Respond with the following:
Dear NPC,
Thank you for your pitiful response, which has done nothing but confirm your ignorance of the very rules you are supposed to follow as required by the BPA/IPC Private Parking Single Code of Practice (PPSCoP). It appears that either basic reading comprehension or integrity is in short supply at your company.
Let me explain this in simple terms, since you seem to struggle with your own industry’s Code of Practice.
Your claim that you are not required to meet the PPSCoP in full until December 2026 is categorically false. Had you taken the time to read Page 3 of the PPSCoP, you would have seen the following:
From 1st October 2024, all aspects of the Code must be complied with, except for signage requirements for existing sites.
Just so as you fully understand what that means, is that your obligation to retain a record of the actual date of posting has been in effect since October 2024. Your failure to provide a proper proof of postage from a recognised postal provider (Royal Mail, Whistl, or equivalent) is a direct breach of PPSCoP Section 8.1.2(e), Note 2.
Instead of a legitimate proof of posting, you have attempted to palm me off with an irrelevant “Certificate of Postage” that merely shows when your third-party hybrid mail processor generated the notice, not when it was actually handed over to the postal service.
This is not sufficient evidence to invoke the presumption of service under the Interpretation Act 1978. If you are not are what that means, pass this correspondence to someone who is capable of understanding what it does mean.
DVLA Complaint and Your Breach of the KADOE Agreement
Since you have now publicly admitted (in writing, no less!) that you are not complying with the PPSCoP, you have also confirmed that you are in breach of your KADOE agreement with the DVLA. Your access to DVLA keeper data is strictly conditional upon compliance with the relevant Code of Practice—which you have just declared you do not follow. Duh!
As such, your response will be submitted as formal evidence in a complaint to the DVLA, requesting that they review your KADOE access due to your failure to meet the necessary compliance standards. I'm sure a competent adult will be able to explain to you the likely consequences of this.
What Happens Next
1. Provide a proper lodgement record from a recognised postal provider (not Unity5’s internal timestamp nonsense).
2. If you cannot provide this, cancel the charge immediately.
3. If you refuse, expect to be reported to the DVLA, where you now face the very real risk of losing access to keeper data due to your utter incompetence.
4. If you still persist in this farce, I will see you in court, where your inability to comply with the PPSCoP and your laughable approach to procedural fairness will earn you a well-deserved costs order for unreasonable behaviour under CPR 27.14(2)(g).
I suggest that before you embarrass yourselves any further, you escalate this matter to someone within your company who is capable of understanding the PPSCoP, the KADOE agreement, and the serious implications of breaching both.
I look forward to your correct response—not another load of mendacious drivel.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
Do you really think that this is "proof of postage"?
(https://i.imgur.com/HHEFwZI.jpeg)
Respond with the following:
Subject: Insufficient Proof of Notice Posting Date – Non-Compliance with PPSCoP Section 8.1.2(e)
Dear National Parking Control Limited,
I am writing to challenge the validity of the "Certificate of Postage" you have provided as evidence of the Notice to Keeper (NtK) being posted.
Under Section 8.1.2(e), Note 2 of the Private Parking Single Code of Practice (PPSCoP), parking operators must retain a record of the date of posting of a notice, not simply the date that the notice was generated. Specifically, the Code states:
“Therefore, parking operators must retain a record of the date of posting of a notice, not simply of that notice having been generated (e.g. the date that any third-party Mail Consolidator actually put it in the postal system).”
The document you have provided—titled a Certificate of Postage—confirms that the notice was sent via a hybrid mail system, but it fails to confirm the actual date on which the notice was physically handed over to the postal service provider (e.g., Royal Mail, Whistl, or any other recognised postal carrier).
Your document states:
• Date Sent: 20/12/2024 at 09:40:34 AM
• Delivery Class: 2-3 day delivery
However, this does not establish that the notice was actually entered into the postal system on that date, only that it was processed by Unity5’s hybrid mail system. There is no evidence of when Unity5, acting as a third-party mail consolidator, physically handed the notice over to the postal carrier.
Why This Fails to Comply with PPSCoP Section 8.1.2(e), Note 2:
1. The Certificate of Postage lacks confirmation from a recognised postal service provider (e.g., Royal Mail, Whistl).
2. It does not specify when the notice was physically handed over to the postal system.
3. The PPSCoP explicitly requires operators to record when a third-party Mail Consolidator actually put it in the postal system, not merely when it was processed.
Request for Proper Proof of Posting
To comply with the PPSCoP, I request that you provide documentary evidence from the postal carrier (e.g., a Royal Mail receipt, Whistl lodgement record, or similar) confirming the actual date of physical postage. If you are unable to provide such proof, then you have failed to meet the PPSCoP's evidence requirements, and the presumption of service under the Interpretation Act 1978 cannot apply.
Please confirm how you intend to rectify this compliance failure.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
Is this really proof of postage?
Does that comply with with the requirement in the PPSCoP that "Therefore, parking operators must retain a record of the date of posting of a notice, not simply of that notice having been generated (e.g. the date that any third-party Mail Consolidator actually put it in the postal system.)"?
