@ShropDistill30 - I realise you almost certainly won't have heard back on your POPLA appeal yet, but has there been any response from the BPA about your complaint?
We're seeing an increasing number of Smart Parking cases similar to yours cropping up.
Correct - we are still waiting for the response on the POPLA appeal. last notification from them was 31st March informing a 6-8 weeks for a decision.
I received an email from the BPA on 12th May 2025 confirming they have opened an investigation in relation to our company and have approached Smart Parking for comments - they will be back in touch with an update.
Just by way of an update - I have received an email from BPA: the attachment provided I can not open nor attached here but is a very blurred screen shot from Smart Parking showing the 14th February and noting the comment below that Smart Parking printed and posted on 17th February when there actual date of issue on their own printed letter is 19th February
?
Do I repsond to BPA ?
Dear The Shropshire Distillery,
Thank you for your patience while I approached Smart Parking Ltd for further information.
It might be helpful if I begin by explaining that our role as an Accredited Trade Association is to investigate alleged breaches of the Code of Practice by members of our Approved Operator Scheme. Please appreciate that our remit does not extend to compelling operators to cancel charges or becoming involved in the appeals process.
Smart Parking Ltd has responded to advise that a Parking Charge was issued due to the vehicle remaining on site for 1 hour and 34 minutes at OK Diner Oswestry which is customer parking only and tablet validation required.
An appeal was received 25/02/2025 and Smart Parking responded requesting additional evidence of the driver 06/03/2025. As the additional information was not received the appeal was rejected in the registered keepers name.
Smart Parking advised that they allow 'services days' and upon further investigation the 'services days' were added into the issue date, the Parking Charge was printed and posted on 17th February 2025 meaning it would be in accordance with PoFA. We requested proof that this is the case and they provided the below from the printing service, we have ensured that this is not reflected on the date on the Parking Charge again as this causes confusion.
The complaint response was not acknowledged correctly and therefore the operator was not provided with a further 28 days, Smart Parking have implemented additional training and refresher training to ensure that complaints are responded to fully and in the correct timeframe.
Smart Parking advised that the Parking Charge appeal is currently with POPLA, we must allow POPLA to review all the evidence and provide a response before we are able to comment on the validity of the charge.
Thank you for bringing this to our attention and helping us to raise standards within the private parking profession.
I have now closed this investigation.
Kind regards
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