APCOA fine - App failure - please help

Charles0987

Newbie here, does anyone have any pointers on how to fight APCOA parking charge when tech is at fault? I park at the station all the time and the app has never failed me till now. I even moved money over on the day to cover travel, I remember paying for it on the app as I always do but this time it didn’t go through, thought nothing of it as I never had a failed payment screen. Then 2 weeks later had a fine saying I hadn’t paid. Please help, I know I did it but have no way of proving it. So frustrating as it’s a failure on the app 🤦‍♀️

Umkomaas

Is this a parking charge notice, or a penalty charge notice?

Coupon-mad

You don't fight APCOA. No need.  And you certainly don't pay them or worry.

Search the forum for:

APCOA Penalty times out 6 months

Charles0987

It’s a parking charge notice. Thanks coupon-mad I’ll have a look. 

Charles0987

I’ve searched for the ‘APCOA Penalty times out 6 months’ and read/re-read the blue template, but nothing there about app failure. I’ve read some other threads which APCOA come back and say I’m responsible for making payment. Which I thought I had. Surely they are responsible for maintaining their app works?

Also I tried to appeal online but I had an email & letter to say the appeal had come out blank so to write to them within 14 days (whilst I was away) so already late I take it… do I need to wait till 28 days after I receive each letter/correspondence. Should I write to them as suggested or find a complaints email?

Help! This is all so confusing even after reading hundreds of threads 😭

Coupon-mad

Charles0987 said:

It’s a parking charge notice.

Are you sure?

Not a station car park then?

Not a Penalty Notice?

This is not confusing as long as we know whether you have a Penalty Notice or a Parking Charge Notice. They are different.

But you said it was a station, where we know APCOA issue PENALTY Notices.

Of course you can't wait 28 days from every letter if you merely got a random one telling you to write in within 14 days.

Charles0987

It definitely says parking charge notice on all correspondence, but it was a station car park (hanborough) 

Coupon-mad

On the Notice itself? OK.

So just do what you see on every non-penalty APCOA thread about appeals.  

For example, reading any Airport APCOA thread shows you how easy this is to win for a keeper who doesn't say who was driving.

Charles0987

Just to update I posted to APCOA and the charge has been cancelled using the blue template. You guys are legends. Thank you so much 🎉

Coupon-mad

Charles0987 said:

Just to update I posted to APCOA and the charge has been cancelled using the blue template. You guys are legends. Thank you so much 🎉

Great news!

Easy when you know how with an easy one like APCOA who don't use the POFA.

mrgobby

Had exactly the same experience, with the same thing and in same place. Really very annoying as installed the app at the time of visit because there is no other way to pay and paid it or thought so as the app said 'paid' but it turns out it wasn't and you then have no proof you did it and first thing we knew was a Parking Charge Notice letter in the post to the registered keeper with couple photos showing car entry and exiting and stating an alleged contravention of use of a private car park without a valid payment/permit and saying breach of terms and conditions of use of the car park and signs are clearly displayed throughout the area showing the terms and conditions. So just looking for the blue template now! Can someone confirm it is this one below that I found on the newbee ? 

Re PCN number:

I dispute your 'parking charge', as the keeper of the vehicle. I deny any liability or contractual agreement and I will be making a complaint about your predatory conduct to your client landowner.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn. Since your PCN is a vague template, I require an explanation of the allegation and your evidence. You must include a close up actual photograph of the sign you contend was at the location on the material date as well as your images of the vehicle.

If the allegation concerns a PDT machine, the data supplied in response to this appeal must include the record of payments made - showing partial VRNs - and an explanation of the reason for the PCN, because your Notice does not explain it.

If the allegation involves an alleged overstay of minutes, your evidence must include the actual grace period agreed by the landowner.