Is a throw away comment from parking operator in an email grounds for appeal?

Heighliner

Basically PCN received for an overstay. The overstay by our calculation is 8 minutes over a 10 minute grace period. The operator is stating a 20 minute overstay based on time inside the car park based on entry and exit times.

The parking operator has stated the following in an email -

"We give all car park users a 10 minute grace period to: arrive, park, purchase a ticket and depart the car park."

Reading the BPA code of practice it defines a Consideration Period and a Grace Period and separate things.

The operator is stating a single grace period covering both.

So my question is whether their statement is ambiguous enough to warrant an appeal.

Thank You

Coupon-mad

No appeals are worth trying with most PPCs. They are better ignored but which PPC?

Heighliner

So the PPC is First Parking Ltd. The site is Bourton Vale Parking Ltd.

My query is whether its worth a POPLA appeal - by stating the operator isn't using code definitions

Heighliner

This is what I am getting at. But still not sure its worth putting into a POPLA appeal.

The PPC has said twice in two emails the following statement...

"We give all car park users a 10 minute grace period to: arrive, park, purchase a ticket and depart the car park."

The statement "We give all car park users a 10 minute grace period to: arrive, park, purchase a ticket and depart the car park." is somewhat illogical because it combines multiple actions (arrival, parking, ticket purchase, and departure) within a single 10-minute grace period. Here's why:

1. Arrival and Parking: When users arrive at a car park, they need time to find a space, park their vehicle, and then potentially pay for parking. These actions alone could take more than a few minutes, depending on the size of the car park and the availability of spaces.

2. Ticket Purchase: In many cases, purchasing a ticket is an additional step that can take time, especially if there are queues or payment system issues.

3. Departure: Allowing users only 10 minutes to both complete their parking and depart from the car park is unrealistic. After parking and paying, they would need to drive out of the car park, which could take additional time.

The operators minimum stay is 2 hours. So if someone entering the car park has to - arrive, park, purchase a ticket, and depart the car park, in 10 minutes. Everyone who uses this car park should get a PCN by their definition. So is there illogical statement grounds for an appeal?  Or (be truthful) am I being mad and stupid here?

prowla

Or is it you get 10 minutes for each item on the list? :-)

Car1980

Your issue is that you are trying to get POPLA to side with you on the basis of poor semantics on an email from them. It's unlikely to work because the POPLA bod will just think "well, we know what they mean. Obviously the depart bit is separate." It's not like arguing technicalities with a council penalty charge. It's just an invoice issued by knuckleheads in cowboy industry. POPLA and the voluntary chocolate-teapot code only exist to add a veneer of respectability and a government lobbying tool.

It's only worth getting involved in POPLA with a few specific circumstances. This doesn't sound like one of them.