Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello,

I would appreciate some advice regarding a PCN received today. It looks as though I'm caught bang to rights, but I'm hoping there may be a technicality or mitigating circumstance available.

For context, I initially paid for 15 minutes (from 15:54 to 16:09) and really shouldn't have needed any longer. However, due to a banknote getting stuck in the machine, I had to report the issue and continue at the desk, where a staff member manually recounted to determine what was missing. By the time I realised I probably needed another 1-2 minutes, my session had ended, and I couldn’t purchase more time ("max stay 2 hours - no return within 2 hours").

Once done, I rushed back to the car but was too late (by about 30 seconds) as the CEO was beside the vehicle and had just printed the PCN (he even handed it to me first before realising he had to take a photo of the PCN on the windscreen).

Since my parking effectively became "unlimited" for the rest of the day, I went back to the bank to ask for any evidence of my earlier issue for my appeal, but the staff member stated there was nothing they could provide. I did raise a formal complaint over the phone, just to get something (by way of a complaint reference number) to potentially use, though I doubt this will be helpful for my challenge.

So, my last hope is that FTLA sees something I don't and can assist with a potentially successful challenge.

Photos of the PCN linked below:

https://imgbox.com/WgumGCPk
https://imgbox.com/zwJuYCHW

Any advice would be appreciated, even if it's just to take the discount and be done with it.

Thanks,

Sorry about the delayed response.

The bank's address is: Nationwide, 48a High Road, Kilburn NW6 4HJ.

I was there to make a deposit. There wasn't even a queue, but the machine just took a weirdly long while to process a not-that-big amount (about minute and a half too long, as I saw the CEO by the car as I was jogging back - I also just noticed the photos show the lights flashing as I was unlocking the car to signal to the CEO that I was back).

I just seriously struggled to find a free payable bay.

There was actually Tesla at the top of the road on double yellows and I did think to myself "I bet they get away with it and I don't" as I went into the bank. Turns out they did (no ticket on them as I came back).

Anyway, the PCN does look in order to my untrained eye so I may just have to cough up.

Hi Incandescent,

Thank-you for the speedy response, and for the explanation.

Forgive me if I'm missing something, but was there meant to be a link in the second paragraph of your reply: "Read this and update your thread accordingly"?

Hello,

Hoping to receive some advice, please.

The registered keeper received a PCN from UK CPM in August 2024 and this has been passed onto Debt Recovery Plus (DRP) the latter of whom have most recently sent a letter in November 2024.

The driver lives in the development with the flat owner and almost always has an official UK CPM permit displayed when they park there, but on this occasion they had forgotten to place one on the dashboard due to returning very late one evening after work.

The PCN photos were taken before 06:00 the following morning.

Frustratingly, after trying to get this cancelled via the building management company in charge of managing the development (who are very poorly rated by all residents both in this and on other development, and the several hundred 1-star reviews paint them too kindly), they were advised that they (the building management) "requested the PCN be cancelled but were denied by the UK CPM administrator".

The building manager's reasoning for the PCN not being cancelled was that, as they do not actually pay UK CPM to enforce parking on the site, UK CPM are unlikely to agree to cancel any PCNs, even if requested by the building management company that instructed them, as that is the only way they make money from their relationship.

So, the registered keeper tried to appeal to UK CPM directly, was rejected (unsurprisingly), and has since received some follow-up letters from DRP. Having researched this a bit, it seems that the consensus is to ignore the DRP letters and wait for a potential Letter of/before Claim (which may be quite likely, as UK CPM are apparently the most litigious PPC in the country).


- Original PCN (redacted):
https://imgur.com/yaMEYPv
https://imgur.com/9RaRegy

- Latest DRP correspondence (redacted):
https://imgur.com/KayetCQ
https://imgur.com/24EDPDP
https://imgur.com/W7rot6R

- Parking sign: Photo TBC ASAP

Is there anything else the registered keeper should be doing at the moment aside from waiting to see whether an LoC/LBC will be sent? They have considered asking the building management company again to cancel this, but that company are really unhelpful and this is unlikely to go anywhere. Can UK CPM even cancel it at this stage, given it's now been passed onto DRP?

If this does go to court, are there any valid challenges/appeals the registered keeper can use?

Thank you

Thanks very much. Just submitted that representation. Will update the thread once they respond.

Hi @cp8759,

The Notice to Owner came through today.

Here are links/screenshots of each page.













Please let me know how best to proceed, or if any further information is needed.

Thank you,

Hello,

I would appreciate your advice regarding a PCN received today.

I had paid for an initial period of 10 minutes (from 09:31 to 09:41), which I thought would be sufficient, but my stay became longer than I had originally expected so I paid for another period right before the 10-minute grace period ended (from 09:51 to 10:01).

There were no "No Return" signs or indications or limitations in the app that can prevent you from starting another parking session after a recent one has ended.

The time on the PCN is 09:51, which is exactly when the 10-minute grace period for my first session ended, and also exactly when my second parking session started. The photos aren't currently showing on the council's portal, but I'm sure that whatever images the CEO took of the vehicle would either have been taken during the grace period (09:41-09:51) or during my paid for parking period (09:51-10:01).

I understand that CEOs can issue instant PCNs at the expiry of a grace period. However, I don't believe the 10-minute grace period had expired by the time the second parking period/ticket was purchased.

Is my logic inaccurate, or is this a simple case of challenging this PCN using my two valid parking session tickets as evidence?

Photos of the PCN and parking receipts below:

PCN Front Page:


PCN Back Page:


Parking Receipt 1:


Parking Receipt 2:


Parking Sign on Nearby Post:


GSV of the location:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/hQ3b5JeSfMpDFKwp7

Thank you,