Help with first ever parking notice charge

Orionbeltx

I've received my very first parking charge "notice" through the post, and I'm so in need of any advice/guidance!

Bit of context:

- I entered the carpark at 13:52:49, I parked up there was a manual payment machine and a QR code so I scanned it. It came up with a screen to book parking which by default starts the parking rounded up to the next half hour. I proceeded with the booking to start the parking at 14:30 so I agreed and paid £2.65 for 4 hours to end at 18:30. As I came back to the car park, it was really dim and very poorly lit, there was also some construction/rerouting in the exit so by the time I could read the signs and exit the car park it was registered at 18:33:36.

- I received a parking notice from Bank Park Parking Management for £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days which is midnight today, the notice was served on the 7th of January although I only received it through the post on 17th of January! (notice photos attached)

I'm very inexperienced with this being my first ever parking notice, so, 1) are these companies one of them that I CAN just disregard and ignore or do I have to do something about it? The company is accredited with IPC as I checked.

2) It said on the website that I can start parking up to 30 minutes before my booking, can I claim that it took me at least 8 minutes from 13:52 to 14:00 to find a parking spot, scan the qr code, read through terms and conditions, put all my details in and pay for parking online? So the 30 minutes should technically take me up to 14:30 rather than 14:22?

3) Isn't it fair to have a 10 minute grace period applied to the end, as this is a requirement for all parking spaces ESPECIALLY with how poorly lit the signs and roads were as well as the rerouting of exit? Meaning I should be allowed till 18:40?
4) if I appeal it before midnight and it gets rejected, do I still get to pay £60 or will I have to pay the full £100?

I'm really trying to find a way around it as I genuinely cannot afford to pay £60 or £100, especially when they are claiming overstaying by only a few minutes! I'd appreciate ANY advice.

Gr1pr

Send Bank parking the blue text template appeal in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum,  appealing as keeper,  no changes, just as is 

1l victims should not ignore a private parking company charge invoice 

2) I doubt that anything you say would change their minds,  they will reject your appeal,  regardless 

3) the IPC CoP latest version explains consideration periods and grace periods, please download it and read it 

4) they would probably reoffer the bribe,  see what the IPC joint CoP says 

Its currently an unregulated industry,  anything goes, so your best option here is plan A in the newbies sticky thread,  complain about the invoice to the landowner or retail park management company or business 

Orionbeltx

Gr1pr said:

4) they would probably reoffer the bribe,  see what the IPC joint CoP says 

The code of practice states:

8.1.2
d) that in the event of the recipient appealing the parking charge and that appeal being rejected, they have a further right of appeal to the Appeals Service but that the discounted rate no longer applies should they appeal to an Appeals service;
I'm assuming they mean here if I was to appeal to the IPC, the discounted rate won't be offered anymore. But what about appealing to Bank Park itself?

8.1.2.
e) that if the recipient appeals within 28 days of receiving the parking charge, the right to pay at the rate applicable when the appeal was made must stand for a further 14 days from the date (subject to 8.1.2d) they receive notification that their appeal has been rejected
The "rate applicable" here meaning the £60 or the full £100?

I'm not great with reading wordings of policy documents like that so any help is appreciated!

KeithP

Orionbeltx said:

Gr1pr said:

4) they would probably reoffer the bribe,  see what the IPC joint CoP says 

The code of practice states:

8.1.2
d) that in the event of the recipient appealing the parking charge and that appeal being rejected, they have a further right of appeal to the Appeals Service but that the discounted rate no longer applies should they appeal to an Appeals service;
I'm assuming they mean here if I was to appeal to the IPC, the discounted rate won't be offered anymore. But what about appealing to Bank Park itself?

8.1.2.
e) that if the recipient appeals within 28 days of receiving the parking charge, the right to pay at the rate applicable when the appeal was made must stand for a further 14 days from the date (subject to 8.1.2d) they receive notification that their appeal has been rejected
The "rate applicable" here meaning the £60 or the full £100?

I'm not great with reading wordings of policy documents like that so any help is appreciated!

Your interpretation is correct in both cases.

But you said earlier...

Orionbeltx said:

- I entered the carpark at 13:52:49...
I proceeded with the booking to start the parking at 14:30 so I agreed and paid £2.65 for 4 hours to end at 18:30.

There seems to be over thirty-seven minutes - between 13:52 and 14:30 - unaccounted for there.

tincombe

We don't know what the alleged breach is i.e. what is actually stated in the Notice to Keeper. But it could be:

You were required to enter your VRM when purchasing parking rights but made a mistake = no payment at all for the car on camera which was therefore on site for over 4.5 hours without payment. If the mistake is minor then you'll read in the Code that the charge should be reduced £20 for 14 days should any appeal be rejected;

You were scammed and that the QR code was false(it's happened) = no payment at all;

Your scenario which is that payment was made in accordance with instructions given during the creditor's payment process. 

Without seeing the NTK we can't know. 

Similarly, we don't know the operator and whether the NTK complies with the law which would allow you to be held liable for the charge as keeper. 

Coupon-mad

Not that any if this matters!

@Orionbeltx
 Do nothing.

 if I appeal it before midnight and it gets rejected, do I still get to pay £60 or will I have to pay the full £100?

Forgive me but I'm not answering that; it's irrelevant because you aren't going to pay a penny.

No point appealing to IPC firms. Ignore them. It's only Bank Park. Sit tight. Do nothing except the below.

By going confidently into the 'ignore' stance, the only steps to take are:

- Tell them if you move house within 6 years.

- Ignore the tedious £170 threatograms shown in pictures in the 4th post of the NEWBIES thread.

- Come back if you get a solicitor's LBC as per the 2nd post of the NEWBIES thread.

Nobody pays a penny and no hearing is even needed in most cases. Search the forum and read a few cases as they are easy to beat by waiting for a claim form - it is easier than appealing!

There is no risk AT ALL in defending a court claim. No CCJ. No bailiffs.

Orionbeltx

Many thanks for your responses. I have since contacted Parkbee who is the operator/landlord of the parking lot that the driver has paid the parking fee for. Parkbee confirmed that they will ask Bank Park Parking Management (the company that issued the notice) to cancel the PCN. They've done so on the 21st of January. I've been chasing them but they still haven't heard back from Bank Park. I've had Parkbee send another email on the 28th of January requesting to cancel the PCN again, but so far they've not heard back.

I'm not entirely sure what to do now as I have WhatsApp conversation evidence from Parkbee who stated in one message "I'm not sure why you get a fine for this sessions, because you paid for the right amount of time", and in another message confirming "I asked them to cancel your PDN, I think it will be all fine now, I don't have an answer yet think they will accept it". When I followed up on my concerns with them they advised "Right now you can ignore the PCN, since you have paid for the booking through us. I can not tell you how long it will take for them to get back to us, but don't worry!"

Regardless of Parkbee reassurances I'm still quite wary as I know that Bank Park might be sneaky and are only waiting for the appeal period to end (28 days starting from 7th of Janaury) in order to pursue their notice and reject Parkbee's request at cancelling my PCN. Could you please advise what to do in this stage? Shall I appeal through Bank Park's appealing process before the 28 days run out or is it safe now to ignore the PCN since Parkbee is willing to cancel it?

Kind regards.

Coupon-mad

Either. If you appeal don't use a template. Just prove what Parkbee told you and ask Bank Park to confirm cancellation and explain exactly what went wrong with their system.