Colonnades Croydon - private parking charge for overstay

Alan76

Hi - I'm wondering if anyone can help with this. Both my dad and I got identical PCNs for staying longer than 90 minutes at the Colonnades Car Park in Croydon. In what seems to be a clear attempt to rip people off, the car park management recently shortened the length of time customers are allowed to park in this area (which has a lot of restaurants and other venues people usually stay at longer than 90 minutes) without any warning.

This article has further details:
https://insidecroydon.com/2025/11/26/colonnades-management-cuts-customers-free-parking-by-half/

We were at the car park to visit the Nando's there. After I got the parking ticket I went back to Nando's and asked if they could do anything to get the PCNs rescinded, but the manager said there was nothing he could do, although he did tell me that about 10 or 15 people had recently come in with PCNs and asked him the same question.

Below are pictures of my PCN and the signs at the car park. Neither I nor my dad, nor any of the four people with us saw them when we were there, around 7 in the evening on 22 March (when it was still GMT). Most of them are quite small and seem to be made to be deliberately hard to see at night. The first sign almost definitely would go unnoticed by a driver approaching from the left (as we did)

I have looked through the NEWBIES thread but I wonder if there's anything else we can say to appeal these particular PCNs. Any advice would be greatly appreciated - thank you.

[Image removed by Forum Team]

[Image removed by Forum Team]

Coupon-mad

The images show your numberplate which is personal data, so I've reported it and here are redacted pics:

https://insidecroydon.com/2025/11/26/colonnades-management-cuts-customers-free-parking-by-half/

Given that change only happened in late November, under the Joint Code, they were required to add extra signs at the entrance, prominently alerting drivers to changes in restrictions.

Required for 'at least 4 months' (teehee, that was down to me… I suggested that fair timeline for all 'new terms' car parks and the Government agreed).

That takes them to late March at least, when you got your PCN. They had to have extra and very conspicuous 'new rules' signs.

Looks like they didn't. So appeal each PCN on that basis and then to POPLA.

Even if you lose at POPLA you'll never have to pay this invoice so you nay as well cost them a POPLA fee and also ask for the landowner agreement.

But first, complain to the people who run the retail park (mentioned in that article I think). They need to hear shoppers' wrath, even if they ignore you! Do that first.

Alan76

Thanks very much for your advice Coupon-mad, and sorry about the mistake with the PCN image. I've now drafted an initial appeal letter which is a mix of the template in NEWBIES thread and your and my posts. Does it sound OK?

Also, you say we'll never have to pay this even if we lose at POPLA. Is the idea just to get them to send threatening demand letters until they get sick of it?

Re PCN number: UKPA-618-727

I dispute your 'parking charge', as the keeper of the vehicle. I deny any liability or contractual agreement and I will be making a complaint about your predatory conduct to your client landowner.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn. Since your PCN is a vague template, I require an explanation of the allegation and your evidence.

If the allegation concerns a PDT machine, the data supplied in response to this appeal must include the record of payments made - showing partial VRNs - and an explanation of the reason for the PCN, because your Notice does not explain it.

If the allegation involves an alleged overstay of minutes, your evidence must include the actual grace period agreed by the landowner.

I have taken photographs of the signs at the location and they seem to be deliberately designed to be small and not to be seen in the evening or night. In addition, you have changed the rules recently without any warning, as reported in the local press. Under your Code of Conduct, changes to the rules must be clearly displayed for at least four months after they are made. You have not done this.

This shows that you are engaged in unscrupulous, predatory conduct. This is also confirmed by an employee of the restaurant we were visiting at the time, who told me that up to 15 customers had recently complained to him about PCNs issued to them as they were visiting.

Coupon-mad

Yes that looks fine and yes to this too:

"Also, you say we'll never have to pay this even if we lose at POPLA. Is the idea just to get them to send threatening demand letters until they get sick of it?"

But contact the Retail Park Managing Agents FIRST, this week.