NCP misleading signage appeal - rejected by POPLA

Bristolhomer

Hi,

I stupidly parked in an NCP car park in Bromley and naively thought payment was done via machines like in the old days.

The signage said I could pay 'easily' on departure. The subsequent directions signage then guided me out of the car park and onto the exit ramp with no mention of the machine whatsoever. I was then driving and annoyingly forgot to pay online until it was too late and got a £100 fine.

On revisiting, the only machine is hidden in a corner of the car park with zero signage telling you where it is. (You would have to look back left over your shoulder while driving down a ramp to see it!)

I appealed this to POPLA and naively thought this would be an open-and-shut case. POPLA have rejected it (though they have neglected to explain where the signage is pointing you 'easily' to the machine!).

What are my options here? Pay the £100 or sweat it out and hope they don't take me to court? Don't really like either option TBH! Have also seen people on Google Reviews saying NCP has contacted them offering to cancel their fines when they have left negative reviews in exchange for deleting them.

Any help appreciated, many thanks!

ChirpyChicken

dont pay but there is no sweating it out

Bristolhomer

Thanks, have been Googling and read plenty of advice saying 'ignore them and they will just give up'. But a lot of these were pretty old cases. Is this still the situation? Thanks!

patient_dream

POPLA just like the BPA are simply NOT fit for purpose. Government needs to close both down and introduce a genuine appeals service

Coupon-mad

Bristolhomer said:

Thanks, have been Googling and read plenty of advice saying 'ignore them and they will just give up'. But a lot of these were pretty old cases. Is this still the situation? Thanks!

You Googled too late and likely would have 100% won at POPLA, had you come here before appealing as driver.

The PCN was very likely incapable of 'keeper liability' as NCP ones usually don't use POFA 2012 wording. The keeper appeals. Keeper wins at POPLA. Absolute cinch, missed.

Ignore them.

Tell them and their debt crawlers if you move house, obviously.

Bristolhomer

What a joke NCP are. I left a negative review so they told me to get in touch. I did so and they send me a ridiculous email back saying:

"We do have signage within the car park to advise of the payment options, along with the location of said pay machine – I attach an example of the signage that is in place across the site."

Then attached the pic of this tiny sign stuck to a wall. I didn't see a single one of these, even when I returned to take photos. The signage directly next to the 'hidden' machine actually looks like the other pic I have attached (ushering you to the exit).

How POPLA rejected this is beyond me. I almost offered to pay the £20 they previously offered, but I couldn't bring myself on principle.

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Coupon-mad

Very good. Do nothing. Get on with real life. Tell NCP if you move house. Pop back here only if you get a LBC or claim form.

James_Poisson

Those photos are hilarious they could be anywhere and what is that exit sign supposed to prove anyway?

Bristolhomer

Had a letter from 'Trace Debt Recovery' saying I apparently owe them £170. Am assuming I just need to ignore them - especially considering the hilarious recent news re NCP. Is there anything else? Thanks!

Gr1pr

Ignore, study post 4 in the newbies sticky thread in announcements

Coupon-mad

That letter is pictured in that post.