PCN - Advice from Car Park Securites

mrcheese1878

I’m looking for some advice regarding a private Parking Charge Notice (PCN) issued, as I’m trying to decide whether to continue fighting it or pay.

Timeline

• Parking event: 30 May 2026

• PCN issued: 2 June 2026

• Appeal submitted to Car Park Securities: Rejected

• Reminder/Final Warning received: 26 June 2026

• I’ve now submitted a complaint to the hospital’s PALS asking them to intervene.

Background

This happened at an NHS hospital (offsite but advertised as parking for visitors) in England.

I was visiting my grandfather, who was receiving end-of-life care. I initially paid for three hours’ parking using the ANPR pay machine. As the visit took longer than expected, I returned to the payment machine before leaving the hospital and purchased another three hours.

In total, I paid for six hours of parking.

Unfortunately, I exited the car park after 6 hours and 16 minutes, so I overstayed by 16 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, my grandfather passed away, and I have his death certificate to evidence the circumstances if required.

I’ve appealed directly to Car Park Securities, explaining the situation and providing the context, but the appeal was rejected. I’ve also written to PALS asking the Trust to instruct their parking contractor to cancel the PCN on compassionate grounds.

The rejection letter says I can now appeal to the Independent Appeals Service (IAS).

My questions are:

1. Is it worth pursuing the IAS appeal, or are they unlikely to overturn this?
2. Has anyone had success getting an NHS Trust to instruct its parking contractor to cancel a PCN in similar compassionate circumstances?
3. If PALS decline to intervene, would you continue fighting this if it eventually reached a Letter Before Claim or County Court, or would you pay at that stage?
4. Does the fact that I voluntarily returned to the machine and paid for an additional three hours before exiting materially strengthen my position, given I clearly wasn’t trying to avoid payment?

I’m not trying to avoid paying for parking—I paid twice and made every effort to comply with the terms. I’m struggling with the fact that I’m being pursued for £100 over a 16-minute overstay while visiting a dying family member, despite paying for six hours of parking.

Any advice from people who’ve dealt with similar private parking claims would be greatly appreciated.

GrannyKate

If the NHS definitely own the car park - You need to remind PALS of the 'NHS car parking guidance 2022 for NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts' and the recommendations for visitors to gravely ill patients. The Trust are responsible for the actions of their agents so I would escalate it to a formal complaint to the CEO if PALS do not get it cancelled. Quite a few people on this site have had invoices cancelled by PALS.

ChirpyChicken

That firm is a joke

mrcheese1878

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82053292#Comment_82053292

I’m hoping they can do the right thing.

mrcheese1878

Tell me about it. Another thing that just adds to the misery, I have tried to access their receipt portal and gain the evidence of all the payments throughout the whole week to show I’ve paid and adhered to the T&Cs… it won’t even show up anything for my registration, clowns!

GrannyKate

Which hospital site is this?

Coupon-mad

I would completely ignore them now, if PALS won't cancel it. The IAS is a joke.

mrcheese1878

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82053626#Comment_82053626

Whiston Hospital - As part of Mersey and West Lancashire NHS Trust.

mrcheese1878

Yeah I haven’t heard anything positive, they are essentially the solicitors who will go against you on behalf of the private parking crooks! I think depending on the response from PALS, make a direct complaint to the Director of the Estates Team of the hospital & even the Chief Executive of the trust as I know they get reviewed by senior level.

Gr1pr

My questions are:

1 Is it worth pursuing the IAS appeal, or are they unlikely to overturn this? , probably not

2 Has anyone had success getting an NHS Trust to instruct its parking contractor to cancel a PCN in similar compassionate circumstances? YES Many, many people over the last 15 years

If PALS decline to intervene, would you continue fighting this if it eventually reached a Letter Before Claim or County Court, or would you pay at that stage? YES , definitely fight it, so NO definitely not pay a penny

Does the fact that I voluntarily returned to the machine and paid for an additional three hours before exiting materially strengthen my position, given I clearly wasn’t trying to avoid payment? YES , Definitely

I’m not trying to avoid paying for parking—I paid twice and made every effort to comply with the terms. I’m struggling with the fact that I’m being pursued for £100 over a 16-minute overstay while visiting a dying family member, despite paying for six hours of parking. WE AGREE WITH YOU

mrcheese1878

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82053804#Comment_82053804

Thank you for the reassurance that I’m taking the right course of action here. I think my next action will depend on the response from PALS.

In relation to car park securities, I’ll be ignoring them from here on out and not waste my time with IAS.