PCNed even though already paid for parking

FlatTyre

Hi,

I parked in Hartfield Road car park in Wimbledon, which is managed by APCOA. Two minutes after parking the car I paid with the RingGo app as shown on all signs around us. I went for our thing and upon return, I found a PCN for (I quote) "Contravrerion Code 83: Parked in a car park without clearly displaying a valid pay and display ticket or voucher or parking clock".

I have the receipt from RingGo and I took photos and all. The time of "observation" was AFTER I paid for the ticket and the RingGo receipt and screenshots on my phone show it. And yes I used location 17303 as per the attached photo. RingoGo receipt shows that too.

I am going to challenge this PCN, but I thought I'd check if this happened to anyone before. If so, what was the outcome?

Worth mentioning that I challenged APCOA just a month ago about a fine and I won my challenge. Do they have me on their "black book" or is that something that does not exist?

Thanks a lot for your input.

Fruitcake

You didn't get a fine from APCOA previously, but well done on beating them.

Plan A is always a complaint from the keeper to the landowner and the keeper's MP. Do not identify the driver, but do complain that the driver paid but the keeper still got a PCN.

Plan B is to appeal using the template in blue text from the sticky Announcement for NEWBIES from the keeper. Add a one liner that their NTK is not PoFA compliant so they cannot hold the keeper liable, therefore they should cancel now to save themselves money.

Separately, complain to APCOA that the driver paid for parking using the app as displayed on signage at the site yet still got a PCN.
Once they have dealt with it, make the same complaint to the BPA.

FlatTyre

Fruitcake said:

You didn't get a fine from APCOA previously, but well done on beating them.

Plan A is always a complaint from the keeper to the landowner and the keeper's MP. Do not identify the driver, but do complain that the driver paid but the keeper still got a PCN.

Plan B is to appeal using the template in blue text from the sticky Announcement for NEWBIES from the keeper. Add a one liner that their NTK is not PoFA compliant so they cannot hold the keeper liable, therefore they should cancel now to save themselves money.

Separately, complain to APCOA that the driver paid for parking using the app as displayed on signage at the site yet still got a PCN.
Once they have dealt with it, make the same complaint to the BPA.

Thanks for the reply. I take it your plans A and B are to go together and not one after the other. A couple of questions, please.

Plan A: I will complain to the borough of Merton which owns the carpark. I guess I will use their general email. Should I attach evidence (scan of the fine and copy of my RingGo receipt)? Or should it be just a general complaint?

Plan B: I am confused here. The appeal would be to APCOA through their website. Are you suggesting that I also send a separate email to complain about the same thing?

Thanks.

FlatTyre

FlatTyre said:

Plan B: I am confused here. The appeal would be to APCOA through their website. Are you suggesting that I also send a separate email to complain about the same thing?

Forget about my question regarding plan B. I mixed up URLs. The appeal would be to the borough and I will email APCOA with a complaint.

Coupon-mad

You paid by RingGo but that's a London Borough of Merton sign.  That is not an APCOA sign offering RingGo.  So you paid for the wrong car park or the street. 

Unless this is a Penalty Notice from Merton and sent by APCOA as their agents?

If what you have is a private PCN from APCOA, just appeal it as keeper using the standard 'non-POFA innit, get lost' style appeal seen in any APCOA or Smart Parking thread.

You can't lose as long as you DON'T imply who was driving or talk about the story of what happened.  If it's a private PCN.

The appeal would be to the borough and I will email APCOA with a complaint. 

Eh? It's a Penalty Notice then?

FlatTyre

The appeal would be to the borough and I will email APCOA with a complaint. 

Eh? It's a Penalty Notice then?

Yes. It is a PCN from the borough of Merton. As I corrected myself, the appeal is with the borough, not APCOA, so please ignore APCOA. Apology for any confusion.

Just to be clear, the driver paid for the right location number. The signs are everywhere in the car park including one at 20 feet from the car, and all have the same location number. 

What would you suggest the process be to appeal to the borough? Thanks for your help.

Coupon-mad

Very straightforward. Send photos & proof of paying (did the app select the right vehicle?) and if necessary take it to all stages.

It will likely be APCOA who handle the first appeal stage.

FlatTyre

Coupon-mad said:

Very straightforward. Send photos & proof of paying (did the app select thd right vehicle?) and if necessary take it to all stages.

It will likely be APCOA who handle the first appeal stage.

Registration is correct both on the parking receipt and the PCN. So I will appeal as the keeper and won't give the driver's name. Is that correct?

The reason why I pulled APCOA to the discussion is because when I googled the car park it showed up as being managed by APCOA on behalf of the borough.

Coupon-mad

You appeal as driver and DO NOT USE any of our templates of course as this isn't a private 'PCN'.

FlatTyre

Coupon-mad said:

You appeal as driver and DO NOT USE any of our templates oif course as this isn't a private 'PCN'.

Understood. Thanks for the hints. I will be updating you on how it went.