POPLA appeal advice needed - APCOA Hospital charges

confused_appellant

Hi and thanks to all for all the information on here so far. 

I received several charges from APCOA over the period of a couple of months. I am a staff member at the hospital where APOCA manages the car parking for both staff and visitors via ANPR. I had a valid parking permit which lapsed without them notifying me. As a result I suddenly got an avalanche of charges from instances where I was just parking at work as normal, completely unaware I no longer had a permit. Interestingly I did not get a charge for every single day I was at work so their ANPR cameras must not be completely reliable in any case...

My issue is that I responded to a few of these just by being honest and before I found this forum, explaining that I had a permit and I feel the charge was unfair. I then found this forum and used the template from the FAQs and had all of those ones accepted as appeals immediately. 

I am now in a tricky situation because the ones I responded to prior have been rejected at appeal and are now at the threatening debt collector letter stages. I am worried that responding honestly initially has lost me my argument to not reveal the identity of the driver. I have been in touch with the hospital extensively to complain about the situation and ask for them as the landowner to intervene but they have been absolutely useless. 

I need to formulate some decent POPLA appeals and I am not sure if I have completely shot myself in the foot by engaging with them honestly initially. 

My main grounds of appeal I guess would be along the lines of previously discuss "This charge is unconscionable and offends against the penalty rule which was 'plainly engaged' in the case of ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis" and to use the template appeal text following that found here ( https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71339517#Comment_71339517 )
as I am an active staff member who thought they still had a completely valid permit who was parking in a completely legitimate staff car parking area. My employment at the hospital never stopped for any breaks of anything, it has been completely continuous.

Along this same line should I also try to make a point of the fact that "I believe I had a contract to park, so why would a reasonable person look at signs or consider that parking in your space constituted an acceptance of the offered contract on a sign"?

Appreciate any advice on how best to form a strong POPLA appeal for these multiple charges.

Thanks very much in advance.

James_Poisson

Debt collectors are not a threat, neither are APCOA it won't go anywhere, but you shouldn't tell them who the driver is. 

Coupon-mad

I wouldn't bother with POPLA. Just ignore. 

confused_appellant

Thank you very much both. As I say I probably inadvertently hinted at me being the driver on the first few appeals I completed because it was before I found the resources on here. 

Would it be safe to ignore them even if the debt collector letters are mentioning court action, CCJ, etc. 

kryten3000

APCOA are not currently known for taking action in court.  The Debt Collectors are making empty threats in an attempt to scare you into paying the charge and their fat fee on top.  They have no power or standing to bring court action, only APCOA can do this.  You cannot get a CCJ if you follow the advice here.

Have you approached the hospital management for assistance with this issue?