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

Coupon-mad

"I only remembered to pay for 3 of the 6 "

I know. I read that bit. My advice stands.

jimmywiggle

contacted CMA, ICO and BPA as suggested.

the BPA have responded saying "Based on the evidence provided, I have not identified a breach of the Code of Practice and I am therefore unable to investigate your complaint further."

bit of a shitter there, really.

jimmywiggle

Have now had the second round of debt collection threats.

No response yet from either ICO or MCA.

BPA response dissapointing, considering their own code of practice recommends "level 2 – non-conformances include: Does not perform trace or use old address when trace provides a new address"

jimmywiggle

I've also only just noticed the people who sold the car to me put the number of my house address down wrong on the logbook - but I might just be clutching at straws with that one.

"Where the Registered Keeper has changed their address and has failed to inform the
DVLA in accordance with Part IV (regulation 18) of the Road Vehicles Registration and
Licensing Regulations 2002, this shall not be classed as exceptional on its own.
However, organisations must consider the circumstances surrounding the failure to notify
the DVLA. For example,
- Was the failure made shortly after a house move, which has now been corrected,"

Coupon-mad

Doesn't sound like clutching at straws.

Did you go back and point out to the BPA that this was a breach, based on their own list?  "level 2 – non-conformances include: Does not perform trace or use old address when trace provides a new address"

jimmywiggle

I have tried, but keep getting automated responses, i've written up a new complaint form as that might be the only form of contacting them and have included the wrong address evidenced on the V5, logical argument being that if APCOA had address A from the DVLA why and how did they use address B, as that should have only been available via trace - and therefore why didn't they use the latest address.

Nellymoser

Write to BPA and say as your complaint has not been resolved to your satisfaction please escalate your complaint as per BPA complaints Policy to Stage 2 a review at the Management level.

https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/BPA/BPAComplaintsPolicyandProcedureV3-GD.pdf

A Senior Compliance Manager will do the review, though in my case I found the Manager also lacked the skills to identify a CoP breach but it was rather amusing to see her fabricate some cracking excuses why she felt their was 'no breach' etc

jimmywiggle

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82154386#Comment_82154386

What was the outcome of yours?

My partner has said more letters have arrived, i'm currently at work so I have that to look forward to when I get home.

Silver lining, I sent a 3rd complaint to BPA who are now raising an investigation with APCOA regarding my logbook having 1 address and them using another, presumably having done a trace check and subsequently choosing to use the wrong address.

Fingers crossed

Nellymoser

The outcome to my 2022 BPA complaint was 'no breach of CoP was identified by AOS member and the BPA AOS compliance officer'. So out of my 8 evidenced CoP breaches the BPA couldn't identify ONE. Big mistake as it left me asking through other avenues (govt consultations/depts DVLA ICO, Trustpilot reviews) if BPA has the required skills and if they've ever managed to identify an AOS CoP breach.

🤞you get a better outcome than i got!

jimmywiggle

Recent article (19/10/2026) about a government audit into DVLA data usage by private parking companies.

Very interesting information:

Concerns raised over use of DVLA data by private parking companies

By Gareth Roberts

19 October 2026

https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/concerns-raised-over-use-of-dvla-data-by-private-parking-companies?utm_source=aimtell&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=manual-6977313

Specific reference of the APCOA audit, scoring red 3 times in a row:

In addition, APCOA Parking (UK) has been audited three times – the most recent being 2024/25 – and has been ‘red’ each time (also 2022 and 2020). 

This might prove a useful resource for others, especially as their response to refuse updating my details is a direct breach of GDPR legislation