Premier Park PCN - MARKHAM VALE RETAIL PARK, CHESTERFIELD

thiefinshadows

Hi all, just thought I’d post on here to see the best course of action and if I’m better off just paying the PCN or waiting to see if it goes to court and if I’ll likely win should the matter go to court?

On the 30th of November 2025 I have visited Markham Vale retail park in Chesterfield to go to the pet shop on there as a friend mentioned it and said it was quite good. I have parked in the retail park car park which said it was free parking and I have gone into the shop as intended and made a purchase. I have then gone back to the van and put the purchases in the van at which point my partner has told me that there is an Asda home just over the other side. We have left the van where it is and gone to the Asda home living without thinking anything of it. Two weeks of past and I have a letter in the post which is allegedly dated 2nd december, Although I didn’t receive it until the 15th of December stating that I had left site and therefore I was liable for a PCN. 

it is only after receiving the PCN that I have checked and has Asda home living is actually part of Ravenside retail park however there is only a small service road that separates the two retail parks and therefore I believed that they were one in the same so didn’t think I’d need to move the van into the other car park adjoining the other retail park.

it wasn’t until after already appealing because it was the last day to appeal according to the date of the letter that I should’ve asked for proof that I had left the retail park as the pictures were taken at 12:08 but they had dated the incident time at 12:52. Nevertheless I appealed on the basis that as a genuine customer to the retail park it is unfair to penalise me for the sake of 10 minutes for attending and adjoining retail park and therefore it is unreasonable to expect for me to know that the adjoining retail park isn’t part and one in the same.

I’m still waiting to hear back from the appeal however I anticipate that they will reject their appeal and then I will appeal to POPLA which I anticipate will also be rejected.

I guess what I’m asking is should I just pay the £60 now or wait to see if they take me to court or if anybody has any advice on how to appeal to POPLA To stand the best chance of winning. And also, if this matter where to go to court, what would the chances of me winning be as I’m aware that “ Sorry I didn’t realise” isn’t a defence on its own.

thanks in advance.

ChirpyChicken

oh dear another person who admitted leaving site when there was zero need
I really fail to understand why people do this to themselves

thiefinshadows

ChirpyChicken said:

oh dear another person who admitted leaving site when there was zero need
I really fail to understand why people do this to themselves

Although true, not particularly helpful, thank you ☺️

Coupon-mad

It is a rookie error. You'd have easily won at appeal (because they had no evidence) but thanks to this inadvisable first appeal, you now can't be sure if you win at POPLA or not.

Not that it matters. Read the MSE Guide.

thiefinshadows

Coupon-mad said:

It is a rookie error. You'd have easily won at appeal (because they had no evidence) but thanks to this inadvisable first appeal, you now can't be sure if you win at POPLA or not.

Not that it matters. Read the MSE Guide.

Do you think I’m better off just paying it? 

thiefinshadows

Coupon-mad said:

Pardon?    

The PCN, am I better off paying it or do you think they’re unlikely to take me to court?

Coupon-mad

You didn't need to repeat it: I am not giving the first question the time of day!

Show me where, in my 157,000 posts here, have I ever said someone should PAY an unfair parking charge?!

thiefinshadows

Coupon-mad said:

You didn't need to repeat it: I am not giving the first question the time of day!

Show me where, in my 157,000 posts here, have I ever said someone should PAY an unfair parking charge?!

Check your tone, and read it again? I think you’ve misunderstood? I was asking a genuine question from someone that has commented on my thread who seems more knowledgable than I. 

It was a yes or no answer really, which could have been followed up by an explanation.

ChirpyChicken

thiefinshadows said:

Coupon-mad said:

You didn't need to repeat it: I am not giving the first question the time of day!

Show me where, in my 157,000 posts here, have I ever said someone should PAY an unfair parking charge?!

Check your tone, and read it again? I think you’ve misunderstood? I was asking a genuine question from someone that has commented on my thread who seems more knowledgable than I. 

It was a yes or no answer really, which could have been followed up by an explanation.

No you never pay.

Coupon-mad

thiefinshadows said:

Coupon-mad said:

You didn't need to repeat it: I am not giving the first question the time of day!

Show me where, in my 157,000 posts here, have I ever said someone should PAY an unfair parking charge?!

Check your tone, and read it again? I think you’ve misunderstood? I was asking a genuine question from someone that has commented on my thread who seems more knowledgable than I. 

It was a yes or no answer really, which could have been followed up by an explanation.

The answer is no.

No need for more explanations because all this is covered either on the forum:

- NEWBIES FAQs thread

or

- in the official MSE Guide linked at the top of the page (it was checked and agreed by Martin Lewis himself).

Coupon-mad

Just to add:

I haven't seen any Premier Park claims in years. I think some PPCs are happily living off the proceeds of all the £170 payments from victims who actually think they have to pay debt collectors on receipt of a template letter.

After all, the PPC makes more money that way: higher than face value PCN because they share the extra spoils £35/£35 in many cases.