Initial Parking in Halifax - PCN

Valerie1991

Hi all

Brief background: PCN issued very late Aug 2023 for overstaying by 24 mins. Appeal sent to Initial Parking as per the forum guide / immediately rejected / appeal sent to POPLA as per then also rejected. Raised all the relevant points - signage / authority / no driver identified etc. Also threw in a threat for an equality act claim on an in the alternate basis given that a. The app did not work and there was a witness statement to support this and b. Additional time was needed to meet the needs of infant passengers (witness statement provided). POPLA have definitely got the law wrong in areas.

24 mins was comprised of 10 minutes trying to pay (app faulty) and not being given an option to pay from a previous time and about 8 minutes of trying to get babies in the car. 

Received the standard debt recovery letter from Debt Recovery Plus. I hadn't read the forum (stupidly) so phoned to enquire if they would engage in settlement discussions to be told no. Fine. Driver still not identified. 

Plan is to ignore, ignore, ignore. However, my other half is very twitchy and wanted to know what the likelihood is of actually entering into court proceedings. Obviously if they do, they will have to engage in the Pre-Action Protocol and the expectation of trying to settle etc. but just so I have a rough idea. 

Thank you!

Hughes Corporation Building in Halifax. Trying to find contact details for the land owner (now have the contracts etc) and will also be writing to my MP including the equality act point

Any other thoughts gratefully received!

Fruitcake

As far as I know, Initial Parking have to date not initiated any court claims, but since they have six years to do so, never say never.

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

Never, ever 'phone a parking number or any of their agents. Put the 'phone down on them if they 'phone you and block their number.

Other than complaints, you are now in ignore mode unless you get a letter of/before claim or a court claim.

If you move home in the next six years then send a rectification notice to the DPO of Initial instructing them to erase your personal data and replace it with your current address for service. You will need to include non photo proof of ID/address with the instruction.

Valerie1991

Thanks @Fruitcake! Will be doing the complaints. And will definitely not be phoning again.

Coupon-mad

Valerie1991 said:

Thanks @Fruitcake! Will be doing the complaints. And will definitely not be phoning again.

There's nothing to worry about.

They are already trying to get £170 and in the highly unlikely event of you losing a parking case, guess what the Judge would order?  

You'd pay about the same! Typically £185.

No CCJ.  No sitting on the norty step.

And almost no-one here loses.  Keeping them appraised of your address for 6 years, so that you see all the letters is your only concern.

barkerbarker

Valerie1991 said:

Hi all

Brief background: PCN issued very late Aug 2023 for overstaying by 24 mins. Appeal sent to Initial Parking as per the forum guide / immediately rejected / appeal sent to POPLA as per then also rejected. Raised all the relevant points - signage / authority / no driver identified etc. Also threw in a threat for an equality act claim on an in the alternate basis given that a. The app did not work and there was a witness statement to support this and b. Additional time was needed to meet the needs of infant passengers (witness statement provided). POPLA have definitely got the law wrong in areas.

24 mins was comprised of 10 minutes trying to pay (app faulty) and not being given an option to pay from a previous time and about 8 minutes of trying to get babies in the car. 

Received the standard debt recovery letter from Debt Recovery Plus. I hadn't read the forum (stupidly) so phoned to enquire if they would engage in settlement discussions to be told no. Fine. Driver still not identified. 

Plan is to ignore, ignore, ignore. However, my other half is very twitchy and wanted to know what the likelihood is of actually entering into court proceedings. Obviously if they do, they will have to engage in the Pre-Action Protocol and the expectation of trying to settle etc. but just so I have a rough idea. 

Thank you!

Hughes Corporation Building in Halifax. Trying to find contact details for the land owner (now have the contracts etc) and will also be writing to my MP including the equality act point

Any other thoughts gratefully received!

Hi there,

I have had the EXACT same issue with these scum bags initial parking. They claimed we have over stayed our ticket by 11 mins. When in fact you get 10 mins grace period once your ticket ends and we left within 9 mins. They declined our appeal and said the other 2 mins it took for us to buy the ticket from their faulty machine and you can't back track on ticket time.

Popla then says its 10 mins grace time all together, not once the ticket ends. Which is not what the BPA law suggests and then since declined my appeal. They then changed the accusation of being 2 mins over my parking time not 11 mins - ridiculous!!!! Then I heard nothing from Inital Parking only to now have a debt collecter letter of £170 come thought my post. I am absolutely furious.

I will join you on speaking with Hughes Corporation Building in Halifax as we went to visit the Piece Hall and now I would never visit again given the horrible experience I have had!

Umkomaas

@barkerbarker - Just ignore debt collectors - see NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, fourth post.  Come back on a new thread of your own if you receive a Letter Of/Before Claim from the PPC's solicitors, or a County Court Claim via the Northampton CNBC.

Coupon-mad

barkerbarker said:

Valerie1991 said:

Hi all

Brief background: PCN issued very late Aug 2023 for overstaying by 24 mins. Appeal sent to Initial Parking as per the forum guide / immediately rejected / appeal sent to POPLA as per then also rejected. Raised all the relevant points - signage / authority / no driver identified etc. Also threw in a threat for an equality act claim on an in the alternate basis given that a. The app did not work and there was a witness statement to support this and b. Additional time was needed to meet the needs of infant passengers (witness statement provided). POPLA have definitely got the law wrong in areas.

24 mins was comprised of 10 minutes trying to pay (app faulty) and not being given an option to pay from a previous time and about 8 minutes of trying to get babies in the car. 

Received the standard debt recovery letter from Debt Recovery Plus. I hadn't read the forum (stupidly) so phoned to enquire if they would engage in settlement discussions to be told no. Fine. Driver still not identified. 

Plan is to ignore, ignore, ignore. However, my other half is very twitchy and wanted to know what the likelihood is of actually entering into court proceedings. Obviously if they do, they will have to engage in the Pre-Action Protocol and the expectation of trying to settle etc. but just so I have a rough idea. 

Thank you!

Hughes Corporation Building in Halifax. Trying to find contact details for the land owner (now have the contracts etc) and will also be writing to my MP including the equality act point

Any other thoughts gratefully received!

Hi there,

I have had the EXACT same issue with these scum bags initial parking. They claimed we have over stayed our ticket by 11 mins. When in fact you get 10 mins grace period once your ticket ends and we left within 9 mins. They declined our appeal and said the other 2 mins it took for us to buy the ticket from their faulty machine and you can't back track on ticket time.

Popla then says its 10 mins grace time all together, not once the ticket ends. Which is not what the BPA law suggests and then since declined my appeal. They then changed the accusation of being 2 mins over my parking time not 11 mins - ridiculous!!!! Then I heard nothing from Inital Parking only to now have a debt collecter letter of £170 come thought my post. I am absolutely furious.

I will join you on speaking with Hughes Corporation Building in Halifax as we went to visit the Piece Hall and now I would never visit again given the horrible experience I have had!

No need to be furious. You won't be paying.  Please DO NOT PHONE the debt collector.