APCOA - train station, multiple fines, no correspondence, straight to solicitors

ChirpyChicken

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82080935#Comment_82080935

yes that is far to common these days and people dont realise what they do is a waste of time

It seems to me as well people want to ignore good advice

jimmywiggle

It's quite reductive to say "people want to ignore good advice" when their concerns are justified in expectations and fear of ramifications. Ignoring risk is easier said than done, the fact this forum exists and is so popular with people feeling the same is testament to the human proclivity to fear the unknown based on little experience to the contrary.

I will endeavour to ignore and update as and when anything happens, do they eventually give up or can this go on for years?

Umkomaas

the human proclivity to fear the unknown based on little experience to the contrary.

Which is precisely what drives the private parking sector business model. The more fear instilled, the greater the profit margins.

do they eventually give up or can this go on for years?

They won’t tell you that they’ve given up, it’s all part of tension building, so they won’t. Legally, they do have six years to make a court claim, but we have never seen that happen with APCOA.

I understand the anxiety, but giving way to it probably won’t bring you any form of satisfaction.

kryten3000

I would contact the Data Protection Officers for APCOA and ZZPS and instruct them to update their records with your current "address for service". Tell them to ERASE the old one. You will need the PCN references, vehicle registration and usually some proof of address.

I realise APCOA don't do court, but you never want a parking company or their legal lackey to have 2 addresses because you won't believe the number of times they "accidentally" issue a claim to the wrong one.

dpo@apcoa.com
dataprotection@zzps.co.uk - covers ZZPS and any other company that is a "trading style of ZZPS".

Also get your V5 updated as soon as possible. https://www.gov.uk/change-address-v5c

jimmywiggle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081145#Comment_82081145

Thanks, I did do all of this once I found advice in the group. I was considering emailing APCOA to request to re-issue the tickets to the correct address just so I at least had it on record if I needed it further down the line, but despite my protestations I will concede to advice and just do nothing and hope nothing happens.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081212#Comment_82081212

Actually, if you are itching to do something…there is a massive thing that could see APCOA investigated and fined!

1. Do exactly what you planned. Email a complaint to APCOA to request to re-issue the tickets to the correct address, and quote the Code of Practice clause about that.
2. Wait for them to say no.
3. Report APCOA to the CMA for refusal to reissue PCNs that they know were not served and they know the consumer had no opportunity to appeal.

3 is important! Read this post and learn what to do and why it matters:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081277#Comment_82081277

Read the news and see how you can drop APCOA in it. Each complaint is fact specific so obviously your CMA complaint would be worded slightly differently.

First you need to contact APCOA and quote the Joint Code and let them dig their hole.

jimmywiggle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82081280#Comment_82081280

Oh god, I love this!
Do you happen to have a link to the specific Code of Practice clause I can reference? - i'm only slightly trepedatious with the recency of the CMA open letter and the ongoing investigations, that if I actually do come down too hard, they may in fact re-issue them! 😅

Coupon-mad

Nope, no idea because the Code is a self-serving joke so I never read it now. But it's easy to skim-read or search it for a keyword.

jimmywiggle

Current draft complaint as below: - let me know if it's too damning, but I sort of want to antagonise them enough so they don't re-issue them, then I can still complain to the CMA

As per my last email,

I am writing as the registered keeper of the vehicle, registration: <redacted>, I request you log this correspondence and the contents therein as an official complaint of your working practices in specific regard towards the 6 listed contraventions that have been quoted in letters that have arrived at my home address under the guise of “debt collectors”; their “companies” listed as; ‘Oak Legal Services’, ‘ZZPS’, and ‘GCTT’ – a note, I must add, that each one of these “companies” operates under the single ZZPS conglomerate.

This tactic of sending several threatening letters from one singular company under the letter head of several other companies further exacerbates the despicably immoral reputation of the unregulated industry in which you work. Once this complaint has been logged, please take solace that I shall also be complaining to the relevant Ombudsman as to the suspicious practices of these companies with which you operate. I shall also draw attention to my local MP, council, BPA and CMA to which I will be reporting both you and these companies. To quote Kevin Foster at the parliamentary discussions with regards to the Parking Code of Practice Bill, 2-feb-2018 - “Companies in this industry are…bloodsuckers... The reality is that the current system of regulation is absolutely hopeless. It is like putting Dracula in charge down at the blood bank “

In reference to the above alleged contraventions to which I have emailed previously, (though you have chosen not to respond), therein I instructed you to erase any previous addresses you had for my details and to use the correct postal address as was provided at the time, the email in question was sent at <date/time> so you for certain have the correct postal address with which to respond.

Furthermore, I have still not received any NTK nor PCN’s to my current address, the same address that your “debt collectors” could so easily locate for their own predatory correspondences. Therefore, I have no ability to corroborate their allegations and have yet to be presented with any substantive evidence that any alleged “contraventions” took place.

As per the timing of these letters from your “debt collectors” dated on the 17th-July-2026, I find the coincidence truly fascinating as it only one day following the open letter from the CMA to all private parking operators, including yourselves. The same CMA who are, alongside the BPA advising government on future code of conduct and practices to inform future legislation that will make your utterly despicable practice far fairer and transparent for the public on whom you so readily pray upon.

The open letter, as I’m sure you are well aware specifically highlights, not only your incredibly suspicious, manipulative, threatening and predatory behaviour but it specifically draws attention towards the way in which you “handle/ignore” appeals and the subsequent approach you, and others in your unregulated industry have towards recovering additional fees on top of the parking charge which are both unfair and nonsensical.

I have ensured the postal address is correct with the DVLA as per the DVLA KADOE, so you have no excuse not to re-issue the NTK/PCN’s to my current address, the same address that I have already provided to you.

It is also worth noting that, on <date/time> I spoke with one of your phone-call operators who was incredibly unhelpful (which is understandable as they work with your company) who informed me, that these contraventions could no longer be handled nor closed by your company as they had been passed onto debt collectors, and that your company is therefore unable to re-issue the original NTK or PCN. Can you please confirm this? Can you also clarify if this is your own nonsensical company-policy, or is it covered under the MCA Code of Practice?

Lastly, as you have access to my correct postal address. You know these NTK/PCN’s were not served to the corrected address, and you know full well the consumer had no opportunity to appeal, therefore, I would strongly recommend that you re-issue the NTK’s to that address, so that the driver of the vehicle is afforded appropriately ample time to appeal or to pay the alleged fines, and to analyse whatever tangible evidence you might be able to magic up out of thin air.

Until then, I await your response.
Registered keeper
<name>
<address>

Coupon-mad

Remove this as there is no ombudsman:

"the relevant Ombudsman as to the suspicious practices of these companies with which you operate. I shall also draw attention to"

Remove this as there's no 'MCA' CoP:

"Can you also clarify if this is your own nonsensical company-policy, or is it covered under the MCA Code of Practice".

The rest is good but take 20 minutes - like I said - to skim-read or search (control & f on a laptop) the Private Parking Single Code of Practice for the clause about having to reissue the PCN and pause debt recovery.

I pretty much gave you the keywords to look for, to find the clause you need to quote.