Free Traffic Legal Advice
Live cases legal advice => Private parking tickets => Topic started by: kragnar on September 04, 2025, 07:27:21 pm
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Good news.
They don’t have any goodwill, they’re driven by money, primarily by getting hold of yours, but in this case they’ve worked out you’re not gullible and won’t be paying so they don’t want to waste more money in a fruitless pursuit. The idea that they’ve let you off just this time is laughable; they aren’t prepared to comply with the law (because it costs them more money) and they’ll lose every time in identical circumstances.
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Hi all,
Just a quick update and huge thanks to everyone here for the guidance — especially around Horizon’s failure to comply with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4.
I used the appeal format discussed in my earlier post, clearly stating I was the hirer (not the driver), and pointed out their non-compliance. I also attached receipts from the day of the incident, while making it clear that these did not identify the driver — and that I had no intention of doing so.
Horizon has now responded and cancelled the charge as a “gesture of goodwill”. Here’s what they said:
"Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the above Parking Charge, which we have reviewed.
I can confirm as a gesture of goodwill the Parking Charge has now been cancelled and no further action will be taken in this matter.
Please note that further Parking Charges may not be cancelled."
Whether it was goodwill or just them avoiding a losing battle, I’ll take it — and I wouldn't have got there without this forum.
Thanks again!
Consider this case closed.
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That appeal is good to go. The facts are simple, Horizon have failed to comply with PoFA para 14. As there is no legal obligation on the Keeper to identify the driver to an unregulated private parking firm and they cannot transfer liability to the Keeper, they have nowhere to go with this.
Whilst they may reject the appeal because they are simply greedy idiots, you can appeal to POPLA. It will cost Horizontal £30 to contest your POPLA appeal so they may, just like Catholic contraception, ‘withdraw’ or risk losing on a clear legal point.
That doesn’t mean that POPLA will always make the correct decision because so me of their assessors are morons and, anyway, a POPLA rejection is not binding on the appellant. This would never reach a hearing in court if they stupidly decided to try and issue a county court claim.
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Hi all,
Thanks again for the guidance so far — especially around Horizon's non-compliance with PoFA 2012 Schedule 4.
Based on what you've told me, I've drafted the following appeal to send to Horizon Parking as the hirer (not the driver). I haven’t submitted it yet and would appreciate any final feedback before I do.
Draft Appeal to Horizon Parking:
Subject: Appeal against PCN – Notice to Hirer – [PCN Number]
Dear Horizon Parking,
I am the hirer of the vehicle and I dispute your 'parking charge'. I deny any liability or contractual agreement and will be making a formal complaint about this predatory and unfair charge to your client (the landowner).
Your Notice to Hirer fails to comply with the strict requirements of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA). Specifically, it was not accompanied by:
A copy of the Notice to Keeper
A copy of the hire agreement
A statement of liability signed by the hirer
Partial or substantial compliance is not sufficient. Because these documents were not included, you have no right under PoFA 2012 to transfer liability to the hirer.
There will be no admission as to the identity of the driver, and no assumptions or inferences can be made. You may not pursue the hirer under contract law without the proper legal basis to do so.
Your Notice to Hirer can only hold the driver liable, and I will not be naming them. If you believe otherwise, I suggest you test your position at POPLA, where I will be making a strong submission based on your non-compliance.
You are urged to cancel this Parking Charge Notice now and avoid wasting further time.
Questions for the forum:
Does the above appeal look good to send to Horizon? Anything you'd change or add?
I’m also considering contacting Rontec, who operate the petrol station where this happened. I’ve had success in the past with a restaurant PCN — I contacted them directly and they cancelled it without needing proof.
In this case, I plan to attach the PCN and a redacted bank statement showing purchases made on the same day, and submit it through Rontec’s website as a complaint.
Would you recommend going ahead with that? I’ve already drafted a professional and polite message for Rontec and can post it here if helpful.
Thanks again for your help — I really appreciate the time and advice.
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So you have an appeal based on non-compliance with PoFA 2012 in which, as hirer, you are not liable for the actions of the driver, whom you will not identify.
It’s only the Notice to Keeper which is time limited.
There are example appeals here if you search for them. Come back with what you propose before sending, there’s no rush.
Horizon will probably reject your appeal “after careful consideration” because they only want your money, but you’ll get advice here on a subsequent POPLA appeal if so, and even if POPLA rejects your appeal you’re not bound by their decision and you’ll get advice. End result is that you will pay £0 but it may take time. These companies ignore the law and lie in the knowledge that lots of people just pay up.
