One Parking Solutions Vantage Point Brighton - Advice, please!

confused_larchie

@Coupon-mad
I just saw on PoPLA page, next to the ' ''Received''  Your Information and Evidence' the ''Motorist Comments'', is that where I should further explain/appeal?

From OPS' summary, with their stating how I overstayed my 10 minutes (by about 25 minutes) while working out how to use their app, I was at fault, even if the total amount worked out to be overlapping. Is it even worth asking them to show their log?

Should I just sit and wait until PoPLA returns with an unsupportive reply, or is it too late to just pay the £100 and forget about the whole thing?

I'm afraid this is, again, becoming rather overwhelming...

Coupon-mad

You can't ask them to show anything else if you are at POPLA Comments stage.

But if there is some evidence missing, you can point that out to the POPLA assessor now, in the Motorist Comments section.

Of course you aren't going to pay OPS.

ParkingMad

Here is the Daily Mail article about OPS’ PopPay app, linked by @95Rollers above:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/private-parking-firm-accused-tormenting-31168219

Private parking firm accused of tormenting drivers with 10 minute pay period.

By Andrew Penman 08:42 12 Oct 2023

(Removed by Forum Team)

confused_larchie

Thank you, @ParkingMad and @Coupon-mad, for both of your comments.

@Coupon-mad
I would like to ask OPS to give me a copy of my missing first ticket, which I think shows that there's an overlap of payment between that first (lost) & second (not lost) tickets, hoping that they will accept that it should make up for the gap when I first entered the car park, approximately 24 minutes (after deducting the 10-minute grace period).

I was just going to simply ask them to show the first ticket, not that I know if that's possible.

''Of course you aren't going to pay OPS.''

As stated in OPS' Case Summary, I can see how they can pursue their reasoning and wonder how I can defend myself when it goes to court...


@ParkingMad
I have read a lot of those comments from @95Rollers case, and from elsewhere, too. It took them more than 2 years to valiantly fight OPS.
If I have the strength to follow in their footsteps, I think all my recently turned grey hair would have fallen out by the time I reach the court! 

Coupon-mad

Most cases don't go to court.  Don't worry about an unlikely scenario. Relax.

As I said, you can't ask them to show anything else if you are at POPLA Comments stage.

confused_larchie

Many thanks, @Coupon-mad, I'll take your advice now and will keep you all updated when there's new correspondence.

ParkingMad

Hi @confused_larchie check your messages 😉

confused_larchie

Many thanks, @ParkingMad, for that attachment.

Last week, I posted a (signed-for) letter to Perriworld, addressing it to All the Directors. Somehow I don't think their reply to me will be much different from what they sent to the poster you kindly sent me in your attachment.

I guess all I can do now is wait (and read more about other people's cases...)
Yesterday, the below email from PoPLA came in my Inbox:

----------------------------------------------

On Wednesday, 1 May 2024 at 00:00:51:

Dear M....,

We are writing to update you about your appeal.

Your appeal is now ready to be assessed and is currently in a queue waiting to be allocated. We expect to make a decision on your appeal within the next 2-4 weeks. The next communication that you will receive from us will be the decision on your appeal.

Kind regards

POPLA Team

95Rollers

Coupon-mad said:

That's not "from POPLA".  That's OPS' case summary to POPLA.

It's their usual copy and paste fodder. It looks very familiar from my case and other people's. 

Don't expect too much from Popla as they are not independent and tend to side with their members. 

Supposing you "lose", their decision isn't legally binding or enforceable as they are not an official body of any kind. Many people don't win Popla, but still win at court.

Also I think my probably took 3 years,  firsrly because I didn't receive the court claim until 2 years after the event, then it took a year to get to court which may have been slower partially due to the lockdown backlog at courts. I'm not sure what the current post-covid average timescales from claim forms is at the moment. 

ParkingMad

Ministry of Justice statistics show that the time from receiving a claim form to a court hearing date is currently 56 weeks for small claims:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2023/civil-justice-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2023#money-and-damages-claims