Hello,

Would really appreciate any help with this one please.
Someone I know has received a parking charge notice from apcoa at birmingham airport. It is the usual pay now £50, after 14 days pay £100 after 28 days if not paid expect debt collectors or legal proceedings. I'm sure this all sounds familiar but they are very unsure what to do.

The parking charge notice states:
'notice is hereby served to the registered keeper of vehicle....'
'for the alleged contravention of failing to park in a designated parking area'
'the alleged contravention is a breach of the terms and conditions of use of the car park infrastructure where signs are clearly displayed throughout the area showing these terms and conditions'

The amount of days between the incident and issue of notice is 27 days (not sure if this is relevant). There are 4 pictures, 1 number plate, 2 are the same and 2 of them showing a person dealing with something at the rear passenger door. The time span of these pictures is 8 seconds.

The driver (who is not named nor will be named) had stopped near a junction off one of the very busy main roads in and out of the airport and it is part of their 'red route' to allow a passenger to deal with something very urgent in the back of the car (child related), the engine was not turned off and once dealt with they left very promptly (within 10 seconds).

What I would like to know, in your experiences, is if they appealed the parking charge notice with this reason (more detailed information would be given) would apcoa just reject it without blinking an eye?
Would they need to go down the appeal route with this template from the NEWBIES thread:

Re PCN number:

I appeal and dispute your 'parking charge', as the keeper of the vehicle. I deny any liability.

There will be no admissions as to who was driving and no assumptions can be drawn, nor was there an agreed contract. Your signage terms fail the test of 'large lettering' and prominence of the parking charge, as established in ParkingEye Ltd v Beavis, which is fully distinguished.

Should you fail to cancel this PCN, I require with your rejection letter, all images taken of this vehicle & the signs at the location that day. Do not withhold any images or data later relied on for POPLA/court.

Firms of your ilk were unanimously condemned in 2018 as operating an 'outrageous scam' (Hansard 2.2.18). The BPA & IPC were heavily criticised too; hardly surprising for an industry where so-called AOS members admit to letting victims 'futilely go through the motions' of appeal and say on camera 'we make it up sometimes' (BBC Watchdog).

I will be making a formal complaint about your predatory conduct to your client landowner, as well as complaining in writing to my MP and ensuring that they are appraised of the debate where Parliament agreed unanimously: ''we need to crack down on these rogue companies. They are an absolute disgrace to this country. Ordinary motorists...should not have to put up with this''.

Formal note:

Service of any rejection letter/POPLA code and/or legal documents by email is expressly disallowed. All responses to me from this point on, must be made by post. Regardless of any MCOL online/email system, service of any court claim must only be made by first class post to the latest address provided by me.

Yours faithfully,


THE NAME AND POSTAL ADDRESS OF THE KEEPER (OR THE HIRER/LESSEE) GOES HERE. THE DRIVER IS NOT IDENTIFIED.

Can apcoa legally charge this amount of money for the alleged contravention? Can they enforce the 'red route' as it is airport land and not council owned? Can apcoa have legally obtained the keepers details?

Please excuse me if I have asked or said anything in the wrong way as I'm very new to this.

Thank you for any information and replies you can give.