UK CPM postal PCN – keeper lives abroad – timeline & next steps advise please

johnnyy

Hi all, I’d really appreciate some advice. I’ve read the NEWBIES thread and followed the guidance so far.

Background

• I live/work outside the UK. I visited in September 2025 and left on 3 Oct 2025.

• I did not receive any PCN before leaving on 3 Oct.

• I first became aware of the PCN on 1 Nov 2025 when a relative identified the letter at my former UK address.

• Alleged contravention: 28 Sep 2025, “Parked outside a designated area” on a private road. 

• The postal UK CPM PCN (no windscreen ticket) is dated 30 Sep 2025. Actual delivery date is unknown, but it arrived after I’d left.

• I’ve also received a “Final Chance Before Action” letter dated 17 Oct 2025.

• I was the registered keeper of the vehicle which I sold before leaving the UK.

What I’ve done

Appealed as keeper using the NEWBIES template (I have not named the driver).

Explained I live abroad and only became aware on 1 Nov; I can provide evidence of overseas residency.

Given I’m overseas, what’s the best strategy from here?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Umkomaas

Are you permanently domiciled abroad?  Are you likely to have your address there for the next six years?

Le_Kirk

If you are resident abroad, the information you need is in the NEWBIE sticky; write to the DPO of the PPC (dpo@uk-cpm.com) and give them your address for service overseas.  If you have proof of that address, it will help your case.

Car1980

Usually they lie and claim you had 28 days to name the driver, which is fraud to put it bluntly. So head them off at the pass and send them this:

Dear CPM

This email is to inform you that the driver on the day and time you allege is:

Name, address, country

By naming the driver of the vehicle above any obligations as keeper have been discharged under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012:

Right to claim unpaid parking charges from keeper of vehicle

4(1) The creditor has the right to recover any unpaid parking charges from the keeper of the vehicle.

(2) The right under this paragraph applies only if—

(a) the conditions specified in paragraphs 5 [are met]

Conditions that must be met for purposes of paragraph 4

5(1)The first condition is that the creditor—

(a) has the right to enforce against the driver of the vehicle the requirement to pay the unpaid parking charges; but

(b) is unable to take steps to enforce that requirement against the driver because the creditor does not know both the name of the driver and a current address for service for the driver.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1)(b) ceases to apply if (at any time after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the notice to keeper is given) the creditor begins proceedings to recover the unpaid parking charges from the keeper.

Do not fraudulently claim I had 28 days to give you this information - we both know the timescale is "up until proceedings are issued".

Now you have actual knowledge of the driver identity (name and address), the conditions in paragraph 5 are no longer met, so the right to pursue the keeper is extinguished. The fact the address is abroad is of no relevance as it is still a serviceable address.

You must now also ERASE all information you hold about me under the GDPRs.

johnnyy

Umkomaas said:

Are you permanently domiciled abroad?  Are you likely to have your address there for the next six years?

Thank you for the comments guys.

Yes, I am currently permanently domiciled aboard, have an address here and likely to still be here for the next 6 years.

The thing though, is that I have only recently left the UK to work aboard, since early 2025.

Another point is I have actually sold my car as well on Sep 30, guess not that it matters since the alleged contravention is on Sep 28th.

Umkomaas

Just follow advice from Le_Kirk above. Your 'address for service' for the purpose of this PCN is now the one outside of the uk. If, after you've followed above, you get more garbage from them, come back. 

johnnyy

Umkomaas said:

Just follow advice from Le_Kirk above. Your 'address for service' for the purpose of this PCN is now the one outside of the uk. If, after you've followed above, you get more garbage from them, come back. 

Thank you very much @Umkomaas and @Le_Kirk

Any chance if you could help me to review the email to the DPO of UKCPM please? Wouldn't want to miss anything, thank you so much!

To: Data Protection Officer, UK CPM

I am the registered keeper at the material time for VRM Veh Reg regarding PCN NUMBER.

For the avoidance of doubt, I do not identify the driver.

1) Rectification – Address for Service

Under UK GDPR Article 16, rectify my records to show my address for service as:

ADDRESS OUTSIDE UK

Use ONLY this address for all correspondence, including any pre-action or court papers.

I left the UK before any correspondence was delivered to my former UK address.

2) Objection & Restriction

Under Articles 21 and 18, I object to and require you to cease any processing that uses my

former UK address for contact. Restrict processing so that no correspondence is sent there.

3) Erasure (former address)

Under Article 17, erase my former UK address from your active correspondence fields and

from any third-party systems used for contact. If you believe you must retain it as historic

data to comply with legal obligations, you must nonetheless cease using it for contact.

4) Third parties

Confirm you have notified all agents (e.g. debt collection or legal firms) to update their

records and to write only to my OVERSEAS address above.

5) Vehicle disposal (context)

For your records, the vehicle was disposed/sold on 30 September 2025. I was the keeper at

the material time of the alleged event on 28 September 2025.

Please confirm in writing that:

(a) my address for service has been updated as above,

(b) my former UK address has been removed from contact use,

(c) your agents have been instructed accordingly.
(d) all previously issued correspondence be re-issued to my current address in (COUNTRY)

Regards,

Registered Keeper (at the material time)

VRM: Veh Reg | PCN: PCN Number | Appeal Ref: Number

ChirpyChicken

Remove all the waffle 
Just mention the charge of address ..the rest is just not relevant 
You should include proof as well..it does help 

johnnyy

ChirpyChicken said:

Remove all the waffle 
Just mention the charge of address ..the rest is just not relevant 
You should include proof as well..it does help 

Thank you so much! I will proceed to email them. I am sending them overseas bank statement and passport as proof. Really appreciate all the help!!

Umkomaas

johnnyy said:

ChirpyChicken said:

Remove all the waffle 
Just mention the charge of address ..the rest is just not relevant 
You should include proof as well..it does help 

Thank you so much! I will proceed to email them. I am sending them overseas bank statement and passport as proof. Really appreciate all the help!!

Have you not got a utility bill (or similar) with your overseas address on it?  I wouldn't be giving an unregulated private parking firm sight of your bank statement. Not sure what your passport proves, and again, much too sensitive a document to send a copy their way. 

johnnyy

Umkomaas said:

johnnyy said:

ChirpyChicken said:

Remove all the waffle 
Just mention the charge of address ..the rest is just not relevant 
You should include proof as well..it does help 

Thank you so much! I will proceed to email them. I am sending them overseas bank statement and passport as proof. Really appreciate all the help!!

Have you not got a utility bill (or similar) with your overseas address on it?  I wouldn't be giving an unregulated private parking firm sight of your bank statement. Not sure what your passport proves, and again, much too sensitive a document to send a copy their way. 

I actually do not have utility bills as I live with my parents and the bills are in their name.

For the bank statement I have redacted most of the information, and only kept the bank's letter head, my name and address as well as part of the account number.

I am sending my overseas passport with my name and dob as proof of ID. I have redacted my photo and passport number and all the barcodes etc.