UKCPM PCN - Parking Outside of Marked Zone Questions

SwiftMiffed

Hi all,

I received a postal PCN from CPM for parking outside of a bay at the Vista Centre, Hounslow. Photo shows that I did (carpark was full, we were reaching our appointment time at VFS and didn't block anyone). I did pay for my 1 hr parking.

I emailed/called VFS and Vista Centre and they couldn't care less and told me they can't cancel.
I read Newbies and I'm going to appeal to CPM using the template and not changing anything. Please lmk if there's anywhere else I should be complaining at this stage.

The sign explicitly says do not park on yellow lines and vehicles must be parked within a bay.

My question is: is this likely to fail and I'll be required to create a POPLA appeal or small claim defense? I live a little far from the site and would have to travel back to get sign images. Costs and time would be more than the £60, so it may be better to pay now to save money, especially if I appeal and have to pay £100 or end up losing and paying the £170 or more.

Really sorry if these have already been answered, everyone seems so helpful here so thanks in advance for your time!

Coupon-mad

Can't quite see what lines your car is parked on. Hatched white lines or chevrons?

SwiftMiffed

Its a single yellow line running between bays (shown by the green arrow).
I was parked at the back (shown by red arrow) and there was no bay in front of me.
The sign clearly says "No parking on roadways/yellow lines/etc." and also "All vehicles must be parked fully within the confines of a single marked parking bay" as shown in the image.

Grizebeck

they are lying they can cancel

SwiftMiffed

Yeah but they're unwilling to help on the phone or email, there's not much I can think of to do to force them to cancel, so I don't think Plan A is going to work

SwiftMiffed

I think today/tomorrow is my last day to pay the reduced fee, so if anyone has any input regarding my initial question it would be much appreciated 🙏

Is the initial appeal likely to fail and I'll have to go back to the site to build a popla appeal or small claim defense? If I do, is it likely to win in the end as I am clearly breaking the rules of the sign shown in the initial picture? Thanks all

Grizebeck

Why on earth are you concerned about the mugs discount period/paying
It will fail but who cares

SwiftMiffed

Because if I have to go back to site or it gets to the stage of small claims court and it fails I'll be paying much more
I'm just not sure the likelihood of overall success as I am clearly parked on a yellow line outside of a bay, and the sign clearly states not to do either of those things.
I've never done this before so I need to know whether or not to cut my losses and pay £60 now instead of the £100/£170 or more if I don't have a valid defence as it looks like I'm in the wrong

SwiftMiffed

Update: I have made an appeal. The appeal details online did have images of the sign (stuff that the appeal template is asking for, so I assume it'll fail).

My appointment that day was at VFS Global and the building is the Vista Centre in Hounslow, both of whom I contacted and received no response.

1. Should I be making any "formal complaints"?
2. Is the landowner someone different that I should find and contact?

I will update again once I receive a response from the appeal. Thanks so far everyone!

Coupon-mad

Glad you appealed and didn't pay.

I wouldn't bother with any complaints. Just appeal, lose at IAS then ignore.

SwiftMiffed

Thank you Coupon-mad, for this and the extremely helpful info on Newbies about not worrying about debt collector letters. I will follow this and update as it goes