Parking in the wrong 'Travis Street Car Park', Manchester

csnewton8

Hi All, I recently paid for 24 hour parking on the Just Park website at "Travis Street Parking" in Manchester. I used the post code on the Just Park website on my Sat Nav and arrived on Travis Street, but I accidentally parked in the wrong car park, which is also called "Travis Steet Car Park". It turns out that the car park operated by Just Park is called 'Travis Street Surface Car Park" and there is separate car park on the same street, namely " Travis Street Car Park" which is operated by CarParkSecurities. The two car parks are located very close to each other and I made a genuine mistake by parking in the wrong one. I'm just wondering if I have any grounds for appeal on this? What's worse is that I appealed the PCN with CPS and their email response (they rejected my appeal of course!) was sent in to my spam folder, and so I can no longer appeal to the IAS as it has been more than 21 days. CPS are now chasing me for £160 which is a crazy amount considering that an honest mistake was made (not that they take this in to consideration of course!). Do I have any options to appeal this further or do I just pay up and learn from my mistake? Thanks 

Fruitcake

Plan A is always a complaint to the landowner and your MP, and it is never too late to do so.

The IAS is a kangaroo court so unless you have cast iron proof that you are not liable, then you are advised to ignore it.

Ignore powerless debt collectors.

If you get a court claim then come back to this thread. Other than that, you are in ignore mode.

Grizebeck

no one who comes here pays when they know what they are doing
advice above is correct 

csnewton8

As this was a private car park and not a hospital or supermarket, is it still worth complaining to the land owner? Car Park Securities may own the land directly, but I would need to check. If CPS own the land then this option wouldn't be possible. Where is best to check who owns the land?

Is it still advisable to ignore until a claim court is received even in circumstances whereby I have made a genuine mistake. From what I have read online, I don't think I have a good case to appeal by parking in a car park that has a similar name. 

Given the circumstances, if I ignore and wait for a claims court (if it ever comes to this) what options do I have to take this further or would I definitely need to go to a small claims court?

Unfortunately I am relying on CPS to revoke the PCN based on the fact that an honest mistake was made, but they won't give this consideration and I don't think this would stand up in a court either

csnewton8

CPS are members of the IPC 

Fruitcake

CPS won't own the land.
Mitigating circumstances/genuine mistakes won't work.

I've given you my advice. It's up to you whether or not you follow it. Asking whether it's still worth following that advice won't change the answer.

As often suggested by regular poster Umkomaas.

SOME IDEAS ON DETERMINING WHO OWNS THE LAND: 

1. Google searches

2. If a retail park, check on any signage which lists the on-site outlets

3. Ask retailers on the site if there is a managing agent

4. Ask retailers on the site to whom do they pay rent

5. Contact the local authority and ask who pays the non-domestic/business rate for the car park (some councils have a spreadsheet on their website)

6. Contact the local Valuation Office and ask if they know. They often have a website which might provide the information 

7. Contact The Land Registry and for around £3 they should be able to provide definitive detail

8. If you haven't already done so, give us the name of the car park/site/location, we may have seen other cases there. 

Grizebeck

Your worrying to much
It's a minnow parking firm
Who said anything about a court claim
Do a land registry map search. Fee is £3

Coupon-mad

Or just ignore them.  There's no appeal anyway and you will get £170 demands but everyone ignores those COMPLETELY.

Come back if they try a small claim.

csnewton8

What are the options if and when CPS try to make a small claim? 

Coupon-mad

As shown in post 2 of the NEWBIES thread.  

csnewton8

I paid the £3 to try and find out who the land owner is but there are no details available. The Car park in question is Travis Street Car Park on the corner of Travis Street/Adair Street and St. Andrews Street in Manchester.