Bank Park Parking Management - IPC - Lack of signage

Tox1s

I received a "Parking Charge", (the letter doesn't state PCN it states "Parking Charge Details"), today for a car park I have used numerous times and have never seen any signs for parking restrictions and never received a charge. Apparently this is new enforcement.

This car park is at the back of a pharmacy and next to that pharmacy is the dentist we use, that's why we parked there. Apparently this car park belongs to the GP Surgery the other side of the road and as I'm not a patient there, I have a parking charge.

Firstly, how do they know I'm not a patient there? How can a parking company have access to patient information?

Secondly, there was a sign on what looks like a fence around an electrical box but you wouldn't look at this and think of that's a no parking sign, at a glance you would think it was a warning sign because the writing is so small. This is not clear as to be meant for people using the car park and is next to the road not in the car park. There are no other signs in the actual car park.

The fine is for July 2nd, they dated their letter July 10th, I received it today July 14th, but they state I have 14 days to pay the fine from the date of the parking charge, leaving me two days to pay the fine which I can't do anyway.

I've received a parking charge a couple of years ago (see profile) and was told to ignore it.

Can this be enforced? Should I ignore?

Car1980

Yes, ignore until/if you receive a "Letter Before Claim" from a solicitor/bulk litigator (usually DCB Legal). But go into the dentist/pharmacy and see if they can cancel it.

The parking company knows nothing. They just bought your address from the DVLA for £2.50 and sent you a spurious invoice (not a "fine')

Take photos of the signage if you live nearby to keep. New enforcement requires notices saying so for a period of 3 months. So take any photos showing they are absent.

Tox1s

As far as I know no such notice was given and the GP Surgery only informed patients.

Tox1s

Car1980 said:

Take photos of the signage if you live nearby to keep. New enforcement requires notices saying so for a period of 3 months. So take any photos showing they are absent.

Does this make any charges already issued invalid? The reason I ask is because this is happening across three GP Surgeries and a lot of people are getting charges not knowing anything about the new enforcement.

Car1980

Yes. See page 12:

https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/NEW%20Redesigned%20Documents/sectorsingleCodeofPractice.pdf

It's actually 4 months.