PCM Apple Blossom Court - Two PCNs one week apart on Sundays, IAS dismissed, refused all settlement

ParkingHelp2026

Hello everyone,

I hope someone can help me with this private parking issue. Here is my full story from start to current situation:

BACKGROUND:

• Location: Apple Blossom Court, London SW8 (private residential area managed by Parking Control Management - PCM).
• Vehicle: (Removed by Forum Team) (my car, now scrapped).
• I am a registered disabled person (Blue Badge holder), sole provider for my wife and 4 young children, and currently in severe financial hardship.

WHAT HAPPENED:
In late August and early September 2025, I visited Apple Blossom Court twice (both on Sundays) to buy a pram/stroller for my baby from someone there.
I entered from the rear access (Pascal Street / Bramley Crescent side).
There was NO visible PCM entrance sign or any clear warning that it was private land with parking restrictions.
I saw only a council "Controlled Zone" sign and double yellow lines, so I genuinely believed it was a public road where Blue Badge allows parking.
I parked briefly and safely without blocking anyone – no intention to break rules, complete genuine mistake.

THE PCNs:

• (Removed by Forum Team) – issued 31 August 2025 (Sunday) – "Parked within a restricted area".
• (Removed by Forum Team) – issued 7 September 2025 (Sunday) – same reason.
  Both were £100 each (with early discount to £60 if paid quickly).

MY APPEALS:

• Internal appeal to PCM: rejected (they said signs were adequate inside the site).
• Appealed to IAS (Independent Appeals Service): dismissed on 20 November 2025.
  Important: The adjudicator noted: "there does not seem to be any entrance warning sign at Pascal Street".
  But they said I should have seen internal signs on lamp posts and opposite my parking spot.

SETTLEMENT ATTEMPTS:
After IAS, I tried to settle reasonably with PCM:

• Offered £60 for one + cancel the other → refused.
• Humanitarian offer: explained disability, 4 children, severe hardship, car scrapped in December 2025 after motorway breakdown (huge recovery costs + loss of transport) → refused.
  They only offered to "hold" one PCN for a short time (e.g. until January 2026), but insisted on full £100 each (£200 total). No discount, no cancellation.

CURRENT SITUATION (February 2026):

• Both PCNs passed to TRACE Debt Recovery.
• Received letters from TRACE demanding £170 each (total £340), threatening County Court Judgment (CCJ), solicitor fees, credit rating damage.
• Last email to TRACE (humanitarian request) – no reply yet.

I cannot afford £340 at all – car is gone, income barely covers basics, and this is causing huge stress for my family.

QUESTIONS:

1. Is it safe to ignore TRACE letters completely at this stage?
2. What should I do if a Letter Before Claim (LBC) arrives from Gladstones or PCM?
3. If it goes to County Court (N1 claim form), what are my chances with this defence (no entrance sign as admitted by IAS, misleading council sign, genuine mistake, severe hardship)?
4. Any similar cases or templates for response/defence?

I have all letters, IAS decision, PCM emails, Google Street View photos of entrance (no PCM sign visible), and can upload them if needed.

Thank you so much for any advice – I really appreciate the help.
Rami

(Images removed by Forum Team)

ParkingHelp2026

Thank you everyone for any help.

Just to add some personal context: I am a registered disabled person (Blue Badge holder), and I am the only financial provider for my wife and our 4 young children. My situation is very difficult right now – my car was scrapped in December 2025 after a major breakdown on the motorway (huge recovery costs), and I have no transport anymore. This has made everything much harder, especially with basic living expenses.

Both PCNs happened on Sundays within one week, when I was trying to buy a pram for my baby – I never intended to break any rules, and there was no clear PCM sign at the entrance I used (Pascal Street). I would have paid the original discounted amount (£60 each, total £120) immediately if I knew it was private land, but the signage was not visible.

I tried many times to settle reasonably with PCM (offered £60 + cancel one, then humanitarian grounds), but they refused everything. Now with TRACE demanding £340, it's impossible for me.

Any advice on ignoring TRACE safely, or what to do if LBC or court papers arrive? I can upload more photos/letters if needed.

Thank you again so much.
(Removed by Forum Team)

ParkingHelp2026

That's how they initially responded to me.

(Images removed by Forum Team)

ParkingHelp2026

That's how they initially responded to me. 2

ParkingHelp2026

(Image removed by Forum Team)

That's how they initially responded to me. 3

ParkingHelp2026

That's how they initially responded to me. 4

masonic

Requesting this is moved from Savings & Investments to Parking Tickets, fines & parking.

Also, you need to remove your personal information from the screenshots.

Nellymoser

@ParkingHelp2026 you're in the right place now to receive help.

Please first read the IMPORTANT notice yellow box near top of this page.

Then go to the NEWBIES 1 of 7 announcement threads on page 1. Read:

POST 4 - Debt Letters and POST 2 Small Claim

Situated near the NEWBIES is the Template defence thread you will use this IF you receive a claim form from CNBC.

Coupon-mad

I don't understand why you keep contacting debt crawlers, why you kept offering money to pay off a scam and why you tried the kangaroo court of the IAS.

Did you think these were real fines and that the IAS was impartial?

It isn't.

You need to read the MSE Guide to Private Parking tickets which was passed by Martin Lewis himself this Summer and is linked at the top of the page (the red 'MSE link').

For goodness sake stop replying to a scam industry of ex-clamper thugs.

Only respond if you get a LBC or Claim Form, or if you move house. That's all.

You'll never have to pay these invoices.

ParkingHelp2026

Thank you everyone for any help.

Just to add some personal context: I am a registered disabled person (Blue Badge holder), and I am the only financial provider for my wife and our 4 young children. My situation is very difficult right now – my car was scrapped in December 2025 after a major breakdown on the motorway (huge recovery costs), and I have no transport anymore. This has made everything much harder, especially with basic living expenses.

Both PCNs happened on Sundays within one week, when I was trying to buy a pram for my baby – I never intended to break any rules, and there was no clear PCM sign at the entrance I used (Pascal Street). I would have paid the original discounted amount (£60 each, total £120) immediately if I knew it was private land, but the signage was not visible.

I tried many times to settle reasonably with PCM (offered £60 + cancel one, then humanitarian grounds), but they refused everything. Now with TRACE demanding £340, it's impossible for me.

Any advice on ignoring TRACE safely, or what to do if LBC or court papers arrive? I can upload more photos/letters if needed.

Thank you again so much.

Jame4ters

As posted above. Don’t think about paying them. Don’t try contacting them. Do read the “Newbies” thread. If you move house do tell them