not have a appeal PIN code
5. The parking space is owned by a private and none of the shop around it has to do with it(eg Sainsbury's, Aldi and other shops)
6. I complained to POPLA and BPA but they can't do anything without the PIN code.

I am a bit overwhelmed and not sure what I can do from here.

I really appreciate anyone is taking the time to read.

Many thanks!

KeithP

Hello and welcome.

Where exactly did this alleged parking event take place?
Has this place featured on this forum before?

Coupon-mad

And does your receipt show a typo in the reg?

SMus

Hi, thank you both for takin gate time to answer.

The parking space is 237-259 Greenwich High Road, London and is operated by Civil Enforcement. 

I found several other post about it and so far the best option seems to be to write to Sara Roberts, Head of AOS at the BPA but I want to be sure that this is the way to go, and mostly how to do it properly.

No there is no typo in my reg number on the receipt.

thank you again!

Coupon-mad

You have to complain to the parking firm first, then you can escalate the complaint to AOS@britishparking.co.uk if you think that CEL breached a clause in the self-serving BPA CoP.

Hmmmm...did you pay for your entire time on site? Did it take you a while to pay?

SMus

Hi again! yes it took a while to pay as the machine wasn't allowing card payments and there was a long queue. About 12 minutes standing on the parking fine and my receipt. Yes I paid until the next day so for the whole duration my stay.

Coupon-mad

SMus said:

Hi again! yes it took a while to pay as the machine wasn't allowing card payments and there was a long queue. About 12 minutes standing on the parking fine and my receipt. Yes I paid until the next day so for the whole duration my stay.

OK so that's the scam reason for the PCN 'not paying quick enough' but you can rebut that by complaining:

- that the machine wasn't accepting card payments and this caused a queue at the machine, and

- no PCN was sent and you will report them to the BPA for this.

Note I said COMPLAIN not appeal.

SMus

Hi cupon-mad, thank you for your help. 

I tried this, they’ve got back to me with this:

While we are unable to directly assist you with your enquiry, with your permission, we can forward your correspondence on to our contact at Civil Enforcement Ltd and ask them to make contact with you and provide you with a copy of the initial Parking Charge Notice.

Shall I allow them to do so or it’s useless? 

Coupon-mad said:

SMus said:

Hi again! yes it took a while to pay as the machine wasn't allowing card payments and there was a long queue. About 12 minutes standing on the parking fine and my receipt. Yes I paid until the next day so for the whole duration my stay.

OK so that's the scam reason for the PCN 'not paying quick enough' but you can rebut that by complaining:

- that the machine wasn't accepting card payments and this caused a queue at the machine, and

- no PCN was sent and you will report them to the BPA for this.

Note I said COMPLAIN not appeal.

Coupon-mad

It's useless in some ways, but allow them to do that and ask them to please:

(a). Use their clout as landholder to ask the parking firm to be reasonable and please cancel this one as a goodwill gesture for a minor issue not the fault of the motorists (the machine wasn't accepting card payments and this caused a queue); and

(b). copy you in so you can use the email trail as evidence that the landholder wanted the PCN cancelled.  In case Civil Enforcement refuse the landowner's request.

SMus

HI Cupon-Mad. thank you again for your help.  

I did as you said and AOS got back to me saying they wouldn't be able to either ask Civil Enforcement to be reasonable and copy me on the email sent to Civil Enforcement. 

Now Cicvil Enforcement got back to me, after receiving the AOS letter, and told me that the reason why I got the fine is because of the 10 mins grace expired (as we knew already). They did't send me a copy of the original fine as requested from AOS but said that they would reduce the fine to £60 if paid in 14 days.

AOS wasn't aware of the 10 minutes expired as I have never received a letter explaining what I was fined for.

Should I now contact AOS complaining about the fact I they did not send me the letter and explaining them about the 10 minutes?

thank you again for your infinite patience and help!

Coupon-mad said:

It's useless in some ways, but allow them to do that and ask them to please:

(a). Use their clout as landholder to ask the parking firm to be reasonable and please cancel this one as a goodwill gesture for a minor issue not the fault of the motorists (the machine wasn't accepting card payments and this caused a queue); and

(b). copy you in so you can use the email trail as evidence that the landholder wanted the PCN cancelled.  In case Civil Enforcement refuse the landowner's request.

Coupon-mad

My suggestion above wasn't for the BPA.