Author Topic: Euro Car Parks PCN – Alleged Overstay – The Arena Shopping Complex, Harringey  (Read 1000 times)

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On 02/05/2025, the driver of the vehicle entered The Arena Shopping Complex car park at 22:05:18 and exited at 22:30:56 according to the PCN. The notice alleges that they overstayed the maximum time period allowed and has now been hit with a £100 charge (discount to £60 if paid by 27/05/2025).

However, the driver is a member of the gym, which gives free parking to members (provided you enter your vehicle registration in the machine inside). They are sure entered on arrival but the PCN suggests that didn’t happen.

@b789 I noticed you mentioned in a similar case (https://www.ftla.uk/private-parking-tickets/euro-car-parks-pcn-overstayed-the-arena-shopping-park-harringey/) here that if it comes to it, an appeal and a long game of ignoring will be sufficient?


PCN:


Sign:
« Last Edit: May 22, 2025, 10:55:05 am by inst1nct103 »

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However, the driver is a member of the gym, which gives free parking to members (provided you enter your vehicle registration in the machine inside). They are sure entered on arrival but the PCN suggests that didn’t happen.
First port of call is the gym to get it cancelled...

However, the driver is a member of the gym, which gives free parking to members (provided you enter your vehicle registration in the machine inside). They are sure entered on arrival but the PCN suggests that didn’t happen.
First port of call is the gym to get it cancelled...


I'd imagine the systems are connected on the backend so not something they actively manage or have control over. Have messaged them nonetheless.

I want to understand what the options are here with respect to appealing if they cannot do anything about this.

I'd imagine the systems are connected on the backend so not something they actively manage or have control over. Have messaged them nonetheless.
Better to find out than to imagine - if the gym are no help, find out who owns the shopping complex and try with them. It is by far the quickest and easiest way to get the charge cancelled, so worth the effort.

I want to understand what the options are here with respect to appealing if they cannot do anything about this.
To help us provide the best advice, please read the following thread carefully and provide as much of the information it asks for as you are able to: READ THIS FIRST - Private Parking Charges Forum guide. The rest of the notice and photos of the signage would be useful.

A fair proportion of the ECP charges we see on here eventually end up with a court claim initiated by the rather incompetent DCB Legal - if defended, they are pretty much always discontinued before they ever reach a hearing.

Better to find out than to imagine - if the gym are no help, find out who owns the shopping complex and try with them. It is by far the quickest and easiest way to get the charge cancelled, so worth the effort.

I've emailed but it was an automated response to check FAQs and the query was auto closed (no option to reopen). I checked the website here and seems like they won't be much help: https://support.thegymgroup.com/support/solutions/articles/44002528121-i-ve-received-a-parking-fine-what-can-i-do-

The app shows history for attendance so I suppose that stands as good stead for an appeal (if it comes to it). I'll try to find out who owns the car park but a quick google search seems there isn't a central management agency (or a way to contact them) and they've just outsourced the parking management to ECP.

To help us provide the best advice, please read the following thread carefully and provide as much of the information it asks for as you are able to: READ THIS FIRST - Private Parking Charges Forum guide. The rest of the notice and photos of the signage would be useful.

A fair proportion of the ECP charges we see on here eventually end up with a court claim initiated by the rather incompetent DCB Legal - if defended, they are pretty much always discontinued before they ever reach a hearing.

Sure thing, I've edited with the full notice and added the parking sign in the original. It's free for anyone (including non gym members) between 6am-10pm but post 10pm is when they'll charge. But regardless, as a gym member it's free from the moment you enter the car park for a few hours.
« Last Edit: May 22, 2025, 12:02:00 pm by inst1nct103 »

I'll try to find out who owns the car park but a quick google search seems there isn't a central management agency (or a way to contact them) and they've just outsourced the parking management to ECP.

Who is this "they" that you refer to? Your job is to find out who "they" are as it will be "they" that contracted ECP.

You can ask the gym management who the "they" are as they will most likely be paying rent to "they" also. Losing members because of a third party, unregulated private parking company have been contracted to operate the car park, is not likely to please them either.
Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience” - Mark Twain

So the staff member said that they don't know who the owner is for the retail park, but I'm going to speak to the manager to see if I can get anywhere.

They did however mention that this seems to be a common occurrence for some of the members. They received tickets but had them reversed after appealing by proving their attendance for that day.

A "common occurrence" for some of their members? You would think that the management would be on this like a rash and be complaining to their landlord to call off their rogue parking company from issuing £100 invoices to their customers. Put the pressure on them to get the landlord to put pressure on the parking company to cancel.

Otherwise, take your custom elsewhere and point out that there are other gyms that are available.
Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience” - Mark Twain

I'm aware of this gym. If you can show you attended the gym that day, you may get it reversed. The Gym have a tablet that customers are expected to use to enter their registration plates, and that gives 2 free hours. many people forget to do this. I was once done by this, but by that time they didn't even have the tablet working, and the gym tried to fob me off that it wasn't their responsibility.

at that time, somewhere on their website had "free gym parking", which is what I used to throw back at them, and they got the ticket cancelled on my behalf. I don't think that wording is on the website now since they installed the Tablet.

I'm aware of this gym. If you can show you attended the gym that day, you may get it reversed. The Gym have a tablet that customers are expected to use to enter their registration plates, and that gives 2 free hours. many people forget to do this. I was once done by this, but by that time they didn't even have the tablet working, and the gym tried to fob me off that it wasn't their responsibility.

at that time, somewhere on their website had "free gym parking", which is what I used to throw back at them, and they got the ticket cancelled on my behalf. I don't think that wording is on the website now since they installed the Tablet.

Oh nice, good to hear you had it reversed.

Do you think it's worth me pushing with the gym staff to get someone there to cancel it on my behalf or just appeal myself with the proof that I was there that evening? Getting hold of staff there seems tricky and they've already been quite unresponsive in getting hold of a manager.

Try with the gym. ECP are only interested in your money.

Try with the gym. ECP are only interested in your money.

Popped over today and they're saying they don't have anyone they can contact. They used to have a lot of these issues but now since the ECP issued machine is in the gym, it's all out of their control.

I'm going to contact the manager to try and get hold of the CCTV. The staff member I spoke to said that I can try and do that and then use that and attach to the appeal.



@b789 assuming I go down the route of appealing against ECP, does your advice in this thread still apply here?

Specifically, if it ends up going that far, does this ‘DCB Legal will discontinue the claim before they have to pay the trial fee’ still apply?

Specifically, if it ends up going that far, does this ‘DCB Legal will discontinue the claim before they have to pay the trial fee’ still apply?
Likely, but it cannot be guaranteed.

I would accept a bet of £100 that they will discontinue. If I had to put odds on the chance of this ever progressing as far as a hearing, it would be 1:1,000.
Never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience” - Mark Twain