Hi all,
Posting on behalf of a friend who received a Parking Charge Notice (PCN) from APCOA Parking after visiting Epping Tesco (site 2469) on 4th April 2025.
The PCN claims the driver either overstayed the 3-hour free limit or failed to validate their parking — but here’s what actually happened:
• The maximum stay was 3 hours, and my friend ended up staying just over 4 hours.
• They attempted to validate the parking inside Tesco, but the validation machine was not working at the time — there was no alternative method provided or clear instructions on what to do when the machine is out of service.
• They’ve now received a charge of £70, or £40 if paid within 14 days.
The PCN vaguely lists “Overstay above allowed period OR failure to validate parking,” which doesn’t take into account the fact that the machine was broken, leaving drivers without a way to comply with the process.
Has anyone else had a similar experience at this location (or with APCOA in general), especially when the validating equipment wasn’t functioning?
My friend is planning to appeal on the following grounds:
1. The validating machine was out of order, so it was impossible to validate the parking.
2. No visible alternative was provided.
3. The signage did not offer a contingency for this scenario.
Any advice on what to include in the appeal or tips from people who have successfully challenged a similar PCN would be really helpful.
Thanks!
