Seeking advice on an escalated PCN

tacticaltimeout99

Hi all,

I’d really appreciate some advice on a UKPC parking charge that has now escalated to a Letter of Claim stage.

Background

• Parking company: UK Parking Control (UKPC)
• Location: West Point, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds
• Date of alleged contravention: 02/11/2025
• PCN reason: “Parked displaying a non valid permit”
• Amount now claimed: £170

I am the registered keeper (Scottish address), and the PCN was issued by post. No windscreen ticket was left.

Key facts

• A valid permit was clearly displayed at the time
• UKPC have confirmed in writing that the permit was valid
• The issue is that the permit was for bay 137, but the vehicle was parked in bay 136 (adjacent bay), as another car was in the allocated space

Signage

The sign at the location states:

• Vehicles must be parked within marked bays
• A valid permit must be displayed

It does not state:

• That a permit is only valid for a specific bay
• That parking in a different bay invalidates the permit

Correspondence issues

• I did not receive the original Notice to Keeper, only a “Final Reminder”
• The parking company has not provided proof of posting
• Later debt collection letters were sent to an old address, suggesting tracing issues

Escalation so far

The case has passed through multiple companies:

• UKPC
• ZZPS
• QDR Solicitors
• DCBL
• Now with Moorside Legal Services (Letter of Claim received)

Current position

I submitted a response to the Letter of Claim disputing the debt.
Moorside have replied with a standard evidence pack and are asserting:

• The PCN is compliant with PoFA 2012
• The permit was not valid for the bay
• The £70 add-on is justified under ATA guidelines

They have asked for payment within 7 days.

My main arguments

• A valid permit was displayed (confirmed by UKPC)
• The signage does not require parking in a specific bay
• Therefore, no contractual breach occurred
• The NtK appears non-compliant with PoFA (no period of parking stated)
• Service of documents is disputed

Questions

1. Does my signage argument have strong merit in court?
2. Is the PoFA “period of parking” issue likely to defeat keeper liability?
3. Should I respond again to Moorside or now just wait for a formal Letter Before Claim / claim form?
4. How likely is UKPC to pursue this to court given the circumstances?
5. Any other angles I should be focusing on?

Current plan

I am planning to:

• Maintain my dispute
• Not identify the driver
• Engage at formal pre-action / claim stage
• Prepare a defence if needed

Would really appreciate any guidance or confirmation I’m on the right track, or if my best option is just to pay up…

Thanks in advance.

Gr1pr

If the RK is registered in Scotland, was the incident location in Scotland. ? Seems to have been in England. ?

Has the vehicle always been registered in Scotland or was it previously at an England address ( ( old address. )

Have you studied the advice for Scotland in the newbies sticky thread in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad. ?

Coupon-mad

"I am the registered keeper (Scottish address)"

So why are you engaging with Moorside Legal? They can't take you to English small claims court!

Did you point that out to them?

tacticaltimeout99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82008874#Comment_82008874

Can they not take me to Scottish small claims court? I haven’t thus far mentioned that to them.

Gr1pr

There is no "small claims court " in Scotland, nor can you get a CCJ in Scotland either

Plus, at the moment POFA2012 is not on the current menu for Scotland until at least 2027

Car1980

What a merry go round of solicitors! Only Gladstones is missing!

DCB Legal know they can't deal with Scottish ones, so it's amusing to see DCBL bat it back.

What's the collective noun for clowns?