Group nexus parking charge

Helpneeded321

Hi newbie here. 

I’ve had a look at the newbies thread and my letter looks the same as a non pofa letter pictured in the thread. 

Long story short around my situation, I’ve recently moved from London down to Cornwall and currently have no fixed address so my vehicle is still registered at my parents house some 300 miles away. 

I had a friend who’s young daughter (4yo) was rushed into hospital, she’s a single mum so had to dash to the hospital with her 2yo son also. I was local to the treliske hospital in truro where she was and she needed nappies for the son as they were be kept in overnight. I was able to go get her some and needed to drop them off in the hospital, I was advised by someone else local to the area I would be able to park in the car park next door which is for a few big superstores, all of which were closed as it was 10pm when I got there. I dropped the stuff in had a bit of a chat etc and came out. I was caught on a parking camera coming in and then out 52 minutes later. 

I had a letter sent from group nexus say I was to be charged, but I wasn’t aware of this as the letter was some 300 miles away. I’ve missed the deadline for there “discount “ and also missed the next ones. I’ve just had a recent letter I’ve been made aware of saying I now owe £170. I think this is the 3rd letter in total I’ve sent but it’s the first I’ve been aware of. 

I’ve been to look at the car park and it basically states on the signs that it’s no parking at all from 9pm which is why I’ve been charged. There is plenty of signs around the carpark but obviously they are in places you wouldn’t really see when actually driving in a car or at night as they are lit and high up or behind you as you drive in. 

Is there anything I can do to get out of payment or do I just need to pay it. 

Helpneeded321

pictures of my letters and the one of the signs in the car park 

Coupon-mad

Helpneeded321 said:

pictures of my letters and the one of the signs in the car park 

Welcome!

First rule: never seek out a car park in the evening or on Sundays in any town or city. Park at any unrestricted (out of hours) kerbs on-street, even if it means walking a bit round a corner/block. It would have been free to park in the local streets. 

I've visited people in hospital in big cities and always found a side street on Sundays or any evening after restricted hours.

Have that as your mindset in future!

Anyway, of course you don't pay it. Ever.

But you need to either:

- get your parents to open your debt threatograms and NOT PAY IT due to wrongly panicking & thinking DCB Ltd are acting as bailiffs (they aren't);

or

- you should email Group Nexus' DPO contact (given in their privacy page online) to tell them to erase the London address and replace it with your Cornwall address. And do that every time you move house for 6 years.

The added £70 is neither on the sign (at all) nor quantified on the PCN. Can't tell if it's non-POFA as you haven't shown the back.

Just as importantly: have you noticed that you didn't actually breach any of the 4 terms in that sign that cause £100 parking charge?!

Read them, the ONLY four contractual terms, slowly! There are no repercussions stated for parking at night. It says you can't but it DOESN'T then say that causes a PCN.

See what I mean? Easy one to defend but it will never reach a hearing. These cases don't.

IGNORE the £170 threatograms as per the NEWBIES thread. Come back if you get a claim form which is the 'end game' that you want and it's when DCB Legal always discontinue.

KeithP

Perhaps you should send a email to Savills - see bottom right of the Group Nexus sign - explaining why you parked there and asking them to kindly get the PCN cancelled.

Helpneeded321

Thanks for your help and feedback back so far, especially coupon mad. Reading through some of the previous threads etc you seem to be very helpful and knowledgeable in this subject 🙈. Here is the back of my letter. 

As you mentioned already I have read the sign again and it doesn’t mention anything about charging outside of the hours only if you park for over 2 hours. 

So what should my next step be? 

Sorry for so many questions I’m genuinely not very good at this sort of thing. 

Is there a template letter that you would recommend to send to group nexus ref this 

Coupon-mad

I already stated exactly what to do. No template needed.

You are not at appeal stage.

That isn't the back of the PCN. Please show the back of the PCN (first letter).

Could you please also show the metadata of the signage picture (date photo taken)?