Got PCN for being stuck in traffic at a no parking zone - IAS involved

Rentalcarvictim

Hi all,

I was at a residential back alley just off the dead end of a high street on a Saturday evening and was turning my car around through no parking zone. The single lane ahead was blocked by a police vehicle and the oncoming lane is used by buses therefore there was a stand still. Im definitely not “parked” in a no parking zone and you can see my brake lights are on in the evidence submitted. The evidence is 4 minutes apart only. 

I stupidly raised this with the IAS after my appeal was rejected and now Im expected to respond to submit a response or the case goes to arbitration. From what I can read on this forum, im doomed because IAS are not really independent and I have accepted that I was the driver at the time. Please help because this is a scam, i was not parked! It shouldn’t be my fault if the traffic is held up and I just happen to be half way in the parking bay. Thank you!

The_Slithy_Tove

Which parking company? Now this far, you're best off just ignoring everything from them or their fake debt collectors. Only act if you get a real claim or letter before claim. Do make some notes detailing what happened when, so you have something to refer back to should this progress to a (doomed to fail) claim. If you're back there, it's also worth getting some pictures of the signage and where they are placed.

Fruitcake

Do you have a dashcam showing the incident?

As above, make notes of what happened, and contact the Police to see if they have a record of the police car being there.

Complain to your MP. 

Please also sign the petition below and ask friends and family to do the same.

Bring the Parking Code of Practice into law, as per the 2019 Act of Parliament. - Petitions

Half_way

name of parking company? 
location?

Rentalcarvictim

Half_way said:

name of parking company? 
location?

Park Direct UK
These exact coordinates on g maps - (51.5445100, -0.4751889)

Rentalcarvictim

The_Slithy_Tove said:

Which parking company? Now this far, you're best off just ignoring everything from them or their fake debt collectors. Only act if you get a real claim or letter before claim. Do make some notes detailing what happened when, so you have something to refer back to should this progress to a (doomed to fail) claim. If you're back there, it's also worth getting some pictures of the signage and where they are placed.

Park Direct UK. Ugh no I don’t have the dashcam footage

What do you mean make notes? I have a copy if the original appeal to park direct and also the appeal to IAS. Would this suffice? Credit to them as the signage were very clear and on each bay.

To be honest, I don’t want this escalated just for £100. I have to buy a house and I don’t want any of this on my record. Should I just pay the fine now and respond to IAS saying that fine is paid?

fisherjim

Have a look again you will not see the word "fine" on any sign or paperwork you have a speculative invoice from unregulated chancers who have no interest in parking management only extracting cash.

This has always been a honeytrap for motorists though it hasn't cropped up much recently.

Why do you want to give away money to a scammer that has simply written to you?

The appeals process was never going to work, and the IAS brag to their prospective members in advance that they reject at least 95% of appeals.

This cannot just "appear on your record" why do you think any old firm set up has that amount of power?

You say "credit to them as the signage were (sic) very clear and on each bay".

I tend to disagree you should look at the Joint COP section on signage: https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/NEW Redesigned Documents/sectorsingleCodeofPractice.pdf

Where are the entrance signs?

In addition you cannot enter into a contract to park in a no parking area they are not offering anything so no contract can exist!

LDast

Rentalcarvictim said:

To be honest, I don’t want this escalated just for £100. I have to buy a house and I don’t want any of this on my record. Should I just pay the fine now and respond to IAS saying that fine is paid?

What CCJ? Do you have any understanding of how someone gets a CCJ? Nothing we advise on here will make anyone get a CCJ.

Quote

A County Court Judgment (CCJ) does not just happen—it follows a clear legal process. If someone gets a Parking Charge Notice (PCN)from a private parking company, here's what happens step by step:

1. Parking Charge Notice (PCN) Issued

• The parking company sends a letter (Notice to Keeper) demanding money.

• This is not a fine—it’s an invoice for an alleged breach of contract.

2. Opportunity to Appeal

• The recipient can appeal to the parking company.

•If rejected, they may be able to appeal to POPLA (if BPA member) or IAS (if IPC member).

• If an appeal is lost or ignored, the parking company demands payment.