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Thanks again for the guidance — I’ve now read through the forum guide you linked and understand the importance of not revealing who was driving.
To clarify my earlier post: while I may have used “I” a lot when describing the events, I haven’t made any formal contact with Horizon or anyone else in writing. I haven’t identified the driver at any stage.
All that has happened so far is:
I received the Notice to Hirer today (04/09/2025).
On my way to a job earlier today, I briefly stopped by the petrol station to try and find a contact email or number for the site operator to potentially raise a complaint.
I only asked the person there about who to contact regarding a PCN and didn’t give any details or discuss the incident.
I haven’t submitted any appeals or correspondence to Horizon at all.
In response to your other question — nothing else came with the Notice to Hirer. It was just the single-page letter titled Parking Charge Notice to Hirer (which I've already attached in the thread). There were:
No copy of the Notice to Keeper
No copy of the hire agreement
No copy of a statement of liability signed by me (the hirer)
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What else was included with the Notice to Hirer?
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/9/schedule/4
14(1)If—
(a)the creditor is by virtue of paragraph 13(2) unable to exercise the right to recover from the keeper any unpaid parking charges mentioned in the notice to keeper, and
(b)the conditions mentioned in sub-paragraph (2) below are met,
the creditor may recover those charges (so far as they remain unpaid) from the hirer.
(2)The conditions are that—
(a)the creditor has within the relevant period given the hirer a notice in accordance with sub-paragraph (5) (a “notice to hirer”), together with a copy of the documents mentioned in paragraph 13(2) and the notice to keeper;
(b)a period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the notice to hirer was given has elapsed; and
(c)the vehicle was not a stolen vehicle at the beginning of the period of parking to which the unpaid parking charges relate.
(2)The creditor may not exercise the right under paragraph 4 to recover from the keeper any unpaid parking charges specified in the notice to keeper if, within the period of 28 days beginning with the day after that on which that notice was given, the creditor is given—
(a)a statement signed by or on behalf of the vehicle-hire firm to the effect that at the material time the vehicle was hired to a named person under a hire agreement;
(b)a copy of the hire agreement; and
(c)a copy of a statement of liability signed by the hirer under that hire agreement.
If you didn’t identify the driver, then it’s unlikely that you can be held liable under PoFA 2012.
You said “I” a lot in your initial post. See https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/read-this-first-private-parking-charges-forum-guide/
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Hi all,
I've received a Notice to Hirer PCN from Horizon Parking, and I would really appreciate some help and advice before I take further action.
Background:
The alleged contravention took place at a petrol station that I use regularly. I'm an Uber driver, and due to my airport runs, I often stop at this location multiple times a day as it's ideally situated for:
Filling up on fuel
Topping up tire pressure
Using the personal vacuums provided
Occasionally buying items from the shop inside
I do not use the location for general parking, as I'm aware of the 20-minute time limit, and have always been careful to stick to that.
On the day in question:
I used multiple services offered at the petrol station.
I have bank statement evidence showing purchases made on the day, which support that I was a paying customer. Note: The bank statement date appears as 5th August, but this refers to purchases made on the 4th. I will attach a full view of the transaction which, when clicked on, shows the correct transaction date (4th August).
I suspect I may have returned to the site more than once in a short timeframe, which could be why this PCN was issued.
The signage with the T&Cs is not easily visible, though I will admit I am familiar with the time restriction from past visits and do try to follow it carefully.
This is the first time I've had any issue at this location, despite frequent visits. I’m currently planning to raise a formal complaint with the petrol station operators, as I believe this charge is unfair – especially given that I was actively using their paid services and not misusing their parking area as i have done in a similar case before and it worked .
However, before I proceed, I thought it best to seek advice from this forum first, in case there are steps I should be taking now regarding Horizon Parking or any templates that might apply (e.g. BVRLA guidance, hire car rules, POFA compliance, etc.).
I have attached:
Photos/scans of the PCN
Photos of the terms and conditions/signage from the location
Relevant info from my bank statement (with sensitive details redacted)
Any advice on how to proceed with appealing this or getting it cancelled would be massively appreciated. I’d also be grateful if anyone could confirm whether the PCN is compliant and enforceable, especially given it’s a Notice to Hirer.
Thanks in advance for your time and help!
location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gnPVDj9C2kBkZ1Ey7
Images: https://imgur.com/a/VGJKsNb