APCOA | MAN Airport Drop Off | Debt Recovery Plus engaged during absence

icy_fox

Good evening MSE PCN fighting heroes. After perhaps 12-18 months after successfully defending against predatory parking companies for use of my own space on my own land, I'm back again!

In mid-December, I received a last minute notification that my pregnant partner had been rushed to hospital. She was based in Latvia meaning I needed to get over there as soon as possible. The only flight available was with Ryanair that afternoon.

As Ryanair did not allow for online booking on the day, it had to be booked in person at the airport ASAP, before returning for it that afternoon through alternate travel. The drop off zone was used by someone with my car & when returning to it briefly for a physical payment card, the parking attendant was threatening that a truck was en route tow it away.

Long story short, our son was born happy and healthy later that day! But it was far earlier than expected causing a mad rush, naturally the airport parking was the last thing on my mind at the time. When checking later the next week after finally getting a couple of minutes break from father duties, I went to pay online but the option was not present. Ultimately I have his birth certificate before even accounting for all other reasoning and help on this forum.

Having remained in Latvia to help where possible with neo-natal care and post neo-natal care, I've returned home this evening just over 2 months later to find 2 separate tickets of £100 for the same morning, along with 2 separate threatening letters from "Debt Recovery Plus" each demanding £170:

Ticket 1
PCN Amount: £100
Time: 08:52:39-09:00:22
Contravention details: Use of Pick Up / Drop Off zone without making a valid payment.

Ticket 2
PCN Amount: £100
Time: 08:55:58-08:57:07
Contravention details: Leaving the vehicle unattended

Unfortunately with this having been transferred to DRP while I've been away, I'm concerned that the POPLA appeal window has been missed / it looks like the APCOA set text will do no good. However from reviewing similar threads, I understand the following as next steps:

• Ignore all DRP letters
• No comms to them (phone, email, etc.). It's like they don't exist.

Potential other courses of action:

• Contact Landowner (MAN airport)
• Complain to DVLA (if applicable - I didn't appeal because I didn't see it until now, so unsure on that)
• Complain to BPA
• Complain to the IPC

Obviously I'm happy to do whatever it takes to fight this again. My only consideration with this strategy is I am actually in the process of relocating to Latvia for the next 2 years. It's highly likely I would miss additional comms including a letter before claim if sent. Although you wonderful people helped me to strike off a CCJ I received while absent previously, I'd still prefer to avoid a repeat if possible.

Coupon-mad

Do nothing at all.

APCOA never sue. Ignore the letters.

P.S. congrats on the new baby! 🐣

James_Poisson

Congratulations on the new baby.

C-M is correct of course. APCOA huff and puff but don't go very far they make enough out of car parking and the PCNs that do get paid.

No complaining is going to make a jot of difference just forget it and they aren't in the IPC anyway, your story of what happened on the day will only be looked on as excuses to wriggle out of paying.

Debt collectors will threaten and eventually it will stop.

Airportscandal

Hi, Just wondering if it is still possible to avoid paying the APCOA fine for forgetting to pay the drop off charge of £5 at East Midlands airport.

I tried to pay it for someone who was driving my car 30 mins prior to the drop off, because at 4am, we knew we would forget to pay it. Which is what these companies pray on! It wasn't possible to pre pay.

I even set an alarm on my phone to remind me. So had every intention of paying the £5. Not sure where I was when the alarm went off, but obviously I didn't pay it. Now in receipt of parking charge of £100 reduced to £60 if paid within 28 days.

I've seen templates here for appeals, but not sure if they are still valid as I understand there have been some government interventions in the last few months and not sure of the outcomes of these.

There was clear signage in place about the drop off fee and to pay before midnight. I tried to pay the following day but was unable to.

What I'm not sure about is if the signage actually mentions the fine charges for not paying. Am I right in thinking that if the signage does mention these charges for not paying, that we've entered into a contract with them and have to pay?

Really hoping you guys can advise.

James_Poisson

There is no "fine" APCOA cannot issue a fine, but you should not be hijacking someone else’s thread it gets confusing, you should start your own, but APCOA are useless just don't divulge who the driver is and stick with the advice on here.

Le_Kirk

OR just read any of the airport drop-off group threads.

Coupon-mad

There has been no government intervention, only at railway car parks.