LOC from BW Legal | UK CPM | Worth fighting re signage?

TheGreySection

Hi 

Thank you very much for all your efforts in putting together the information on this forum; it is appreciated. 

I parked in the car park of a closed carpet shop managed by UK CPM on 27 October 2024. Didn't notice any signs in relation to parking restrictions until I returned to the car then couldn't make head nor tail of the "restrictions" when I did notice them. I have now received a LOC from BW Legal in relation to this. 

I have two main questions. 

1. Do I have any prospect of successfully defending a claim on the basis of the signage in the car park I was alleged to have breached the parking restrictions in respect of (photos linked below)? My sense is that it is not immediately clear and obvious whether or not you can park in the car park on a Sunday when the store is close and you cannot physically get to the kiosk. But thought I'd defer to the experts. 

hxxps://postimg.cc/gallery/cK28ctQ

2. Is there anything else to be done currently pending notification of the court claim other than continue to badger the landowner / retailer (assuming I have any reasonable prospect of defending the claim)?

I've set out the brief facts of my situation below. 

Thanks in advance for any help!

------------------------

- Received PCN dated 1 November 2024 from UK CPM. 

- Received follow up "final chance" letter on 18 November 2024. 

- Received letter from BW Legal dated 21 August 2025. 

- Received LOC from BW Legal dated 25 September 2025. 

- Replied to LOC on 6 October 2025 as set out below. 

• "I write in response to your Letter of Claim dated 25 September 2025 regarding the alleged parking charge notice issued on 27 October 2024 at [   ].

  I confirm that my address for service is [    ].

  For the avoidance of doubt, my propensity to pay score is zero. I will be vigorously defending any claim brought against me on the basis that the signage at the car park was inadequate and did not clearly set out the terms and conditions alleged to have been breached. I dispute that any contractual licence was properly granted or that the terms and conditions were sufficiently brought to my attention. 

  Please provide:

  - A copy of the PCN (reference: [      ]).

  - Evidence of my alleged failure to comply with any terms and conditions. 

  - Full details of the signage in place at the location on the date of the alleged contravention, including photographs and a site plan.

  - A copy of the contract between UK Car Park Management Limited and the landowner authorising enforcement and the issuing of parking charge notices at the site.

  - Evidence of compliance with the relevant Parking Code(s) of Practice.

  I remind you of your obligations under the Civil Procedure Rules Pre-Action Protocol for Debt Claims. Please ensure that all requested documents and information are provided before any proceedings are commenced. 

  I do not admit the debt and dispute liability for the reasons stated above. Please treat this letter as my formal response under the Pre-Action Protocol.

  Please confirm and acknowledge receipt of this email."

- Contacted freehold landowner and retailer. Freehold landowner asked retailer to cancel ticket. Retailer asked UK CPM to cancel the ticket. They refused to do so on the basis that the PCN was too old and they had incurred further costs by passing to a debt collector. 

- Received below reply from BW Legal on 8 October 2025. 

• "Good afternoon,  We write to you in reference of your recent telephone conversation.  Please see attached images and letters, as provided by our client.  Please be advised that this matter has been placed on hold and a query has been raised with our client for the signage.  Once we have received further information from our client, you will be contacted with an update. Please note that we will not be providing a copy of the agreement between our Client and the landowner. The document is commercially sensitive and shall only be produced if the matter progresses to formal hearing at Court.  However we can confirm that our Client holds the necessary right with the landowner to issue PCN's and take legal action to recover outstanding balances where needed.  Please note that compliance with relevant codes of practice should be set out on the signage our Client will provide in due course.  Should you have any further queries please contact our office on 0113 487 0430, or sign in or register on our Customer Portal at [ ]. Alternatively you could contact us via live chat at [ ] which is open from Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm and Saturday 9am - 2:45pm. As the issue has been resolved, no further action is required from you at this time. If you would like to view the full contact history or submit a new query, please log into our Customer Portal by clicking here.

  Yours sincerely,

  BW Legal"

Car1980

What is the actual reason according to them for the charge?

Is the retailer the landowner?