What do you think that document proves?
You must therefore provide actual proof of posting and not simply confirmation that the notice was generated on a specific date. If you use Royal Mail, the only acceptable evidence that proves the date of posting is:
• A Proof of Posting Certificate issued by Royal Mail, or
• An equivalent record from a bulk mailing service confirming when the notice entered the postal system.(Not simply the date they received the hybrid mail from your system)
Why would you want to pay? You are dealing with a bunch of ex-clamper scammers. Respond to that response with the following:
Subject: Re: Formal Complaint – Failure of Proper Notification & Request for Proof of Posting (PCN: [PCN Number])
Dear [NPC Representative],
Your response does not adequately address my complaint regarding the failure of proper service of this PCN. Additionally, I now require you to provide specific evidence under Section 8.1.2(e) Note 2 of the Private Parking Single Code of Practice (PPSCoP) confirming the date the Notice to Keeper (NtK) was actually posted.
The PPSCoP states:
"A notice sent by post is to be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have been delivered on the second working day after the day on which it is posted; and for this purpose, “working day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday in England and Wales. Therefore, parking operators must retain a record of the date of posting of a notice, not simply of that notice having been generated (e.g. the date that any third-party Mail Consolidator actually put it in the postal system.)”
You must therefore provide actual proof of posting and not simply confirmation that the notice was generated on a specific date. If you use Royal Mail, the only acceptable evidence that proves the date of posting is:
• A Proof of Posting Certificate issued by Royal Mail, or
• An equivalent record from a bulk mailing service confirming when the notice entered the postal system.(Not simply the date they received the hybrid mail from your system)
If you fail to provide this evidence, it raises serious doubts about whether the NtK was actually sent. While I acknowledge my ongoing Royal Mail misdelivery issues, there remains the possibility that the notice was never posted at all.
Required Actions
1. Provide documentary proof of the exact date and method of posting for the NtK, as required under the PPSCoP.
2. Reissue the PCN at the original amount and allow me to appeal, as I was denied this opportunity.
3. Place the case on hold while this dispute is resolved.
If you refuse to provide the required proof of posting, I will:
• Escalate a complaint to the IPC, highlighting your failure to follow PPSCoP requirements and fair practice obligations.
• Report the matter to the ICO if you continue to process my data without confirming that I was properly notified.
• Defend any legal action on the basis of lack of proper service, procedural unfairness, and your failure to provide required evidence.
I expect your response within 7 days. If you do not provide the required proof or a fair resolution, I will escalate the matter accordingly.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Please confirm the operator that issued the Parking Charge Notice (PCN). It should state on the letter you received from DCBL who they are attempting to recover the debt for.
You mention NPC. Do you mean National Parking Control Ltd?
You should make a formal complaint to NPC, preferably by sending the following as a PDF attachment in an email addressed to DPO@nationalparkingcontrol.co.uk and also CC in yourself.
National Parking Control Group Ltd
The Pinnacle
Station Way
Crawley
RH10 1JH
Delivered by email to: DPO@nationalparkingcontrol.co.uk
[Date]
Subject: Formal Complaint – Unreceived Parking Charge Notice Due to Royal Mail Misdelivery
To National Parking Control Complaints Department,
I am submitting this formal complaint regarding Parking Charge Notice (PCN Reference: [PCN Number]) issued to my vehicle, [Registration Number], which I only became aware of upon receiving a Notice of Debt Recovery from DCBL.
1. The PCN and All Prior Correspondence Were Never Received
I did not receive the original PCN, nor any reminder notices, because my post is frequently misdelivered by Royal Mail due to similar-sounding addresses in the area. This is an ongoing issue that has affected multiple time-sensitive documents, and I have submitted a formal complaint to Royal Mail regarding their persistent failures.
My registered address with the DVLA and on my V5C logbook is:
[Your Correct Address]
However, post intended for me is frequently misdelivered to:
• Stamford Mansions (a different building entirely, located a few roads away)
• Charlton Mansions (a neighbouring block)
• Stamford Hill (instead of Stamford Hill Mansions)
This issue is well-documented, and I have previously had to recover incorrectly delivered mail from these locations. The first and only correspondence I have received regarding this PCN was the Notice of Debt Recovery from DCBL, meaning I was denied my right to appeal or pay at the lower rate through no fault of my own.
2. The Issue is One of Proper Notification, Not Addressing
While I acknowledge that you may have sent the PCN to my correct address, proper service of a notice is only deemed effective if it is actually received. The assumption that a letter is received simply because it was sent to the correct address is rebuttable, and in this case, it has clearly not been received due to a failure by Royal Mail.
The burden of proof in any subsequent legal claim would be on you to demonstrate that the PCN was received, not simply that it was sent. Given that I have documented issues with Royal Mail misdelivery, the presumption of service is not applicable in this case.
3. Requested Actions
As I have only just become aware of this charge due to debt collection activity, I require you to take one of the following steps:
1. Cancel the PCN, as it is unfair to pursue a charge when I was never given the opportunity to respond.
2. Reissue the PCN at the original amount and allow me to make an appeal as I would have been entitled to do had I received the original notice.
