Postal Notification of Parking Charge from PCM

[peter.k]

Received the attached parking charge.
Some feedback on how to appeal is highly appreciated.

They stated "Posting notice" date as of 25.02. However it landed in my mailbox only this morning? Is that royal mail being slow or they are playing with the dates?

Thank you for help.

[PallasAthena]

Royal Mail service is dreadful round my way so Royal Mail could have contributed to the delay in it getting to you but PCM could be being economical with the truth about when they posted it as well. Or a mixture of both.

[peter.k]

Thank you PallasAthena. Any idea how to appeal?

[des8]

You could try writing to them along the following lines;

Dear Sirs,
I have received your Notice to Keeper xxxxx for vehicle VRM xxxx

You have failed to comply with the requirements of Schedule 4 of The Protection Of Freedoms Act 2012 namely, but not limited to, failing to specify the period of parking to which this notice applies as prescribed by section 9 (2) (e) of the Act. You cannot, therefore, transfer liability for the alleged charge from the driver at the time to me, the keeper.

There is no legal requirement to name the driver at the time and I will not be doing so.

I do not expect to hear from you again, or your debt collectors, except to confirm that no further action will be taken on this matter and my personal details have been removed from your records.
Yours etc

They won't accept it as a valid appeal, and will give you the opportunity to appeal to IPA (but they aren't truly independent so it's a waste of time appealing to them as well!)

[peter.k]

thank you des8, very helpful. So even after i try my "appeals" they will be rejected. What's next after that?

[des8]

Well if you don't pay, they may set toothless debt collectors on to you. These may be ignored, or told to go forth and multiply.
They will probably then initiate court action, which you can defend.
Often these companies will discontinue the court action just before they have to pay the final court fees (or even in some cases just don't turn up at court)
As only very limited costs are paid by the loser it can be uneconomic for parking companies to instruct solicitors/barristers to represent them

If it does go to a court hearing IMO you have a reasonable defence, but small claims track can be a bit of a lottery