3. APCOA Parking - Manchester Drop Off Parking Charge - Debt collector letter “PAY NOW”
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APCOA Parking - Manchester Drop Off Parking Charge - Debt collector letter “PAY NOW”
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Hello

My husband has received a letter from Debt Recovery Plus (DRP) dated 26.09.25 in relation to an alleged unpaid parking charge for Manchester Lower Drop Off Forecourt T2 Manchester dated 27.07.25. However, the letter was received on 08.10.25.
The letter makes reference to “lack of response”, however this is the first that we are being made aware of this charge and/or any correspondence relating to it.
I must admit that I called DRP on the sane day the letter was received, and had not thought of checking online for any similar situation before I did so. I explained that my husband was out of the country until December and also did mention that I was the driver at the time, which I now realise was not smart of me.
My husband works abroad and I would pick him up and drop him off at Manchester airport on his returns home to the UK, and we always pay for parking. Further, I cannot remember what I had for breakfast last week let alone similar events that would not stand out in my mind on 27.07.25. So, I truly cannot recall whether we paid the drop off charge, but I’m thinking why wouldn’t I have. There is no record of it on any of my bank accounts, I have on previous occasions paid using cash as well.
DRP’s letter states that we owe £170.
My husband is the registered keeper of the vehicle related to this alleged charge and he is currently abroad and not die back until around December.
Please can you offer any assistance/advice on how to proceed.
Also, I recorded the call with DRP for my peace of mind.
Thank you kindly and I look forward to hearing from you.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2025, 04:21:02 am by JLAP »
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Re: APCOA Parking - Manchester Drop Off Parking Charge - Debt collector letter “PAY NOW”
« Reply #1 on: »
Yes, as you have realised it is a cardinal sin to talk to any of these people, everything in writing.
If then you have not received any previous correspondence, a subject access request can be sent to Apcoa for all the details they have of the keeper.

These airport usually run under bylaws and this is the usual defence.

Others will follow.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2025, 10:23:28 am by Dave65 »
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Re: APCOA Parking - Manchester Drop Off Parking Charge - Debt collector letter “PAY NOW”
« Reply #2 on: »
Apcoa aren't normally court active.

All you can do is sit and wait to see what their next move is.

If they continue to pursue your husband then it can easily defended as there is no keeper liability on airport land.
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Re: APCOA Parking - Manchester Drop Off Parking Charge - Debt collector letter “PAY NOW”
« Reply #3 on: »
Who did you "admit" being the driver to? If to DRP on the phone, it won't matter. Never, ever, EVER, EVER enter into communication with a useless debt collector. They are powerless to do anything except to try and intimidate the low-hanging fruit on the gullible tree into paying out of ignorance and fear. They are not a party to the contract allegedly breached by the driver. You can safely shred any correspondence form a useless debt collector and use it as master bedding for all it is worth.

You husband is the Keeper and the named recipient, so you can't do anything about it. Are you sure the V5C address is uptown date. One of the main reasons people don't find out about these charges until they receive a debt recovery letter is because when they last changed address they updated their drivers licence but forgot that they must also update the V5C separately with the DVLA.

APCOA are benign and will not litigate. However, you will continue to receive useless debt recovery letters until they get fed up. Your husband (or you doing so in his name) can email APCOA with a formal complaint which they are obliged to treat as an appeal, which may get this drawn to a close a bit earlier with the following to ukcustomercomplaints@apcoa.com and CC yourself":

Quote
Subject: Formal Complaint – Non-receipt of Notice to Keeper / PCN [XXXXXXXXXX], Vehicle [AA11BBB], Manchester Airport

Dear APCOA Complaints Team,

This is a formal complaint regarding your failure to serve a Notice to Keeper (NtK) for the above-referenced Parking Charge Notice.
No NtK has ever been received at my address. The first correspondence I received was a debt recovery letter from Debt Recovery Plus (DRP). Accordingly, I dispute that any valid NtK was ever issued or served.

Under the Private Parking Single Code of Practice (PPSCoP), Section 11.2, you are required to treat any complaint relating to a parking charge as an appeal. Therefore, this complaint is also to be treated as a formal appeal against the charge.

Grounds of complaint and appeal

1. No NtK received – presumption of delivery rebutted
I put APCOA to strict proof that any NtK was created, correctly addressed, and actually posted. You are required to provide:
• A copy of the NtK allegedly sent;
• Proof of posting (such as a Mailmark/Smart stamp or postal manifest linking this PCN to a posted item);
• The address used and the DVLA data source relied upon;
• Any audit trail evidencing handover to Royal Mail or your postal provider.

Without such evidence, the alleged NtK cannot be presumed delivered. The presumption of service is expressly rebutted.

2. Keeper liability not established
I was not the driver, and there is no obligation upon a keeper to identify the driver. Furthermore, Manchester Airport is not “relevant land” for the purposes of Schedule 4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, as it is subject to airport byelaws. You therefore cannot hold the keeper liable in any event.

Required outcome
Given that no NtK was received and no keeper liability can arise, this charge must be cancelled immediately.

If you refuse, you must:
• Treat this complaint as a formal appeal under Section 11.2 of the PPSCoP; and
• Provide a POPLA verification code so that the matter may be referred to independent adjudication.

While this complaint and appeal are under consideration, you must place the charge on hold and instruct DRP to cease all contact. DRP has no standing to pursue any alleged contract.

Please confirm cancellation or provide the POPLA code within 28 days.

Yours faithfully,

[Your Full Name]
Registered Keeper (not the driver)

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  3. APCOA Parking - Manchester Drop Off Parking Charge - Debt collector letter “PAY NOW”