One Parking Solutions

F31straight6

Hello all, thanks for this forum it is really appreciated, there appears to be some very knowledgeable advice available

I went to visit a friend in Atlantic Close in Southampton, who had just returned to their flat after being overseas for ten years, I parked in a visitor bay and recieved the following PCN, I also parked there on another 4 occasions but have not recieved any other PCN's yet, do I wait for any other PCN before starting the appeal process?

I am awaiting confirmation of the Land owner or management company before writing to complain and will follow the plan A then plan B guidance, but do wonder if it would be easiest (if my friend is willing) to say that I had lent my car to my friend

I have attached the pictures of the signage (closeup and also from 2mtrs) and also the front and back of the PCN, it appears that OPS has not updated the association accreditation from BPA to IPC on the signage to be in line with the correspondence letter, is this of any significance

Thanks in advance I look forward to any feedback and I apologise if I am doing any dumb newbie stuff

Coupon-mad

There is no appeal that will work because they are now in the IPC, as you've noted.  But nobody here pays OPS.

DO NOT PAY.

Why didn't your friend warn you and give you a permit? When you arrived was it dark so no signs were seen? I'd never have parked there, not even with a permit! Horrible ex-clampers.

F31straight6

My friend wasnt aware, they have been out of the country for 10 years, it wasnt dark being around 14.00 and when I had visited previously (10 years ago) there wasnt OPS involved, do you advise not to appeal on their appeal website

KoalaMSEF

In your friend's Lease, there should be clauses about visitor and visitor parking. The clause(s) can be different in differing leases. There may be an argument there, or, if you arrived dark and signage is not visible. It is also interesting when this time you got ticket, was it a new thing in your friend's block, or simply bad luck? 

You probably won't get appeal supported by IAS. IAS follows a logic that once PPC found you are liable, IAS will support that. It is another step to legitimise their unreasonable, if not unlawful, acts and manipulate people into paying the money. 

We've asked our friends NEVER park in our visitor bays because the bloodsucker PPC is involved. 

Coupon-mad

One thing that might work, if your friend is up for it, is wait for all PCNs to arrive then:

THEY (NOT YOU) go online and register a complaint on the complaints page/link (not the same as 'appeal')...

...and say that they are horrified to see that x PCNs were issued instead of properly informing residents how to exempt cars.  Say that he/she is a resident and this car was certainly authorised but the resident has been out of the country for 10 years and lived here before when parking was unrestricted. They had no idea about any 'permit scheme'. The signs are small and hidden on a side wall and they were not informed nor provided with permits, so any 'parking contract' was impossible to perform. They then ask politely how to obtain a permit and if the PCNs can be cancelled under the circumstances, given OPS now know that the car was authorised by  a genuine resident.


That kills two birds with one stone:

1.  they'll be able to get permits for future visitors (NOT THAT ANY REGULAR ON THIS FORUM WOULD EVER PARK IN AN OPS CAR PARK IN A MILLION YEARS) and

2.  OPS might respond as if the complaint is an appeal.  Might offer to settle one PCN instead of four.  Might waste time writing to your friend instead of you... basically it stirs up difficulties for OPS who could end up sending letters to a person who is neither the car keeper nor driver. And that's all good... much more manageable & defendable.