POPLA Rejected my PCN appeal against CEL

jdubz82

​Hi everyone,

​I’m preparing a defence to keep on ice in case Civil Enforcement Ltd (CEL) decides to issue a County Court claim. My POPLA appeal was rejected, and I want to make sure my position is as tight as possible.
​Incident: 18 May 2026, 08:36 (ANPR entry)
​
​The Core Issue: CEL claims motorists had to register inside the building to get an electronic permit. However, the premises were closed at that time of morning (operating Mon-Fri 16:30–19:00 only), meaning there was no accessible way to comply with the alleged contract.

​Instead of arguing messy details, my draft defence focuses entirely on putting CEL to strict proof regarding contract formation and how a motorist arriving at 08:36 could reasonably access or perform the mandatory indoor registration.

​Has anyone dealt with a similar "closed facility/indoor registration" argument against CEL before? I have the full draft ready if anyone would be willing to cast an eye over it.
​Thanks in advance!

Coupon-mad

Sounds like a valid argument.

Search the forum for PACE v Lengyel which was about the impossibility of a driver obtaining a paper permit. Same sort of argument only in your case it was impossible to get an electronic permit.

Show us things like the sign and the NTK, and the POPLA decision.

Were drivers (you) invited to park there in the mornings? How does that work if the premises are shut?

Or were you trespassing out of hours?