UKPC charge for not parking within the lines - what can I expect?

Diorama08ac

Hi all
i parked in a retail park and did not park fully within the space so I have received a NTK letter from Uk parking control. 

I did not see any signs, although I am sure there are some. I will go back and check though. 

I have read the newbies thread and I have also read a large number of threads and I know that the general concensus is to not pay, appeal and you will likely not have to pay. 

I have read that the likely process is UKPC>legal company>court>possible discontinuation. This sounds like a stressful few months to me. I have enough stress in my life at the moment and I don’t need any more. No matter how ridiculous the charge, I feel that I would rather pay the money than go through the process described in most threads. 

Any guidance to convince me one way or the other would be appreciated. 

By the way, I have already contacted the retailer to ask for a cancellation. That’s all so far. 

Thanks. 

Coupon-mad

Same advice as here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6468896/ukpc-pcn-ntk#latest

Try PLAN A first.

It is very disappointing for us when people want to pay a scam for an easier life, even though you know you will pay nothing.

I've written a template appeal for everyone.

I've written a template defence for everyone.

I've attended every single virtual Government meeting since 2020, in my own time and for no payment (some lasting three hours) in order to get the law changed, and the new statutory Code of Practice in place next year to regulate this industry, end rogue practice and cap parking charges.  For part of that time I was working full time (only now retired) but bust a gut to stop the rot of ex-clampers like UKPC.

@KeithP helps everyone with a claim by providing bespoke defence deadlines.

@Umkomaas shows everyone with a DCBLegal claim that they always discontinue and you'd pay nothing at all.

Everything is really easy copy & paste.

I don't see any dilemma.  Try PLAN A first.


"what can I expect?"

For the retailer to cancel it, hopefully. If you are polite but insistent.  Give that a go.

Don't bother with POPLA but do send an appeal to UKPC saying the lines are badly faded.  State that if they want to proceed to court, if they think they have a case, they must do so this year or you will consider the appeal accepted.  Further, they are not to send your data to third party debt crawlers and must not add the extortionate £70 fake fee/damages that the DLUHC intend to stop.

Takes 5 minutes of your time.

Then they will reject it and you will get letters demanding £170!  Just ignore them.

You already know from your reading how simple it is to beat them when they try a claim  Adapting one paragraph on a simple defence template.

Then one more form, 2 months later, selecting your local court.

DCBLegal discontinue. Scam over. No biggie.

fisherjim

I did not see any signs, although I am sure there are some.

That's just daft if you think about it.

Diorama08ac

Thanks for the replies. 

@Coupon-mad can you 100% guarantee that: 1. It will be over in 2 months. 2.  I will definitely win my defence? 

Ps the photo provided by UKPC shows that the lines were not at all faded. I don’t see how writing that can help against that evidence. Unless you know better….

Diorama08ac

Also, there were plenty of signs. All very visible lol. 

fisherjim

Diorama08ac said:

Also, there were plenty of signs. All very visible lol. 

That doesn't mean they conform to the BPA COP or are adequate though!

Diorama08ac

I can provide photos of the signs if that helps. 

KeithP

Diorama08ac said:

Thanks for the replies. 

@Coupon-mad can you 100% guarantee that: 1. It will be over in 2 months. 2.  I will definitely win my defence? 

Ps the photo provided by UKPC shows that the lines were not at all faded. I don’t see how writing that can help against that evidence. Unless you know better….

You are asking too much.
Of course no-one can offer 100% guarantees.

No-one has suggested that 'it will be over in 2 months', have they?

Diorama08ac

Yes. Coupon mad said exactly that. 

“Even though you know you will pay nothing”. 

“Then one more form, 2 months later, selecting your local court.

DCBLegal discontinue. Scam over. No biggie.”

If all claims are discontinued, how do either company make any money?

Coupon-mad

No I didn't say that.

Sorry if you misunderstood. There's a 2 month gap between defence and a simple form.

Then (later, at WS stage) they discontinue (sometime in 2024).

How do they make any money?!  Wow...

They make millions per annum!

From the hundreds of thousands of ill-advised victims who stupidly pay just because they are getting scary letters and from the 90% of the hundred thousand claims DCBLegal reportedly file per year that aren't defended!

PLUS 40% of claims are about multiple PCNs and they do go to hearings for 4 figure cases.  They win some of those.

DCBLegal DO NOT GO TO HEARINGS for single PCN cases where the Defendant has done everything we coach them to do.

KeithP

But she said "one more form" - in two months time - when you select your local court.

After that a date for a hearing will be set and you will be required to file a Witness Statement and evidence.

A couple of weeks before the hearing - we are now well into next year - DCBL will most likely discontinue, but as I said earlier, no-one can offer 100% guarantees.