Heathrow drop off PCN - payment window under review

RufusMcDufus

On 26 June I dropped my wife off at Heathrow T3.  I completely forgot to pay the £6 charge.
I remembered on 30 June and contacted Apcoa via the live chat. They said:

Unfortunately, since you're outside the 48-hour payment window, a Parking Charge (PC) will be issued. However, please note that this payment window is currently under review. Therefore, as you have contacted us today, we would be happy to settle this charge at a £6.00 rate.

While we can't prevent the Parking Charge (PC) from being issued at the original rate of £40.00, we will track the PC and adjust the rate to £6.00 once it has been generated in our system.

To proceed, please email LatePayment.heathrowdropoff@apcoa.com with your vehicle registration number and the date of your visit. Once the Parking Charge has been generated, we will respond to your email with instructions on how to make the £6.00 payment.

Please allow up to 2 weeks for the Parking Charge to be generated. 

I received the PCN in the post just over a week later. I'd been in the drop off zone less than 3 minutes.

I emailed the late payment email address and they gave me a case number and said:

Parking Charges can take up to 2 weeks to be generated on our system. You will receive a response within the next 14 days.

I still haven't heard despite multiple contact attempts to the email address. Live chat tells me to wait for a reply. The possible fine is going to increase in a few days from £40 to £80. What do I do? 

Anyone else been in this situation?   I see people appeal the charge altogether with a template letter but I am happy(-ish)  to pay the £6!

I'm also hard-of-hearing so can't phone them...

Le_Kirk

Keep everything on email and that way you have proof of what was stated and agreed.  You could also have a read of the group thread for Gatwick and Heathrow.  Use one of the appeals and no need to pay!
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6500170/group-thread-for-heathrow-and-gatwick-drop-off-pcns/p1

RufusMcDufus

Cheers. I've been thinking of going the appeal route, mainly because they don't seem to want to reply to me!   I have a feeling they're a bit understaffed.

ChirpyChicken

RufusMcDufus said:

Cheers. I've been thinking of going the appeal route, mainly because they don't seem to want to reply to me!   I have a feeling they're a bit understaffed.

if you do use the normal airport text, wins every time, very simple
appeal as the keeper, dont mention any events on the day just the normal text 

RufusMcDufus

I submitted the appeal - shall see how it goes. At least it stops the counter on the fine amount going up to £80.
Now I bet they'll finally get back to me on how to pay the £6 rate...

ChirpyChicken

doesnt matter as your not paying any PCN

Coupon-mad

Unfortunately, since you're outside the 48-hour payment window, a Parking Charge (PC) will be issued. However, please note that this payment window is currently under review.

Interesting and worth knowing, thanks.