Free Traffic Legal Advice

My thoughts..

Thanks for your insight! Very helpful.

I did dispute with Santander with info from Apcoa's website and letter, and Santander did not agree with my complaint. Their latest email is: "I can confirm the information provided by my colleague is correct and that the terms and conditions of your agreement have not been violated. I understand what you have written you believe to be true but I can assure our fine process is lawful."

So I am asking for their final response and then will be making a complaint to BVRLA and FCA (as this directly contradicts their Key Information Summary Sheet, which says liability for fines will be transferred where possible.)

I'm also going to have a go at a complaint to Apcoa, which I should've done already but I was too optimistic about Santander playing ball!

Wow b789 that’s very unnecessarily rude. I do get it. For starters, I don’t think I ever called it a fine, only a PCN.

HC Anderson asked for the letter the lease company sent, so I merely sent it as I was asked for it.

Additionally, the terms from my lease are included in my original post. I can include them again if it’s helpful.

I merely asked a follow up question confirming I can’t take any follow up action with the parking company, contrary to the lease company’s indication. All that really needed was a “yes you’re right.” But it’s crystal clear now, thanks…

Hello! Any help on thid issue would be greatly appreciated - thanks in advance!

My vehicle is leased and today I received a copy of a PCN from the lease company.

They have paid the charge and added a £30 admin fee before contacting me or notifying me in any way of the PCN. Here is a copy of the PCN they forwarded to me (sorry for the bad quality - that’s on the lease company!)

The PCN is for not paying the £5 drop off fee at Heathrow airport. This is done online before or after the visit but the driver did not know this so did not pay. When they left the terminal and did not see any barriers (like at Stansted) they thought this parking charge didn’t apply. The signs are too difficult to read from the car especially at Heathrow, one of the busiest airports in the world, where there is a big queue of cars behind you all waiting to get in - it’s not possible to stop and read the small print of the fine when you drive in. So it wasn’t clear upon entry that payment needed to be made online. The driver said there is no way to pay on site, which is the normal way to pay for parking basically everywhere!

The driver returned the car to my address where the car is kept, a journey of over an hour, but on the way home had to stop on the side of the road multiple times for over 30 minutes for a poorly child. The journey took over 2 hours and was extremely distressing for the driver, so their mind was no longer on the Heathrow drop off charges. Probably not relevant but the driver thought it was worth mentioning as it definitely speaks to their state of mind in line with this Which article with info from a Barrister RE forgetfulness.

In terms of the lease car company, my agreement with them includes these two relevant clauses which I believe allows them to pay these charges and then reimburse them onto me?

5.1.5 pay on time all licence fees, charges (including congestion charges, tolls etc), taxes and other sums due relating to the vehicle or its use. We may pay the amount of such charges for you. You will then repay that amount to us on demand together with such sum as we consider reasonable to cover our administration costs connected with the charge. Our costs will be at least £30;

5.1.9 promptly reimburse us for all parking fines and other fixed penalties or charges that we have paid in relation to the vehicle. You will also pay us such sums as we consider reasonable to cover our administration costs connected with these payments. Our costs will be at least £30.

Thank you for any advice!