Parking Charge Notice or Notice to Keeper.

ma1233455667

Hello everyone,

I am hoping someone can help me as I am really struggling with a private parking charge and do not know what to do next.

Here is my situation:

On 11th April 2026 I attended a private event at a Holiday Inn hotel in the Manchester area. The event was booked under a signed Event Agreement which clearly states that PARKING WAS INCLUDED in the package rate.

I never received any Parking Charge Notice or Notice to Keeper. The first I knew about any charge was when I received a letter from a debt recovery company several weeks later demanding £170.00. The charge was issued by Smart Parking Ltd.

Here is what I have done so far:

1. I emailed the hotel who confirmed IN WRITING that they submitted a cancellation request to Smart Parking on my behalf as they acknowledged the charge should not have been issued.
2. I appealed to Smart Parking directly but they refused to address my appeal and kept redirecting me to the debt recovery company.
3. I requested a POPLA code from Smart Parking but they refused.
4. I contacted the debt recovery company who told me my only option is to wait for court.
5. I made a formal complaint to the British Parking Association but discovered that Smart Parking Ltd does NOT appear on the BPA Approved Operators list for June 2026.

I have strong evidence including:

• Signed Event Agreement proving parking was included
• Written email from the hotel confirming they requested cancellation from Smart Parking
• All correspondence with Smart Parking and the debt recovery company

My questions are:

1. As Smart Parking are not on the BPA approved list does this mean the charge is unenforceable?
2. What should I do next given that the debt recovery company are threatening court?
3. Should I be worried about going to court given my evidence?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Gr1pr

Smart Parking are now on the IPC AOS members list, probably since last year, so no popla code

A Parking Charge Notice is only enforceable if a judge says so

Ignore the powerless debt collectors letters, they cannot enforce a dog licence, nevermind a PCN

The debt collectors cannot take anyone to court

Lastly

Probably not, because the money claim cases are discontinued before any court hearing

ma1233455667

Thanks for your reassurance

Coupon-mad

Why complain to the BPA? Smart Parking jumped ship to the IPC a year ago. We wish you'd come here earlier, we'd have saved you wasting time on this.

Stop taking the bait! The industry is rotten. Nobody cares about the £170 threatograms and nobody engages with those firms.

Just ignore them and await the claim form. That's when you win. 100% discontinued.

ma1233455667

I have tried to appeal through the IAS website but my PCN number SP59770946 is not recognised on their system. I have now emailed Smart Parking demanding they register my case. What else can I do?

Gr1pr

Ignore them, follow the advice by coupon mad above

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82046547#Comment_82046547

Stop taking the bait. Stop emailing the wrong people with the wrong stuff! Re-read the advice.

Nobody tries the IAS. It's a kangaroo court. There is no point. Please slow down.

ma1233455667

Thank you all very much for your advice. I really appreciate everyone's help. I will stop emailing them and wait for their decision.