Entered a car park and left within 54 seconds, recieved a PCN

unfluffykittens

I received a private parking charge for “not parking within a marked bay” at a retail park.

I was in the car park for just 54 seconds, as confirmed by the cctv timestamps, and was stationary for approximately 20 seconds.

I had entered solely to collect a friend, who had already collected an order from one of the shops and registered my vehicle on the shop’s parking tablet. I was still manoeuvring into the car park when my friend got into the vehicle, after which I immediately left.

I never exited the vehicle, parked, or had a reasonable opportunity to read the parking signs.

Unfortunately, I ignored the initial correspondence, and has now been passed to one of these enforcement agents.

Can I still challenge the charge at this stage? What is the most effective way to get it cancelled, particularly given that I was on site for less than a minute as confirmed by the images?

Attached is the initial letter + pics, and the letter from the enforcement company.

Car1980

You weren't parked.

https://contestorlegal.co.uk/unparalleled-legal-victory-defining-the-true-meaning-of-parking/

And 54 seconds is laughable.

You've done everything right so far. Carry on ignoring.

MrJenkinsEsq

"Unfortunately, I ignored the initial correspondence" 😊

Gr1pr

Ignore them anyway, but

Come back to this thread if you receive a Letter of Claim giving you 30 days notice or a Money Claim from the CNBC in Northampton using MCOL

Coupon-mad

Honestly, this one is laughable.

WHAT.A.SCAM. 😳

Ignore the letters (do not ignore a court claim form but judges aren't stupid, so no worries). Tell them if you move house though.

There was no parking contract and picking up a passenger isn't parking.

This sort of scam CCTV surveillance of drivers in seconds should not be happening, so please also report OPS to the CMA with your PCN as evidence.

This is important. This will make a difference and could see OPS fined lots of money, if they get investigated.

Read all the CMA statements first. This was on BBC News and on MSE itself:

MSE article: July 2026

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a major crackdown on the UK private parking industry, issuing an open warning over unfair appeals, and advising stricter government oversight CMA takes action on private parking practices.

Read the news about it. You'll see!

Points for you to ask the CMA to investigate:

• Surely it's contrary to good faith to issue £100 PCNs to drivers who stop (not park) pick up passengers
• The CMA should investigate OPS next, and liaise with the ICO to stamp out excessive & predatory surveillance which OPS are notorious for (typical unnoticed 24/7 CCTV camera up on a building, filming people without their knowledge)
• The CMA should never have put out a consumer message telling people to "appeal or pay" unfair private parking charge invoices. Totally wrong stance, nobody should pay unfair PCNs
• Those are not the only options and nobody should be told to pay a scam.
• Good people will not pay and would far rather - quite rightly - sit tight and easily defend a court claim to see operators discontinue, and the consumer pay nothing in the end (even if these cases went to hearings, no judges would uphold the charge in a heinous scam case like this);

Please, could you kindly take the time this week to read the news about the above and then email the CMA with the above points & your PCN?

CMA Contact emails (use both, the first one goes directly to their parking investigation) :

• parking@cma.gov.uk
• general.enquiries@cma.gov.uk 

The CMA don't help with cases.

This is for the public good. You are reporting this to try to get the CMA to investigate OPS generally, to stop this sort of scam operation in future.

Umkomaas

Complain to the retail park’s managing agents who will have contracted with OPS. Subjecting genuine customers to this level of unwarranted hassle and aggravation will only result in one thing - a reduction in footfall, leading to a reduction in stores’ profits, to potential stores’ closures, not surely what any genuine, professional managing agent is looking for. Not to mention the utter unfairness and stupidity of this ridiculous charge!

1505grandad

As above - I would also include your MP and a complaint to the DVLA who blatantly sold your private data without reasonable cause therefore, as usual, enabling the start of these ridiculous scams.