Show Posts - george74444

Hi all, I’m looking for some advice on multiple unpaid private parking charges issued by APCOA from a Tesco car park, where the driver was told by their manager (we’ll call him James) that they would be put on the system, and any fines would be sorted out. The driver began working at Tesco in September 2024 and has been using this vehicle since October. As a member of staff, the driver told their manager, James, when they began driving this new car, and gave them the number plate, and James said that they would add it to the store’s system so the driver could park there during work shifts. After receiving the first parking notice, the driver passed it on to James, who said to send through any more they get, but said they would be cancelled and told the driver to ignore any further letters chasing it up, as he had supposedly “sorted it.” James has repeated this claim multiple times over the months. Despite this, parking charge notices continued to arrive, which were passed on each time. None were appealed by the driver, under the assumption they had been handled internally, and James continued to downplay the seriousness of these debt collection letters. However, upon speaking to “Debt Recovery Plus”, no cancellations appear to have been made, and the charges have been escalated. The debt collectors are now threatening court action (attached below). The registered keeper of the car is the drivers father, a small business owner, who is now being pursued by Debt Recovery Plus. He never named the driver nor responded to the initial PCNs, so liability has stayed with him. They are now demanding £115 per charge (a total of £575 owed) and said that if it goes to court it may rise to £235. The driver genuinely believed they were on the car park system, as their manager had assured them multiple times that they were, and that all parking notices were being sorted. Over several months, the driver continued passing on every letter they received to James, only to later find out from a colleague that out of 9 or so notices the driver had passed on, James only sent 1 forward to someone who was apparently the wrong person to deal with it anyway. The registered keeper (the driver’s father) is now receiving threatening letters from debt collectors, despite never responding to the original PCNs or naming the driver. The whole situation has caused a lot of stress, especially as the parking company, APCOA, is now pushing for legal action, and Tesco has yet to properly step in or resolve things. The charges are for ‘Overstay above allowed period or failure to validate parking’, despite the driver acting on the belief they were doing everything by the book, as they have been told they can use this car park when they’re at work. Thanks in advance for any help, it would be really appreciated. Letters: https://imgur.com/a/fizaYd5