Two APCOA parking fines, unintentionally „ignored“ since may - now referred to DRP

wndflower587

Hi,
I would appreciate any help with my situation as I am a student and don’t really know what to do at this point:

 - In April 2025 the vehicle in question was twice at a university in England (not where I study, also in England though), which uses APCOA with ANPR cameras to control parking
 - Both times, the parking charge was not paid
 - As the registered keeper of this vehicle I have received PCNs for each contravention from APCOA
 - On the „photo evidence“ of the PCNs there is no face to be seen inside the vehicle or any other proof as to whom was driving
 - BOTH PCNs were issued in May, MORE THAN 14 days after the contravention. The first PCN 20 days after and the second PCN 21 days after. (They were recorded by ANPR)
 
The big problem is this:

 - I have not been at home since these PCNs were mailed, so I did not know they even exist until I came back today
 - So yes, they have been ignored, just not intentionally
 - The window to appeal which is given on the letter has obviously passed
 - Both PCNs have been separately referred to DRP (Debt Recovery Plus)
 - The letter from DRP states: „4 out of 5 drivers pay after the first letter. This is your 4th. Let’s close your case by 30/06/2025“.
 - I live in a private student accommodation. Every piece of mail is signed for and I have to scan a code to collect it. This is certainly not the 4th letter from them. There is only one from DRP for each PCN, so two in total.
 - The letter on the reverse side states the status is: „DRP Instructed to Recover Charge“. Your charge increased because you didn’t pay. Call us by 30.06.2025 to pay 10gbp today and the balance in 30 days.
 - It’s obviously not June anymore, and I haven’t received any other letters from them. The letter is dated 16th June, it’s now the 15th July. I haven’t had another letter from DRP, but I don’t live in the most well connected area either.

What I have done:
 - Followed advice of forum and have not contacted DRP
 - I researched a bit on the forum, but from what I can tell, APCOA isn’t a member of any parking association based on the PCN letter. Only by google have I found out that they are a BPA member, but maybe that is another APCOA?
 - Yes, my V5 is accurate and this is my primary residence, I was just visiting family so wasn’t here

Any help would be appreciated. I wasn't able to find a thread with the exact situation as me, but if one does exist, please do share the link. I do not have 240gbp to pay these f—kers. Obviously the appeal window has passed, but the PCNs were both issued 14days after the contravention. I read in the forum that I can sue them and claim compensation for having my details illegally accessed, is this still possible? I am a student, so obviously I’m not in the best financial situation possible. I need to get the Debt collection cancelled via APCOA first ideally, then I can deal with compensation if that is even possible at this stage. I suppose they also didn’t have the right to pass my info to DRP, since they didn’t have the right to access it for the PCN in the first place? 

Many thanks,
Mr. Registered keeper of the vehicle

ChirpyChicken

contact the DPO email address @ Apcoa and general.Enquiry@apcoa.com and also the DPO email address at debt recovery plus and  tell them toupdate the address they hold
if you have any push back from APCOA then see this thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6612100/manchester-airport-and-apcoa-7-minutes-cost-me-200#latest

dont worry about trying to get them cancelled, it isn't needed , irrelevant really

Car1980

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6614491/overdue-apcoa-parking-charges/p1

Just ignore APCOA and their debt collector's threatograms.

You need to go from unintentionally ignoring to intentionally ignoring now 

Umkomaas

I need to get the Debt collection cancelled via APCOA first ideally, then I can deal with compensation if that is even possible at this stage. I suppose they also didn’t have the right to pass my info to DRP, since they didn’t have the right to access it for the PCN in the first place? 

APCOA won't cancel that now, so DRP will continue to pester. But that's all it is - pestering, with no bite - there is none available to them. APCOA don't sue. You trying to sue them will end in tears. Forget it. 

APCOA were within their 'rights' to pass on your details to DRP. APCOA did have the right to access your data from the DVLA. 

Don't go down wrong rabbit holes through unresearched guesswork surrounding private parking tickets, it's causing you to overthink.  APCOA won't be a problem.