EV Parking Fine - Reading Station

EDW1295

Hi all,

Looking for some advice on a Parking Charge I received last week at Reading Long Stay Car Park.

I arrived at reading station and connected my car to the EV charger. There is no signal within the car park that was strong enough to establish a connection so I went outside where I reconnected and the holding payment went through (of which I did screenshot), and also no decline of my car connecting. So I hopped on the train and believe all was well.

I arrived back to Reading quite late to be greeted with a Parking Charge on my windscreen, which states that the parking attendant had "Reasonable cause to believe that the following contravention occurred: Misuse of electric vehicle bay (vehicle not charging)." I was also less pleased to find my car was not charged.

Second to this, the Parking Charge was issued approx. 8 hours after I arrived at the car park, and at this point, if my car had connected, it would have finished charging at this point. However, the notice does not mention about over staying welcome of EV parking space.

I returned home and went to appeal and there it no notice of my parking charge on the APCOA website (it was over 24 hours when I checked), I have checked again today and still not able to view the evidence against me. I have emailed APCOA to inform them that there was no parking charge for my vehicle and asked them to confirm, however, I have not heard back yet. I did not provide them with the reference number, only my registration as I don't want to give them the satisfaction of adding at a later date.

I attempted to connect, I attempted to pay, I attempted to appeal and I have contacted them to notify them of the issues I am experiencing.

The reason I contacted them is because it is a company car and I have notified my company to not respond or pay if they contact them and to come straight to me due to the above. I was going to attempt to complain to Reading Council, but not sure if this is the best course of action at this stage?

Is there anything else I should do, or have I done everything I need to? Any additional help on the appeal (if I every get there) would be helpful also.

TIA.

Gr1pr

Your tasks so far seem correct , but i haven't a clue why you believe that Reading Council would be interested. ?

Surely it would be the TOC. ?

EDW1295

My thought was because the company operate within Reading and upon reading after I attended the car park, they have a lot of complaints against them with people accusing them of 'scamming' and there charging points never actually working, but I have not had a charge before so covering all basis.

Sorry, what is TOC?

Gr1pr

TOC, the Train Operating Company that is in charge of the station ( unless its TfL for some reason. ? )

If bylaws are in place, I think that the council would refer you to the operator

EDW1295

The operator that manages the car park is APCOA who are the ones that have not responded to me regarding no charge on there system. If I do not hear anything back, to complain further to them for no evidence and lack of response? It does say its Private Land.

Umkomaas

If the vehicle is registered to your company, they should receive the Notice to Keeper around a month after the date of the parking event. They should formally transfer liability - following the process detailed on the NtK - to you (just handing you the NtK to deal with won’t do), then, once you receive the APCOA parking charge in your name, you follow the advice in the NEWBIES FAQ Announcement, post number ONE.

This is very definitely winnable (if necessary at POPLA) - you shouldn’t even contemplate paying APCOA!

Gr1pr

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931083#Comment_81931083

The private parking company contractor may well be APCOA, but they are acting for the actual operator of the station, which is either a Train Operating Company, or perhaps TfL. Google implies that its GWR !

I am surprised that you are using a station and trains yet dont know who the TOC is

p00hsticks

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81931105#Comment_81931105

It's managed by Network Rail according to National Rail Enquiries

Reading Station | National Rail

Gr1pr

But Network Rail are the Network operator for railways and stations ( the old Railtrack etc )

First Great Western appear to run the station facilities, so i think FGW hired Apcoa

Coupon-mad

Slow down. Stop contacting APCOA and telling them who was driving!

My goodness by not telling them, that's your 100% win. Don't bin it!

patient_dream

With your sdtory you should win at POPLA. If not it may go to court and it will no doubt be Reading County Court.

Reading court is a bit of of a graveyard for parking companies and judges look at claims as regime. Helping others on here, I have been in Reading county court 3 times and watched 3 different judges dismiss claims and award costs against the parking companies

As said DO NOT NAME THE DRIVER