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Stopping in a zone where stopping is prohibited - Leeds Bradford

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Hi all,

I’ve just received a Parking Charge Notice from VCS for a brief stop at an airport barrier—according to their photos, I was there for 35 seconds while trying to read the signage. I had already pre-paid for parking, but Google Maps directed me to the wrong entrance. I accidentally entered the wrong area, paid £7 to exit, and then proceeded to the correct car park.

This is the first correspondence I’ve received. The pictures provided don’t clearly show who was driving (to proceed with VCS vs Edward?)

I’m unsure of the best next step:

  • Should I wait to receive a formal Notice to Keeper?

  • Should I go ahead and appeal now through myparkingcharge.co.uk?

  • Or should I contact VCS directly and raise the issue around registered keeper liability and unclear signage?

Any guidance, templates, or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Comments

  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,354 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    • Should I wait to receive a formal Notice to Keeper?

    That picture is your NTK!

    Just do what the NEWBIES thread says for IPC firms. No paying. No using the IAS.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • daveyjp
    daveyjp Posts: 13,515 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just for general advice if you have a booking and take the wrong entrance - Leeds Bradford has 4-5 different car parks, all with a different entrance off the main road, very confusing if you don't know the airport -  don't pay the £7.

    Stop at the barrier and use the help button.  You will be let through so you can go to the correct car park. 

    Do not do what I saw a few weeks ago.  Someone took the wrong route and decided the best option would be to turn around and drive the wrong way against arriving traffic.
  • samhtfc
    samhtfc Posts: 6 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary First Post
    daveyjp said:
    Just for general advice if you have a booking and take the wrong entrance - Leeds Bradford has 4-5 different car parks, all with a different entrance off the main road, very confusing if you don't know the airport -  don't pay the £7.

    Stop at the barrier and use the help button.  You will be let through so you can go to the correct car park. 

    Do not do what I saw a few weeks ago.  Someone took the wrong route and decided the best option would be to turn around and drive the wrong way against arriving traffic.
    Thanks for advice if it ever happened again. I never went against traffic at least cos I was at a junction, did a turn and carried on in traffic then went through barrier, happy to take the £7 loss right now and sort the bigger charge ha 
  • samhtfc
    samhtfc Posts: 6 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary First Post
    • Should I wait to receive a formal Notice to Keeper?

    That picture is your NTK!

    Just do what the NEWBIES thread says for IPC firms. No paying. No using the IAS.
    Thank you. I have read but find a little confusing how I should proceed from this letter. Wait for a solicitor one? 
  • Umkomaas
    Umkomaas Posts: 43,305 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    samhtfc said:
    • Should I wait to receive a formal Notice to Keeper?

    That picture is your NTK!

    Just do what the NEWBIES thread says for IPC firms. No paying. No using the IAS.
    Thank you. I have read but find a little confusing how I should proceed from this letter. Wait for a solicitor one? 
    Yep. It will be headed 'Letter Of/Before Claim'. It could come from one of the ambulance chasers like Elms Legal, DCB Legal or even from VCS themselves. Read up how to deal with a LOC/LBC in the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, second post, then you'll be one step ahead of the game when it comes.  Get back to us on this thread if/when that happens. 
    Please note, we are not a legal advice forum. I personally don't get involved in critiquing court case Defences/Witness Statements, so unable to help on that front. Please don't ask. .

    I provide only my personal opinion, it is not a legal opinion, it is simply a personal one. I am not a lawyer.

    Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; show him how to catch fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

    Private Parking Firms - Killing the High Street
  • Car1980
    Car1980 Posts: 1,379 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 14 May at 9:54AM
    Classic. 

    So they have charged you for stopping to read the contract that says you must pay to stop and read the contract.

    We can bloody see you stopping to read the sign on the photos.

    Forget all the other events - they're of no relevance because they are attempting to charge you for stopping to read the sign and nothing else.

    If it was me I'd engage with all their appeals nonsense and even go to the IPC kangaroo court. You'd end up with some delicious paperwork to go to the media with and submit as evidence to the government's public consultation in the autumn.
  • samhtfc
    samhtfc Posts: 6 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary First Post
    I emailed airport first without saying who was driving in case anything came of it, they have cancelled the charge, saved a lot of hassle. 
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 151,354 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited 23 May at 9:42PM
    samhtfc said:

    I’ve just received a Parking Charge Notice from VCS for a brief stop at an airport barrier—according to their photos, I was there for 35 seconds while trying to read the signage.

    I had already pre-paid for parking, but Google Maps directed me to the wrong entrance. I accidentally entered the wrong area, paid £7 to exit, and then proceeded to the correct car park.

    I emailed airport first without saying who was driving in case anything came of it, they have cancelled the charge, saved a lot of hassle. 
    Yay, well done!

    Please could you post about how you did this, what your complaint said and who to email, in SUCCESSFUL COMPLAINTS ABOUT PPCs?

    More people will see it in future, if the info is there. Nicely done.
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
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