Apcoa Manchester Airport appeal rejected

mori_mori

Hi all, this is my first post i've needed to make as usually i can find what i'm looking for through other posts and would really appreciate some detailed help. I recently appealed a parking charge from apcoa and they have rejected it. I am aware that when appealing these pcn's that you should not admit to being the driver and should respond as the keeper, which i have but i'm not too sure if i've messed up on the wording.

 I did try to look on here for any templates specific to Manchester airport and although there was alot of advise on what to say and not say, the post i have come across today which you can just literally copy and paste where not available at the time when i was looking and can see they have been more recent, nevertheless i am here asking all you helpful people for some advise. I will post what my appeal letter to them was and then also their response to my appeal, with all that in mind, could i still challenge this with popla and have a winning chance and if so how should i word it as i don't want to mess it up again. Could i argue that although i am the registered keeper, i was not the keeper/driver of the vehicle during that time when this happened? Heres my appeal-

To Whom It May Concern,

 

I am writing as the registered keeper of the vehicle regarding Parking Charge Notice number MR01212336, issued in respect of the Manchester Airport Upper Drop Off Forecourt T2 on **17 June 2025**.

 

The keeper entered the drop-off zone expecting to pay via barrier or cash machine as per previous arrangements. The recent implementation of an ANPR system, and the removal of familiar payment methods, was not clearly indicated prior to entry. The keeper did not have a bank card available at the time and therefore could not complete payment through the card-only options.

 

Upon returning home, this was a genuine case of forgetfulness rather than an attempt to avoid payment. On 19th June 2025, the keeper contacted the telephone payment line, explained the situation in full, and attempted to make the £5 payment for the drop-off. The agent advised that it was too late and the matter would proceed by post. Upon doing some research online, it seems that in the first month this new system was introduced, many drivers where offered and able to pay the original £5 instead of the penalty charge of £100 reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days, I was told that this sytem was introduced at the end of march 2025 which is just about 3 months,  this method should be offered for a longer period or  based on a first time basis as it is still a fairly new system in place,  an aiport is not a place where motorists will make frequent visits to so a one month period is not enough time to give motorists an opportunity to familiarise themselves with a new system being place as many like myself would be unaware of.

 

The sum of **£100** for a stay of **4 minutes** is disproportionate and unreasonable, particularly given this was a first-time occurrence under a recently introduced payment system. A longer grace period would allow motorists unfamiliar with the new process to adapt without undue penalty.

 

Given the above, the keeper respectfully requests cancellation of the charge or, alternatively, the opportunity to settle the matter by paying the original £5 drop-off fee.

This is the reply i got from them today-

We refer to your correspondence received 3rd July 2025.

We have carefully reviewed your appeal, taking into consideration all the points you have raised in

relation to this Parking Charge.

On this occasion, your appeal has been unsuccessful for the following reason/s.

• Use of Manchester Airport Forecourt T2 Upper without making a valid payment

While we understand your situation, please note that the payment window for the Manchester drop off

and pick up forecourts is until midnight the following day after your visit. Unfortunately, as your

payment attempt was made after this window had closed, the charge remains applicable.

They have given 2 options, either pay or appeal to POPLA. Have i messed up my chances with popla or is this salvagable? Thank you in advance for any help or advice.

Gr1pr

It should have been appealed by the keeper,  as no keeper liability,  nothing else,  as in the following thread 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6607818/apcoa-pcn-manchester-airport-drop-off/p2

Or the Heathrow Gatwick airports thread 

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

DE_612183

The problem is you appealed as the keeper - but admitted the keeper was driving.

So your slam dunk win has now gone.

It's not all lost though.

You can appeal and also wait for action ( if any ).

Gr1pr

Appeal anyway,  adapt the following BHX airport popla Appeal to suit,  changing the location,  city etc to suit for Manchester 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6497331/birmingham-airport-pcn/p2

Add the recent map of the airport perimeter to the popla appeal  ( appeal as keeper   ) to show that the drop-off comes under bylaws 

In future,  get good advice first, because Apcoa would have cancelled the pcn already if you had used the correct appeal 

ChirpyChicken

The text was available. 
Just ignore Debt recovery plus if you lose at popla

mori_mori

Thank you all for your replies...I appealed as the registered keeper as the parking charge letter was adressed to the registered keeper. It didn't ask to provide the name of the driver like other private parking firms do, i also didn't admit to being the driver as i referred to the said person as "the keeper". From reading other posts on here i have seen others advise that there could also be a temporary keeper of the vehicle who is not the registered keeper, could i not argue that i am the registered keeper but i was not the driver/keeper of the vehicle at the time and that someone else was driving? 

Gr1pr

You can definitely argue it, if its definitely true

That type of argument wins with airport cases due to not being the driver and a keeper not having legal responsibility,  because schedule 4 of Pofa2012 doesn't apply on non relevant land 

Appeal to POPLA by adapting that previous popla appeal I linked 

If the keeper wasn't the driver,  say so in the appeal 

mori_mori

Thank you sooo much i will follow your advice and update you guys on the outcome.

Gr1pr

Read this thread too

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6620127/man-airport-appealed-before-reading-recommended-apcoa-text#latest

MaranCuckoo

Hi everyone 
I’m in a similar situation, I dropped a friend off at T1, didn’t know it is now barrierless and expected to pay on exit. I then forgot to pay within the window of course and when I realised, discovered I couldn’t pay online. I set up an account to ensure automatic payment in future and rang to explain/ask to pay over the phone. As for everyone else,  was told to wait for the penalty letter. I appealed the penalty without looking at the forum so have indicated that I was the driver. 

As I understand it, POPLA only consider if the penalty is valid per the T&Cs and so I’m wondering if it’s worth appealing or should I just pay the penalty whilst it’s £60? 

Thank you for your help. 

ChirpyChicken

No of course you don't pay. Why would you