Stansted Airport - Duplicate charges for the same visit

scaredycat75

Hello,

I'm new here....hi!

I've received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus in relation to some charges I incurred at Stansted Airport and wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience.

I went to Stansted Airport as my daughter had an open day at the Airport College in June, and the directions included an image of the terminal as the place to pick up the bus, in the quick 15 min drop off/pick up zone.  Apparently, that was the wrong place and she had to make her way to the bus station elsewhere in the terminal.   She is 16, and had just missed a bus.  We had to wait half an hour for the next one making her late, she was very distressed and upset, and I couldn't leave her so waited with her to get the bus before I left. 

Two things I am now aware of and that did happen......
1.  I did leave my vehicle unattended
2.  I did overstay the 15 mins designation drop off time.

In July I received a PCN for leaving my vehicle unattended, and paid it at the reduced amount of £60.00.  A few weeks later, I received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus asking me to make payment of £170.00 I provided proof of payment and the case handler said the case would be on hold.  I assumed everything was in order and thought no more about it. 

Yesterday, I received another letter from Debt Recovery Plus - who have just informed me that I received a SECONDARY PCN for the same visit  - for not paying after exit the gates.  You can't pay at the gates anymore - they've conveniently taken that away for money making purposes.   When I got home I logged online to pay and it said I couldn't make payment online - I assumed it was because I was over the 15 minutes.  Again, life goes on I've forgotten about it. 

So basically - is it right that I should receive 2 PCNs for the same occasion by date/time at Stansted Airport please?  I never received the 2nd one - asked for proof, which has just been emailed to me.  

It feels very unfair to receive 2 charges for the same date, I've made payment on the first PCN received, no problem, it was inline with the charges.  I wasn't expecting a 2nd charge.  I also pointed out that their case handler should have explained this to me back in August, he apologised and said as a gesture of goodwill, they would reduce the current charge of £170 by 10%, or I could have an interest free 10 month plan. 

I'm so angry, but what can I do - do I just have to pay this charge which feels very unreasonable, given that I put my hands up and paid the first charge believing that was for full and final settlement of the charge?

I'd be so grateful for your help please.

Thank you
ScaredyCat.

ChirpyChicken

No you just ignore DRP as per the advice already given on here

Coupon-mad

In July I received a PCN for leaving my vehicle unattended, and paid it at the reduced amount of £60

Can I ask why you paid? It wasn't a fine and didn't have to be paid. Stop contacting scammers.

NEXT TIME COME HERE FIRST.  

We know how to get every parking operator's PCN cancelled (advice may differ for each one and will change in 2026). But you are best NOT ignoring the first PCN. Most are a cinch to beat and yours would have been!

Ignore DRAs. Ignore all £170 threatograms.

Still unsure that we are right? Just click on the words underneath the little red 'MSE link' in the small 'Parking Ticket Appeals' banner at the top of this page which leads to the MSE Guide to fight PCNs.

Same info is shown in both this forum and in that Guide, as regards the debt recovery letters being a futile stage and ignoring these demands being risk-free as long as you don't miss or ignore a Court Claim (easy to defend).

Consistent advice here is easy to find and not just from random strangers. The MSE Guide is official 'Martin Lewis backed' advice.