CPM PCN & Sunday Parking

DominicM

I have received a PCN from CPM, trying to relieve me of £100 for overstaying my time in a car park in Hitchin. 

I kept my paid for ticket and am waiting on a friend to send me a photo of the signage in the car park as it must have changed since Google Street view took it a few years ago, I am pretty convinced that it stated parking was free after 6PM on a Sunday.

I thought that PCN’s were now limited to £50?

My ticket was purchased @ 16:27 on a Sunday and I paid for 2 hours parking at a cost of £3.00. The paid for ticket shows an expiry time of 17:59 which tallies with my recollection of parking being free on a Sunday after 6PM. I am being fined for leaving the car park @ 18:44. 

I have no intention of paying the fine and from reading other comments about using the CPM appeals portal it sounds like a waste of time. Google reviews of the car park are one long stream of invective with a recurrent theme being that CPM do not respond to any attempts at contact.

Given that I paid for 2 hours parking and my ticket only entitled me to 1 hour and 32 minutes do I have any claim against them for not honouring their contract in terms of me not getting the full 2 hours allowance I had paid for?

Fruitcake

It is not a fine.

What is the name of the PPC please? I can think of three with the initials CPM.

Plan A is always a complaint from the keeper to the landowner and the keeper's MP.

Plan B is an appeal using the template in blue text you will find in the sticky Announcement for NEWBIES, then read up on what to do if that is rejected.

Where did the alleged event occur? It may have cropped up here before.

Was the NTK PoFA compliant? Compare the NTK with the PoFA 2012 available online and linked from the NEWBIES to determine if it is capable of holding the keeper liable.

You are right that you need up to date photos of the site and signage, but don't miss the appeal deadline whilst you wait.

DominicM

Thanks for your wise words. The company that issued the PCN is UK Car Park Management of Lancing, BN15 5BR.

How do I find out who the landowner is? I have a friend who I was visiting who is going to take photos of the signs etc. The keepers MP, I'm assuming I am the keeper as the PCN was issued to me, my MP does not represent the constituency for Hitchin, I'm guessing that is irrelevant.

I will make use of the Template when I have the information I need.

The offence occured at The Arcade, Hitchin, SG5 1EG on Sunday 3rd December, there was no windscreen ticket, I received the PCN in the post today - I'm impressed at how quickly they have issued me with the PCN. It was issued with photographs of my vehicle. I will check to see if their letter is POFA compliant.

I will provide updates as and when they become available.

KeithP

DominicM said:

The offence occurred at The Arcade, Hitchin, SG5 1EG...

The entrance to that car park has no signs, or at least, had no signs in September 2020 when the Google Street View camera car last visited...

Are there entrance signs there now?
The IPC's Code of Practice is very clear in Schedule 1 on what the entrance signs must look like with examples.

Those signs on the wall to the left of the entrance are maybe worth a closer look.
Particularly the lower one here...

Note the name across the top of that sign - The Arcade Company Ltd.
Is that the name of the landowner - I don't know.
Unfortunately, Companies House doesn't appear to list a company with that exact name - plenty using those words but with other words too. A spoof sign perhaps?

[the images above are direct links to GSV - click on them for the bigger picture]

Coupon-mad

UKCPM aren't really from Lancing.  But they have a Worthing office.  Ex-clamper firm.

DominicM

Good news. I submitted my appeal on Wednesday and wasn’t expecting either a swift or favourable outcome. Had an email on Friday saying my appeal was upheld and my fine cancelled. Wonders never cease.

Coupon-mad

DominicM said:

Good news. I submitted my appeal on Wednesday and wasn’t expecting either a swift or favourable outcome. Had an email on Friday saying my appeal was upheld and my fine cancelled. Wonders never cease.

 Very good news. What did you put?

DominicM

I simply explained that the car park signs showed a flat fee for all day parking, that I had paid the fee as advertised along with a copy of my ticket showing purchase time and expiry time and a photo as posted in this thread of the charges levied. I think they were trying it on and am concerned that some people will pay the fine even when it is not correctly issued.

Half_way

Well done, if this is in your local area you might want to warn others, and point them to this site.

 One thing to be aware of with privater parking companies is that its not a fine or a penalty and no offence has taken place in the car park, it may seem pedantic but when dealing with parking companies the wording is important.

Another point to remember and hammer home is that the landowner is jointly and severally liable for the actions of its agents , such as the parking company