Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: lateman on March 20, 2026, 01:10:05 pm
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The photo was clearly good enough for the camera to read the plate correctly. The original photo from the camera may be better quality, who knows what printing the PCN did to the image.
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I'm not going down the PoFA route, even though that worked previously for me, as it looks like Parkingeye have indeed complied.
What about the photograph of the vehicle exiting the site though? From the photograph, it is impossible to make out the registration number.
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You might have an appeal based on the conflicting signage but plan A of getting Costa to cancel it would have been best. If you do appeal don't put in the stuff about the PCN not being POFA complaint, it won't get you anywhere, just focus on the conflicting signage.
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i visited Costa earlier. they don't like intervening (the supervisor told me they get into a bit of trouble from their bosses), but when they do, Parkingeye usually only compromise (if they do) by reducing the charge to a £20 "admin charge" (which is better than £60 i guess.
I've attached photos of the cat park in general, including a close-up of the Parkingeye sign
https://postimg.cc/dk84fn0X
https://postimg.cc/PvT2nZLS
https://postimg.cc/n9p0f7s2
https://postimg.cc/D4nB3sW5
https://postimg.cc/N2BpvTyV
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I'm not sure if the driver asked Costa to intervene, but i will be visiting myself later to get more photographs of the whole car park and i will speak to the staff at the same time
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That would seem to be useful. Some photos of the signage containing the full terms and conditions would be useful too.
Getting a receipt is one thing, did they ask them to intervene and get the ticket cancelled?
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hello again i have an update to the situation.
the driver re-visited the Costa shop and obtained a receipt.
also, the driver noted that there are lots of signs all over the car park of two types, one of which states that the car park is for Costa customers, only, and is for a maximum stay of 3 hours. i have attached a photo of one of the signs.
will this have any legal standing in my appeal?
https://postimg.cc/RqfyQnTs
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Top right plus, new topic
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Hello there,
I've just joined this forum, and sorry to do this, I've posted here not becasue I have something to say about this topic but because I can see how I could reply to a post, but I cannot see how to start a new post which is what I would like to do (I have joined because I would like some advice on 2 penalties I have been given). So I know I must be being simple but can anyone help! How do i post my issue on this forum?!!!
Again sorry....
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Ok that makes more sense, SMART did previously issue POFA non compliant PCNs, either by not referencing POFA or by issuing them too late. Parkingeye PCNs are usually compliant, although some people have convinced themselves they are not due to a very narrow interpretation of the POFA wording, they might even be right, but it's not a helpful defence when better avenues are available.
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re: dave65's reply
I will be visiting Costa to see if they can do anything, but judging by some other people's experiences, i doubt they'll be able to help. But worth a try.. Thank you =)
re ixxy's reply:
My understanding that some of these companies' non-compliance of the legislation required is accurate.
Indeed, I received a similar NTK from Smart Parking about a year ago, and a couple of the moderators from this site informed me of this non-compliance, had a look at my NTK, and it turned out that they hadn't fully complied, and they helped me write a letter informing them that they hadn't complied, that I was under no obligation to identify the driver, that I was not going to identify the driver, and that they now needed to immediately confirm that the matter was closed, which they did. And that was the end of that.
I have looked at the PoFA legislation, and it seems to me that they have complied with everything needed to pursue me, the registered keeper, but I'm no expert, so I was hoping that someone with more expertise / knowledge / experience can have a look, and advise me if this is the case here or not.
But thank you for your input =)
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I understand that many of these companies like Parkingeye do not fully comply with the legislation required to pursue the registered keeper for payment, but I'm not sure if they have or not on this occasion.
I wouldn't believe everything you read on the internet. There is a school of thought that unless the wording on the NTK conforms to a very specific interpretation of the POFA legislation it isnt enforceable. If that was enough to make the PCN unenforceable I can't understand why they don't just change it. The reality is challenging a PCN on that basis isn't going to win a first stage appeal and is unlikely to win a second stage appeal either. It might be arguable in court but we've not seen a claim based on that defence being rejected by a court.
Next course of action is as per Dave65 advice (and learn to check signs in car parks). Beyond that you can appeal, it'll probably get dropped before a court hearing but that's a long way off.
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Have you tried to go back to Costa and speak to the manager and ask to cancel as a customer?
Do you have any receipts for a purchase?
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Hi all,
As the registered keeper of a vehicle that overstayed in a Costa Coffee car park recently, I have been sent a Notice To Keeper from Parkingeye.
I understand that many of these companies like Parkingeye do not fully comply with the legislation required to pursue the registered keeper for payment, but I'm not sure if they have or not on this occasion.
Can someone have a look at the attached letter from Parkingeye and advise me on my best course of action please?
Also, in my letter, it can be seen that Parkingeye provided an image of the vehicle on exit, but the image is so poor, the registration number of the vehicle cannot be made out (since I needed to redact the registration number, this can't be seen from the photo I attached). I don't know of this makes a difference to my case? The photograph of the vehicle's registration number on entry is clear.
Any help / advice would be very much appreciated. Please tell me if I need to provide any more details.
Thank you in advance
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https://postimg.cc/JtjG5JcZ
https://postimg.cc/s15v4S95
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