Apcoa Fine

PickledGherkin

Hi. Can anyone advise me please.

The driver of my car mistyped the car registration into the Apcoa app (one digit incorrect) and parked at an Apcoa railway station car park. So I believe a PCN will be coming my way. 

Unfortunately, when the driver realised the error, they contacted Apcoa to try to correct the reg. Surprise surprise Apcoa was completely unhelpful and they advised the records can’t be changed. So the driver has admitted driving/parking my car on that day in writing. 

Is there any way I/the driver can appeal/get out of paying the PCN? Genuine mistake in typing the car reg so seems completely unfair. 

Thank you.

Fruitcake

It is not a fine.

Did the driver give their name and address? It doesn't really matter if they did because all they have to do is ignore it and let it default to the keeper who can't be held liable because APCOA don't use PoFA compliant NTKs, and byelaws apply so the keeper can never be held liable.

Just wait and see what happens. APCOA are benign and don't do court, so you can safely ignore this if you wish. If the keeper moves within six years then they should send a rectification notice to the APCOA DPO, but otherwise nothing will likely come of this.

Coupon-mad

You can ignore APCOA safely.

PickledGherkin

Thanks. I was the driver and admitted it in writing to Apcoa. So can I just safely ignore it?

Fruitcake

Yes, ignore it, but don't ignore PCNs if you get them from another PPC, and don't reveal the driver's identity.

Giant_Hogweed

Coupon-mad said:

You can ignore APCOA safely.

I wish I'd come across this earlier, we've just parked several times at an APCOA car park whilst on holiday in Devon at Dawlish railway station. Paid every time, no hourly rate so £6.90 for the day PLUS 20 PENCE 'CONVENIENCE' FEE!
What is that all about, and are they really that inept we could have parked for nothing? Need to know for future visits

nopcns

No one is advising that you don't pay the required tariff for using the car park. That would be unfair to the landowner. What we advise on is how to deal with any speculative invoices from the unregulated private parking companies that try to extort money for alleged breaches of contract. That is a different matter.

Coupon-mad

Giant_Hogweed said:

Coupon-mad said:

You can ignore APCOA safely.

I wish I'd come across this earlier, we've just parked several times at an APCOA car park whilst on holiday in Devon at Dawlish railway station. Paid every time, no hourly rate so £6.90 for the day PLUS 20 PENCE 'CONVENIENCE' FEE!
What is that all about, and are they really that inept we could have parked for nothing? Need to know for future visits

No. Absolute hard NO.  Awful plan!

That's the opposite of what we do here.  No-one is saying don't pay the landowner's fee.

People who do that actually CAUSE parking firms to have an excuse to exist. Please don't twist what we say (even inadvertently) to take from it a terrible idea that you can park for free. Of course not.

Giant_Hogweed

Coupon-mad said:

Giant_Hogweed said:

Coupon-mad said:

You can ignore APCOA safely.

I wish I'd come across this earlier, we've just parked several times at an APCOA car park whilst on holiday in Devon at Dawlish railway station. Paid every time, no hourly rate so £6.90 for the day PLUS 20 PENCE 'CONVENIENCE' FEE!
What is that all about, and are they really that inept we could have parked for nothing? Need to know for future visits

No. Absolute hard NO.  Awful plan!

That's the opposite of what we do here.  No-one is saying don't pay the landowner's fee.

People who do that actually CAUSE parking firms to have an excuse to exist. Please don't twist what we say (even inadvertently) to take from it a terrible idea that you can park for free. Of course not.

OK, it was just a thought

Coupon-mad

Tantamount to theft though, IMHO.

fisherjim

Giant_Hogweed said:

Coupon-mad said:

You can ignore APCOA safely.

I wish I'd come across this earlier, we've just parked several times at an APCOA car park whilst on holiday in Devon at Dawlish railway station. Paid every time, no hourly rate so £6.90 for the day PLUS 20 PENCE 'CONVENIENCE' FEE!
What is that all about, and are they really that inept we could have parked for nothing? Need to know for future visits

If you tried that on a regular basis there is a remote chance that the landowner could use their powers under Railway Bye-laws and see you in the Magistrates Court  and you wouldn't want that!