Smart Parking Ltd PCN – Unpaid Charge – Beechfield Hotel Car Park 1, Blackpool

threesocks

Hey all,

I received a PCN from Smart Parking Ltd in 2022, for the Beechfield Hotel Car Park 1 in Blackpool. They have ANPR captures of my vehicle entering the site at 16:33:54, and leaving the site at 16:47:54.

During that timeframe, I had attempted to pay for parking via the RingGo website. After submitting payment details, the website stalled on a loading screen, indefinitely. Thankfully, I took a picture of my work phone, which shows that the page had originally displayed at 16:39, while the time on my phone shows 16:42.

After waiting a little longer, I decided it was best to leave the car park, as I did not know whether or not my payment was successful. At this time, the web page was still stalled, and I had no confirmation either way.

I appealed to Smart Parking, and POPLA, as well as the hotel. I had admitted to being the driver of the vehicle in these appeals.

I have ignored all further communications, including from Debt Recovery Plus, CST Law, BW Legal, and DCB Legal.

I have received a claim with an issue date of 07 May. My acknowledgment of service was submitted/received on 11/05/2026.

Documents are here:

hXXps://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/0u39pzq64r6tk6qxd2amf/AKvp-14HHjfccacr8x0lQ0k?rlkey=uuuam7m446svgjjh0majogcrp&st=t8pnmszn&dl=0

I'm looking for some help with my defence — I'm intending to use the template as advised, but not sure what to include in my chapter 3.

Thanks in advance, and huge kudos to all of the people who give their time to help others on the forum.

Coupon-mad

There is a current tsunami of Smart Parking claims. So much so, that I now have copy & paste advice ready:

just click on the username @Meltof

Copy their version of a Smart Parking final defence posted on April 12th. 

Don't copy & paste it here as we really don't want to keep being asked to check this defence in thread after thread in May, which is driving us regulars a bit mad with this current Smart Parking batch!

Literally read any Smart thread…

Then follow the 8 steps in the Template Defence thread. It'll be discontinued just before the hearing fee falls due in the Autumn/Winter.

threesocks

Thanks, @Coupon-mad. I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

My concern was that paragraph 3 may not be suitable for my case, since I had admitted in my appeals to being the driver of the vehicle. Is this irrelevant at this stage?

Le_Kirk

With an issue date of 07/05/26 and having completed the AoS in a timely manner your defence deadline date is 4.00 p.m. on 09/06/26

The advice is to copy and past the defence by @Meltof without changes.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82012290#Comment_82012290

Did you get the defence in? Very simple stuff!