Free Traffic Legal Advice

I've received a PCN (well, two, actually, because there were two dates one after another).

The vehicle was parked in the car park for the Leeds Elland Road Premier Inn on the two dates in question in May 2026. While Premier Inn state on their website that there is chargeable parking on site, the driver tells me it's not mentioned on checkin, the staff don't mention it at any point, and they still have no idea where the terminal is where you're supposed to register and pay.

I have neither paid nor appealed and have received (15 July) notice of debt recovery by DCBL, with a deadline of 29 July.

Google streetview data is from varying dates, with the most recent being May 2024, but I can't see any (obvious) signage in the car park, e.g.: at the entrance or where the vehicle was apparently parked

Given I've left it so long before taking any action, what's the best thing to do in this case?

All advice gratefully received. Thanks in advance.

Assuming the driver was staying at the premier Inn then trying to get to cancel should be your first line of attack.

You won't be able to appeal with Horizon now,cos assuming you don't want to pay, you just need to wait it out for a letter of claim (to which you should reply) and then a court claim (to which you must reply). It sounds like you have the makings of a defence based on being a customer and poor signage - and if you show us the PCN there may be deficiencies for additional defence points. Many defended claims are discontinued before it gets to court

Thanks, I'll contact Premier Inn customer service when they open in the morning asking them to cancel, so we'll see what they come back with.

Cheers.

So... after a bit of back & forth with Premier Inn Guest Relations, they've said:

"Having reviewed the matter with the hotel, I have been advised that parking was not included as part of your booking and that guests are required to register their vehicle and pay for parking separately using either the reception kiosk or the QR codes displayed throughout the hotel.

"The hotel has also confirmed that the car park is managed independently by Horizon Parking. Whilst Premier Inn works alongside the parking operator, Parking Charge Notices are administered directly by Horizon, and the hotel does not have the authority to cancel or overturn notices issued on their behalf.

"As a result, any challenge relating to the Parking Charge Notices would need to be pursued directly with Horizon Parking. I appreciate your comments regarding the appeal timescale and understand why this is disappointing. However, as the appeal period has now expired and the notices were issued by an independent parking operator, I am unable to intervene further or arrange for the charges to be cancelled."

Is it true that they're unable to intervene? I thought that, as the landowner, either the hotel or Whitbread PLC would be able to contact Horizon and request that the PCN is cancelled. It certainly doesn't sound as though they're willing to, but that's a different matter entirely.

I've been back to the site this morning, and there are certainly a bunch of signs around that I definitely don't remember seeing at any point on my previous visit in May, but I can't say for certain they weren't there. However, there was a huge green sign by the checkin kiosks that I most definitely would have noticed if it had been there before, and the lad on reception said he thought it was new-ish, which is interesting.

Anyway, any advice on next steps would be appreciated. I'm inclined to go back to them and query why they're not prepared to intervene on the part of a genuine guest.

Cheers,
-C