UKPC Parking Charge for Motorcycle

Rocketss

Hi all, first time posting on here.

Apologies for the long post, I thought I would explain what happened, what my thought process was and what actions I've taken so far, and also upload photos of the parking area as well as all the letters that I have received to date from UKPC, so you have all the info.
Any assistance with this would be very much appreciated!

On the 24th December 2025, I parked my motorcycle in a local shopping centre car park as I was visiting a cafe. When I arrived there were no parking spaces available and so I left my bike where I could see it from the cafe and where I thought was safe to do so, without obstructing any vehicles or pedestrians. Please note, I was in a rush and although appreciate it's not an ideal spot, I'm not playing stupid nor it's a case that I was certain I shouldn't park there, but I did it anyway - I genuinely thought it'd be fine there for a few minutes as it's in a corner no pedestrians ever go.

Correct me if wrong, but to my knowledge, motorcycles could be legally parked behind bollards, even on the pavement, as long as they do not endanger or obstruct anybody?
But I appreciate that I had parked on a UKPC car park and so there are different rules.
I've been parking my car on the car parks around this shopping centre for the last 10 years, with zero issues, and also completely unaware that those car parks were monitored in any shape or form as they've always been free. Since receiving my PCN I was told by other locals that the signage and the whole UKPC monitoring thing has begun fairly recently, a few months ago, but I personally have never heard of it to this point.

Soon after my arrival at the cafe a car bay became available right in front of the cafe so I moved my bike there, but my bike has already been seen by the warden, parked on the initial spot. It turned out there is a large dedicated motorcycle only parking area, right next to where I left my bike initially, but unfortunately I didn't see it at the time as there were people on it.

Fast forward to the 19th Jan 2026 - I received my PCN from UKPC, dated 09th Jan. Unfortunately I do not have proof that I received it on the 19th, but even then the letter is dated 09th Jan, which is still over the 14th day notice period to reach the registered keeper.

First thing I did was to go to the location and see if there were any signs and I took a bunch of photos of the area. I also read online a little bit about the parking company and what potential options I've got. Based on what I read, I decided to not contact UKPC and appeal. I then received a second letter, with a red FINAL REMINDER title, and so I decided to seek legal advice, by going to the local Citizen Adviser Bureau.
At the CAB I was told by the advisor they currently cannot give me legal advice on the matter, so they'll make a telephone appointment with a person who can. After a long waiting period I had my call with the specialist, today 23rd Feb, only to be told they are not a legal specialist and they cannot give me any legal advice, but what they actually would advise is for me to either pay or try and appeal with UKPC, even though I've already missed the deadline for appeal. They think there is no point going to Court as I would lose, due to the spot I have left my bike on.
They also told me I was wrong on the 14th calendar days notice period and it's actually business days that I should count. That's not what Google says, so please if anybody on here could clarify? I received the letter 15 business days after, but again, I do not have proof of the date I received it.

Prior to this call I thought I had a leg to stand on with the 14 day notice period and also that I will get a proper legal advice and I was wrong on both, based on what the advisor said, so currently I'm left with the choice of paying £170 to clear the PCN, try contact UKPC and appeal or wait for a Court date and try defend in Court.

I also have receive another two letters with Debt Recovery Notice, since my initial visit at CAB.

So I came to ask for your opinion if you think there is any point of me trying to defend it, considering where I had initially parked, or I should pay to avoid any further problems?

I was told by the advisor that debt collectors will be sent and might attempt to clamp my car on my drive, which I'm not happy about that they are allowed to enter my gated property and touch my car.

Any advice would be much appreciated!
Thanks!


The green dots in the photos show where my bike was park, before I move it to an actual bay. Also you can see literally next to it is the motorcycle only parking, where I've never ever seen any bikes parked there, and I didn't see the text on the ground then as there were people gathered there.
The rest of the photos I've included is to show that all other spots for motorbikes are behind bollards too, which is confusing to me personally.

Gr1pr

Its calendar days, not business days, for Pofa2012 compliance , arrival by day 15 in England and Wales

These UKPC cases may get to a court, your local civil court, but are usually dropped before the hearing fee is due to be paid

See the discontinuations thread by Umkomaas

Meanwhile, IGNORE them

Come back to this thread if you receive a Letter of Claim or a Money Claim

Debt Collectors only send out powerless debt collectors letters, nothing else, nobody will be coming round nothing will be clamped, pure fiction

Rocketss

Thank you, I will wait for now and come back if I receive a Letter of Claim.

Coupon-mad

"I decided to seek legal advice, by going to the local Citizen Adviser Bureau."

Oh dear. Waste of time!

Not only do CABs not give legal advice but most advisers are clueless on private parking charges, as is their national website advice.

They are totally wrong about court stage because little do they know, DCB Legal always discontinue defended UKPC cases.

Rocketss

Yes, it was a total waste of time, but I didn't know beforehand. They kept saying to me "we do not give legal advice, we're here to support you" which I'm not quite sure what it means at this point, especially after they gave me actually wrong advise…

I'm not from the UK so I really appreciate the help this forum provides, otherwise I'd have had to hire a lawyer.

Cheers!

Rocketss

Come back to this thread if you receive a Letter of Claim or a Money Claim

@Gr1pr just so I understand better, what would receiving those mean and what would my options be then?

James_Poisson

Such a shame you didn't just come here first you could have killed this at POPLA, on the 14 day rule if the driver was not divulged.

All the waffle on what happened on the day is mostly irrelevant and I glazed over to be honest.

Debt collectors are powerless they will just send scary letters which aren't scary you only have an alleged debt it hasn't been proven so they can't do anything.

You will eventually get a robo claim which has been UKPC's next scare tactic for some years, but a defended single incident case like this will go to the wire and they will throw in the towel before it costs them anything.

You are now in a game of hold your nerve.

Rocketss

Such a shame you didn't just come here first you could have killed this at POPLA, on the 14 day rule if the driver was not divulged.

Thank for your reply @James_Poisson

Are you saying the 14 day rule is no longer a valid thing, and if so, could you clarify why please?

And I haven't been in touch with them at all, so they do not know who was the driver.

Coupon-mad

The 14 days for service was missed, so that is a valid point and would go into your defence paragraph 3.

Just read post 4 (with the pictures of £170 letters to ignore) then post 2 of it, which tells you about our template defence.

Until you receive the LBC (see post 2 of the NEWBIES thread) do nothing unless you move house.

Rocketss

Apologies I did not see this information when I searched prior to my post.

A lot of great info that answers all my questions, I will have a proper read.

Many thanks!

patient_dream

Once you have read the info, please bear this in mind …

1: On UKPC headed paper they say "UNPAID PARKING CHARGE £170 ? WRONG IT IS £100. UKPC HAVE ADDED A FAKE AMOUNT OF £70. UKPC ARE NOT DEBT COLLECTORS, they pass this to one of the dodgy debt collectors

2: Thry state "not parked within the markings of the bay or space" You were in neither What do the signs say …. if you can read the small print

This is surely a case of passing this to CMA to investigate as this type of correspondence is not in the public interest and is misleading