Double Dip Cheltenham Spa Railway Station

RunningBlind

I have been sent a 'double dip' PCN by APCOA, (October 2025); nothing unusual in circumstances, in/out to drop-off train passenger in morning; returned evening in/out to pick-up; in/out both times within minutes, no waiting around.

I've read the "Newbies" thread (thanks to all for information there), prepared draft appeal, but would like advice on the following, if anyone has suggestions:-

Plan A

1. Is there any point in contacting the landowner to assist cancelling the PCN?  Its difficult enough to find who is the landowner (landholder) in this instance & I feel unlikely to get a response before appeal deadline.  I do intend to submit a formal complaint.
2. Does the PPC have to disclose who the landowner is (evidence request in Appeal)?

Plan B Appeal to PPC

1. Any reason not to submit asap?  I am in day 11.
2. I am proposing to request all ANPR vehicle images for relevant day in addition to the 2 used to construct the PCN.  There should be at least 2 more images (morning exit & evening re-entry).
3. Any reason not to state the vehicle was elsewhere and not parked on the car park, PPC has made a mistake, etc.,?

Many thanks.

Coupon-mad

No reason to wait and no reason not to state the vehicle was elsewhere and not parked on the car park, PPC has made a mistake. However it's a good idea not to admit to driving.

Penalty Notice or Parking Charge Notice?

RunningBlind

Hi. Thanks for your comment, I'll get on with appeal.

Its a Parking Charge Notice.

Coupon-mad

RunningBlind said:

Hi. Thanks for your comment, I'll get on with appeal.

Its a Parking Charge Notice.

Easy one then. Do not admit to driving. Appeal as keeper (the person named on the PCN) and say this is an ANPR error 'double dip' case. State the approx times of the missing camera images of the 'out' and 'return' but don't say 'me' or 'I' when talking about the car's whereabouts.

Finish by saying this is a non-POFA PCN anyway so they can't win at POPLA, so cancel and apologise immediately for data abuse. There was no reasonable cause to get DVLA data in a double dip case.

Car1980

Yep. Tell them rather than "appealing".

RunningBlind

Thanks all round for your guidance - very reassuring.

The appeal was successful - pleased to report that PCN is cancelled.  No explanation or apology.

Any thoughts on whether a claim for compensation for data abuse is realistically worth pursuing?

I have stumbled on a recent Gov.UK closed consultation for Private parking code of practice - 5 Sept 2025.  I'm I right to believe this is current & yet another attempt by MHCLG to enact a government CoP?

If so, a letter to the local MP would be well timed then.

Nellymoser

Recognising 'double dip' incidents, providing an explanation and an apology for their failings are skills the parking operator has yet to learn 🙄

You can read the forum's 29 page thread on:
Parking Code of Practice Consultation 2025 - now let's see what happens

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81753661/#Comment_81753661

RunningBlind

Hi, thanks for the link above. I've been following this and wish you good luck. Also in News / Media, noticed the thread on recent CMA fine and a suggestion to report double dips where there is evidence of breach of CRA 2015.

I have Subject Access Request info from PPC with a list, presumably the ANPR data stream (the document doesn't identify the data source), containing 3 ANPR records (out of 4), one record conveniently ignored to manufacture the PCN, thus misrepresenting available data. Is this the kind of evidence to warrant a meaningful referral to CMA? I'm willing to follow through if this would support the push-back. Let me know your thoughts.

Coupon-mad

I think double dips are one for the ICO.

ICO online complaints are easy but you firstly have to complain to the company and exhaust that avenue first.