3. Place the case on hold immediately while you investigate this complaint, as I dispute liability on the grounds of non-receipt.
4. Failure to Act Fairly Will Be Considered Unreasonable Conduct
If you dismiss this complaint with “it is not our fault” or refuse to allow an appeal despite being informed that the notice was never received, I will escalate the matter to:
• The International Parking Community (IPC) for a breach of fair process under the Private Parking Single Code of Practice (PPSCoP).
• The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you continue processing my personal data despite failing to ensure proper notification.
• The courts, if necessary, where I will challenge the claim on the basis of lack of service and procedural unfairness.
5. Urgent Response Required
I expect a written response within 14 days confirming how you intend to resolve this. If I do not receive a satisfactory reply, I will proceed with formal complaints to the IPC and, if necessary, prepare a legal defence against any further action.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Contact Information]
Has a formal complaint ever been made to Royal Mail about this? The first thing you need to do, and this should have been done anyway if know this is an ongoing issue, is to send a formal complaint to Royal Mail using this complaint form: https://personal.help.royalmail.com/app/webforms/contact/c/310
Just copy and paste the following into the "enter your message" box
Subject: Repeated Misdelivery of Mail – Formal Complaint & Request for Investigation
I am submitting this formal complaint regarding the repeated misdelivery of my mail due to persistent errors by Royal Mail. This ongoing issue has now led to serious consequences, as I was never delivered an important legal notice, only discovering its existence when a debt collection agency contacted me.
**Issue Summary
I live at:
[Your Correct (PAF) Full Address, including Stamford Hill Mansions]
However, my mail is frequently misdelivered to:
1. Stamford Mansions (a completely different building several roads away)
2. Charlton Mansions (a neighbouring block)
3.Stamford Hill (instead of Stamford Hill Mansions)[/indent]
Despite my address being correctly registered on the V5C logbook and in the Postal Address File (PAF), Royal Mail continues to send my post to the wrong locations. This has resulted in multiple lost letters, including a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) and follow-up correspondence, which I never received.
**Consequences of Your Failures
- I was unaware of the PCN due to Royal Mail’s repeated mistakes.
- I lost my opportunity to appeal, as the parking operator assumes I received their correspondence.
- I now face threats from debt collectors demanding £170 for a charge I was never notified about.
- This is not an isolated incident—I frequently have mis-delivered mail, and I am concerned this could also affect other important documents (e.g., NHS appointments, financial correspondence, legal documents).
**Requested Actions
I demand an urgent internal investigation into why Royal Mail repeatedly misdelivers my post. Specifically:
1. Confirmation that my address is correctly logged in your system and that no errors exist in how post is assigned.
2. An investigation into why my mail is incorrectly delivered to Stamford Mansions, Charlton Mansions, or Stamford Hill.
3. Assurances that all staff handling mail in my area are informed of this ongoing issue and take corrective action.
4. A written response confirming how Royal Mail will prevent this from happening in the future.
I expect a formal response within 10 working days. If this issue is not resolved, I will escalate the matter to the Postal Review Panel and, if necessary, to the Postal Redress Service.
Please acknowledge receipt of this complaint and confirm it is being investigated.
If Royal Mail does not resolve the issue satisfactorily, escalate the complaint to the Postal Review Panel via email to:
postalreview@royalmail.com
If Royal Mail still fails to resolve the issue, you can escalate it further to POSTRS (Postal Redress Service)—an independent dispute resolution body:
https://www.cedr.com/consumer/postrs/make-a-complaint/
Keep a log of every mis-delivered letter you receive. Request a response in writing—don’t settle for verbal assurances. Push them to confirm what steps they will take to stop this happening again.
By making it clear that this issue has real legal consequences, Royal Mail is more likely to take it seriously. Let me know once you get a response!
If your main concern is Royal Mail’s poor delivery service, then POSTRS is the better option. POSTRS won’t fine Royal Mail but can force them to investigate and fix their internal processes. You can claim compensation if Royal Mail’s failures have caused financial loss or distress.
However, if Royal Mail’s failures result in a data protection breach—for example, if your confidential or sensitive mail is regularly being delivered to the wrong people, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) would be the appropriate body to involve. The ICO deals with misuse of personal data, which includes postal misdelivery leading to unintended third-party access.
If your mis-delivered post contains sensitive personal data (e.g., financial statements, medical documents, or legal correspondence), Royal Mail’s failure could constitute a breach of the UK GDPR. This means Royal Mail could be in violation of data protection laws by allowing unauthorised third parties to receive mail that should be securely delivered to you. If Royal Mail does not resolve the issue after your formal complaint, you can escalate to the ICO.
However, POSTRS (Postal Redress Service) handles complaints about Royal Mail’s service failures, such as misdelivery, lost items, or delayed mail. So, which one to escalate to depends on the angle you want to take. POSTRS will not deal with you if your complaint involves a data breach.
As for dealing with the NPC PCN, I will advise in another post to follow. If this problem has been going on for some time, I really don't understand why it hasn't been dealt with already.