Leased car query - Manchester Airport

almostthere1984

Hi all, I just received an email from my leasing company with an attached penalty charge from APCOA for not paying a dropoff fine. They've sent an email to the parking cowboys with my full details and transferring the fine over to me. Now I fully intend to dispute it, but I wanted to check, I am waiting on the letter from APCOA to arrive in the post, will I have 28 days from when the letter is re-issued to me, or will it be 28 days from when the charge was issued (12th June). Many thanks.

Umkomaas

Await the letter, read the following thread, and send the letter as shown in it to get it cancelled.  Easy. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6500170/group-thread-for-heathrow-and-gatwick-drop-off-pcns/p1

almostthere1984

Umkomaas said:

Await the letter, read the following thread, and send the letter as shown in it to get it cancelled.  Easy. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6500170/group-thread-for-heathrow-and-gatwick-drop-off-pcns/p1

Thanks, but what about the date query? Our post here is erratic so want to make sure I do it before missing the deadline. The lease company said they would pay the fee if they get contacted again.

Umkomaas

almostthere1984 said:

Umkomaas said:

Await the letter, read the following thread, and send the letter as shown in it to get it cancelled.  Easy. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6500170/group-thread-for-heathrow-and-gatwick-drop-off-pcns/p1

Thanks, but what about the date query? Our post here is erratic so want to make sure I do it before missing the deadline. The lease company said they would pay the fee if they get contacted again.

From the date of issue to you, but I think it's 21 days. 

almostthere1984

Do you think they might deliberately delay sending me the PCN knowing that if they issue it to the leasing company again, the leasing company will automatically pay it on my behalf?

Umkomaas

almostthere1984 said:

Do you think they might deliberately delay sending me the PCN knowing that if they issue it to the leasing company again, the leasing company will automatically pay it on my behalf?

Nobody will be doing any 'thinking' at APCOA. There'll be a centralised automated distribution centre (somewhere in the country) issuing NtKs for car parks at airports, railway stations, hospitals, retail parks, hotels, restaurants and the like across England, Wales and Scotland - over 400 locations, from which over 14,000 NtKs are being issued each week. Almost 3/4million DVLA registered keeper requests last year. Have a look at the following website to see the scale of things. Don't overthink this. 

https://www.directlinegroup.co.uk/en/news/brand-news/2025/06032025.html

Gr1pr

Think of it like a multiverse, where any scenario is possible,  either by accident or by design 

Put nothing past these private parking companies,  or lease or hire companies

There are no new scenarios, we have seen everything on here , be it somebody thinking,  or by procedures,  or trying their luck with naive hire companies etc

The OP should try to ensure that it doesn't happen,  by warning the lease or hire company not to pay, but to send the parking company at the lessee or hirer

almostthere1984

Thanks for the comments, I appreciate this is not a new scenario. However I don't want to end up in the situation whereby the lease company pays the fine (which they said they will do if contacted again by APCOA) and then eventually the actual letter turns up addressed to me, at which point I'm past their 28 day blah. Can I send the appeal to APCOA now, or will that cause issues further down the line as I've not yet received a copy of the charge in my name.?

Umkomaas

Press on the lease company. Write to ask them if they've formally transferred liability, if not, to do that now. Tell them that under no circumstances are they to pay this, as once they've transferred liability, you will be dealing with everything. 

almostthere1984

Umkomaas said:

Press on the lease company. Write to ask them if they've formally transferred liability, if not, to do that now. Tell them that under no circumstances are they to pay this, as once they've transferred liability, you will be dealing with everything. 

I've done that, I've just no idea how long it will take them to process it.

Gr1pr

Is your lease company a member of the BVRLA   ?

If yes, then as member they should be following the BVRLA rules,  plus the BVRLA memorandum of understanding from several years ago,  nit going off piste,  but following POFA 2012, the law, plus the BVRLA guidance 

So as Umkomaas correctly states, put them right on their handling of the initial NTK PCN letter, then after they have complied with the law, they have no legal liability or responsibility,  so should not be paying anything