Britannia Parking - Retrospective Payment?

ballyellie

Dear All,

I have been issued with a PCN by Britannia Parking which I initially appealed internally as I was delayed back to my car by circumstances out of my control (harbour lock bridge opened to allow vessels through and no alternative way back).

Their response was: 'Any unpaid period of parking can be retrospectively paid for at the machine on return to your vehicle or via PayByPhone available on site. 

Therefore, we consider there to be sufficient, clearly visible signage in the car park to draw your attention to the terms and condition of the parking contract that is on offer. By leaving your vehicle in the car park without a valid ticket you have broken the terms and conditions and therefore, we believe the Parking Charge to be valid and correctly issued.'

However when I went back and checked the signs, the option of retrospectively paying is not mentioned. PSA photos. From a quick Google, I can't find anything confirming that retrospective paying for parking is a legitimate thing either?

I have until 30th July to pay a reduced £60 fee. Is this line of argument worth submitting a POPLA appeal?

I will be honest, I have read through the Newbie advice multiple times before posting this question and am finding the sheer wall of text/info overwhelming for my dyslexic brain, so please don't berate me for not having read a specific line in the vast wall of useful info before posting my question!

Coupon-mad

Just ignore them. No POPLA.

Car1980

Personally I'd try and pay now on the app for a session. 

No mention of when you have to pay on the bottom sign. And if they're varying their contract by saying you could have paid when you arrived back, they'd have difficulty arguing against a payment today.

They use DCB Legal and discontinue court claims, but for the sake of a quid or two it's worth lobbing in another variable to muddy their waters.

Coupon-mad

Car1980 said:

Personally I'd try and pay now on the app for a session. 

No mention of when you have to pay on the bottom sign. And if they're varying their contract by saying you could have paid when you arrived back, they'd have difficulty arguing against a payment today.

Good idea.

Look at the reviews:

https://en.parkopedia.co.uk/parking/carpark/lambhay_hill-4/pl1/plymouth/?arriving=202507261630&leaving=202507261830

ballyellie

Car1980 said:

Personally I'd try and pay now on the app for a session. 

No mention of when you have to pay on the bottom sign. And if they're varying their contract by saying you could have paid when you arrived back, they'd have difficulty arguing against a payment today.

They use DCB Legal and discontinue court claims, but for the sake of a quid or two it's worth lobbing in another variable to muddy their waters.

This is a great idea. Thank you, I will do this!

The reviews are shocking...it's a shame that it's a very convenient car park but I will now be boycotting...


So for clarity, top up my session respectively now and just wait and see what happens next? Ignore the debt collection letters until they start threatening me with a CCJ and then react to that?

I got stung earlier this year with missing an initial CCJ letter (from a 2023 'fine') and ended up having to pay £300 to clear it within 30 days (even though a CCJ has still been listed on my credit score...?) so I am cautious. Would be good to have a plan in my head in case I have to go through all that hassle again.

Many thanks for your help.

Coupon-mad

You just defend a claim form. It's a cinch.

More importantly this Summer:

If you want to be part of the push to change things in future, it's very important that people like you join us to reply to the new Public Consultation, to tell the Government that:

a) you have no faith in POPLA or the IAS and that there must be the SINGLE APPEALS SERVICE that the Parking (Code of Practice) Act 2019 *almost* promised. As long as it is independent (and only ONE appeals service, not two involved in a race to the bottom) that will give a real option to resolve disputed cases out of court.

b).  THAT THE ENRICHMENT OF 'DEBT RECOVERY FEES' MUST BE COMPLETELY BANNED. DISPUTED CASES ARE NOT SOLVED BY A THUG THIRD PARTY DEMANDING MORE MONEY AND ENGINEERING A POINTLESS 'PAYMENT PLAN'.

c). Tell them about your experience.

Responses are invited to the Consultation now:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6617396/parking-code-of-practice-consultation-8-weeks-from-11th-july-2025/p1

Do it in August pleeease! We will discuss the Government's questions on that thread on the coming fortnight.