PCM PCN (BP Garage) – IAS lost – ‘non-patron / left site’ – worth fighting or pay?

alistair79

Hi all!

I’d really appreciate some guidance on a private parking charge that I’ve taken as far as I can and am now unsure how best to proceed.

Summary:

• Operator: Parking Control Management (UK) Ltd (PCM)
• Location: BP petrol station, Stoke Newington Road (N16)
• Date: xx/12/2025
• Reason: “Non-patron parking” (alleged I left the site)
• Amount now: £100 (was £60 initially)

What’s happened so far:

• I appealed to PCM → rejected
• I then appealed via IAS → appeal dismissed
• I’ve now received a “Final Reminder” demanding £100, with threats of £170 and possible court action

My position:
I genuinely had no idea this was a restricted parking area. There is a sign, but it’s mounted high and sits next to a large advertising board. From a driver’s perspective it’s not prominent or readable before parking.

I briefly stopped intending to go into the shop but had to leave urgently due to a call about my daughter. I didn’t deliberately ignore any terms.

My appeal focused on:

• Lack of clear entrance signage
• No driver-eye-level visibility of terms
• Signage being visually dominated by advertising

PCM’s evidence relied on:

• Close-up photos of signage
• Claim that signage is “clear and IPC compliant”
• Photos of me returning to the vehicle

The IAS sided with them, saying signage was “sufficiently clear”.

Where I am now:
I strongly object on principle and don’t feel this is fair or properly signposted. I’m minded not to pay, but I want to sanity-check the risk and next steps.

Questions:

1. Is this the kind of PCM / IAS case that’s typically worth continuing to resist?
2. How often do PCM actually take these “non-patron / leaving site” cases to court?
3. Is their signage argument likely to hold up if it ever did go to small claims?
4. Should I engage with anything further now, or just ignore unless I receive a Letter Before Claim?

Any advice from those experienced with PCM or similar cases would be hugely appreciated.

Thanks in advance! Appreciate any insight or advice

Malchick

Jame4ters

IAS are not a real independent appeals company so no surprise that you “lost” there.

Follow the steps outlined in the “ Newbies” thread.

There have been a number of “left site” threads recently. Have a read of them.

Don’t pay

Car1980

They never have any evidence of patrons leaving the site, so not easy for them in court.

The IAS reject 96% of claims. You could argue they're running a fraudulent operation, but nobody cares to investigate them.

Now it's £100 you might as well just take on any court claim because you've not much to lose in the grand scheme of things.

Think about what denotes the boundary of the site. Are there lines? Is there a small fence? Who's to say what "leaving the site" means? A phone call where you wander onto some grass on the outskirts is hardly leaving the site.

Coupon-mad

Please post the IAS decision in my IAS Decisions thread asap. I need more evidence for the MHCLG that it's a kangaroo court.