3. Debt Collection Letters

• The parking company might send scary letters or pass the case to a debt collector.

• Debt collectors have no power—they just send letters and can be ignored.

• No CCJ happens at this stage.

4. Letter Before Claim (LBC)

• If ignored for long enough, the parking company (or their solicitor) sends a Letter Before Claim (LBC).

• This is a warning that they may start a court case.

• The recipient has 30 days to reply before a claim is filed.

• No CCJ happens at this stage.

5. County Court Claim Issued

• If ignored or unpaid, the parking company may file a claim with the County Court.

• The court sends a Claim Form with details of the claim and how to respond.

• The recipient has 14 days to respond (or 28 days if they acknowledge it).

• No CCJ happens at this stage.

6. Court Process

• If the recipient defends the claim, a judge decides if they owe money.

• If the recipient ignores the claim, the parking company wins by default.

• No CCJ happens yet unless the recipient loses and ignores the court.

7. Judgment & Payment

• If the court rules that money is owed, the recipient has 30 days to pay in full.

• If they pay within 30 days, no CCJ goes on their credit file.

• If they don’t pay within 30 days, the CCJ stays on their credit file for 6 years.

Conclusion

CCJs do not appear out of thin air. They only happen if:

• A parking company takes the case to court.

• The person loses or ignores the case.

• The person fails to pay within 30 days.

If you engage with the process (appeal, defend, or pay on time), no CCJ happens.

Coupon-mad

Rentalcarvictim said:

Hi all,

I was at a residential back alley just off the dead end of a high street on a Saturday evening and was turning my car around through no parking zone.

The single lane ahead was blocked by a police vehicle and the oncoming lane is used by buses therefore there was a stand still. Im definitely not “parked” in a no parking zone and you can see my brake lights are on in the evidence submitted.

The evidence is 4 minutes apart only. 

I stupidly raised this with the IAS after my appeal was rejected and now Im expected to respond to submit a response or the case goes to arbitration. From what I can read on this forum, im doomed because IAS are not really independent and I have accepted that I was the driver at the time. Please help because this is a scam, i was not parked! It shouldn’t be my fault if the traffic is held up and I just happen to be half way in the parking bay. Thank you!

The_Slithy_Tove said:

Which parking company? Now this far, you're best off just ignoring everything from them or their fake debt collectors. Only act if you get a real claim or letter before claim. Do make some notes detailing what happened when, so you have something to refer back to should this progress to a (doomed to fail) claim. If you're back there, it's also worth getting some pictures of the signage and where they are placed.

Rentalcarvictim said:
Park Direct UK.

fisherjim said:

This has always been a honeytrap for motorists though it hasn't cropped up much recently.

Why do you want to give away money to a scammer that has simply written to you?

The appeals process was never going to work
the IAS brag to their prospective members in advance that they reject at least 95% of appeals
you cannot enter into a contract to park in a no parking area they are not offering anything so no contract can exist!

Where are the entrance signs?

Rentalcarvictim said:

To be honest, I don’t want this escalated just for £100. I have to buy a house and I don’t want any of this on my record. Should I just pay the fine now and respond to IAS saying that fine is paid?

Nothing is risked by not paying it!
Your credit record is safe as long as you defend if you get a claim form, and follow all advice to kill it off.

CERTAINLY DO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO PAY A SCAM PCN TO MAKE IT GO AWAY, BECAUSE THEY WRONGLY THINK IT'S A FINE OR THAT THEY COULD GET A CCJ.

ChirpyChicken

I this mortgage excuse to much 
People use it to justify to themselves for paying up.

Rentalcarvictim

ChirpyChicken said:

I this mortgage excuse to much 
People use it to justify to themselves for paying up.

Yep, sadly fear mongering works. 

Thanks @coupon-mad, @LDast, @fisherjim for taking time out to address my doubts. 

I will ignore the IAS request as advised and will let it go to arbitration. Hoping it doesn't get escalated to court because I have no evidence other than my word and the pictures showing the brake lights. I have reached out to the police but not keeping my hopes high there. 

Assuming the go down the LBC route, what should be my response?