APCOA PCN Manchester Airport Drop-off

kryten3000

Umkomaas said:

We never condone deliberate avoidance of paying a parking (or drop-off) charge, regardless of our views on whether they are reasonable or not. 

+1 for this.  If you are regularly using the drop-off area then pay the fees due.  Better still, avoid these money traps and either use the alternative free drop-off areas or avoid driving completely.  Most airports have excellent public transport links and there should be no need to use these chargeable zones at all.

If you mistakenly entered the area due to poor signage, paid "too late" etc. then keeper appeal and do not pay.

Gr1pr

The free drop-off area is at Jetparks 1, near the link road,  left at the exit ramp at the roundabout  ( instead of turning right  ),  then left again, then left again into Jetparks 1,  with the free shuttle bus to the airport,  which is 5 minutes away near Radisson Blue and the Skyway etc,  typically T2 for departures

But always check the Airport website first

double_trouble71

Umkomaas said:

We never condone deliberate avoidance of paying a parking (or drop-off) charge, regardless of our views on whether they are reasonable or not. 

For sure, if people use this appeal to deliberately avoid paying the tariff on a continued basis, something more draconian will inevitably be put in place.  It will impact negatively on motorists. 

Thank you for replying. Suffice to say I will just pay it. Thanks for confirming 

doubledotcom

I seriously doubt they can implement anything “more draconian” than the current scheme. The airport claims this is about reducing congestion and protecting the environment, yet they profit handsomely from the extortionate fees charged to drivers using the drop-off zone. This is not a public service—it’s a revenue stream.

APCOA, the enforcement contractor, thrives on the low-hanging fruit of uninformed motorists who pay up out of ignorance and fear when they receive a PCN. The system is designed for passive income, not active regulation. Anything more aggressive would require actual infrastructure and staffing—the very things this automated scheme was meant to replace.

This is airport land governed by byelaws. If they genuinely intend to enforce those byelaws, they must grant APCOA or another party the proper statutory authority to issue Penalty Notices, not civil PCNs. That means triggering the full criminal process: Single Justice Procedure, prosecution, and a hearing before magistrates.

Unless the driver is identified, there is no risk of criminal conviction. Even if they could prove the offence beyond reasonable doubt (which is doubtful), the law does not allow for keeper liability on byelaw land. So unless the driver is named, the case collapses and it will have cost someone a lot more than the printing and postage involved at the moment.

Umkomaas

I seriously doubt they can implement anything “more draconian” than the current scheme.

One possibility could be that once they realise their drop-off income is dropping, they up the prices to compensate.  Then reinstall the barrier!  No 'escape' then. 

pounds_and_sense

pounds_and_sense said:

Hello,

I've also received a Manchester Airport "parking charge" from APCOA as I must have driven close to the forecourt drop-off area - entry/exit time total time on ticket is less that one minute. Total scam as I parked in another part of the airport. Anyway, I've appealed it using the guidance and text from this thread. Fingers crossed and I will update as soon as I hear back. Thanks all for the work you put into this, much appreciated.

Just received notice of cancellation of parking charge. Thanks again all who contribute so selflessly to this thread

njkmr

Hi Guys
Im just reporting I have been caught out by the forgetting to pay after dropping friends off at Manchester airport last Friday.I remembered on Sunday morning...! 
I will follow the advice I have read on this thread and report back.
I'm a bit nervous to be honest as it's not a process I have used before as I've never forgotten but I do realise these charges and the , no grace period , for forgetting are scandalous so I will give it a go.
Wish me luck and thanks for putting all the advice on here for us
Regards
Rob.

ChirpyChicken

Rob
You dont need luck you just need the appeal template and appeal as the keeper in the drop down menu 
it will automatically cancelled.

Umkomaas

njkmr said:

Hi Guys
Im just reporting I have been caught out by the forgetting to pay after dropping friends off at Manchester airport last Friday.I remembered on Sunday morning...! 
I will follow the advice I have read on this thread and report back.
I'm a bit nervous to be honest as it's not a process I have used before as I've never forgotten but I do realise these charges and the , no grace period , for forgetting are scandalous so I will give it a go.
Wish me luck and thanks for putting all the advice on here for us
Regards
Rob.

Don't do anything until you receive your Notice to Keeper from APCOA. Then use the template. 

Jonny_Kronenburg

Just tried the template, fingers crossed. Replacing the barrier with this system is just there for profit. Thanks for all the help folks.