Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi,

I hope someone can help with this one.

As the registered keeper of the vehicle, I have received this PCN.

Upon entering the car park, the driver proceeded to park in the nearest space and went in store to do a quick shop. The driver had not shopped at this particular store in quite a while, but the last time they had (> 6months ago) it was free and no ticket was required. At some point, Excel parking have taken over management of this car park and now a ticket is required to be purchased. The cost of the ticket can be refunded by the supermarket upon spending min £5, but the driver was not aware of this at the time. It was also dark at the time and sign was not lit up.

Is there anything that can be done to appeal this PCN?

I have spoken to Iceland customer services who could only advise to take it up with the parking company. I have spoken to the store manager and he said there is nothing he can do, but as the driver has the receipt to prove they shopped there to send that to the parking company and he thinks they will cancel it. Reading various posts on here, I'm not sure they will drop it on this basis, so I would like some expert advice first.

Thank you for any help/advice in advance.

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Hi,

Thank you for your advice. I have emailed Richard along with a copy of the PCN and my store receipt.

Should I also lodge an appeal with Excel in parallel? If so, are there any grounds I can base it on?

Thanks.

The last day to appeal and still have the option of paying the reduced rate is today (14 days after the issue date).

Should I just wait to appeal until the deadline of 28 days (13/11/24)?

Thanks.

The last day to appeal and still have the option of paying the reduced rate is today (14 days after the issue date).

Should I just wait to appeal until the deadline of 28 days (13/11/24)?

The "discount period" is meaningless with private parking invoices, as the sums they ask for are essentially arbitrary.  They just want you to pay them some money that you don't owe them.

I would get the appeal in before the 28 days are up regardless of Iceland, purely as I would want to get a POPLA code when they reject the appeal.  Keep on at Iceland though, there's no reason it should take them weeks to send a simple email to their associate.

No initial appeal to any PPC will result in a cancellation. In this case, Excel are IPC members so you wouldn't get a POPLA code anyway. You would be able to make an appeal to the IAS but you're about as likely to win the lottery than the IAS upholding an appeal.

You can chase up Iceland. They usually are pretty good, especially if you went straight to the top, the CEO with your request.

It's up to you. It won't help and they will still pass it to "debt recovery". You seem to think that "debt recovery" is somehow bad. It is nothing of the sort.

Debt Recovery Agents (DRA) or "debt collectors" are powerless and can safely be ignored. The DRAs offer a no-win, no-fee service to the PPCs. They send letters with scary words such as "CCJ" or "bailiffs" and so on, in the hope that it triggers the recipient to capitulating into paying the alleged debt which now has an added fake £70 charge.

The DRAs have absolutely no powers to do anything. They are not a party to the contract the driver is alleged to have breached. All they can do is try and scare the recipient into paying. They cannot force or do anything. They cannot initiate litigation and they certainly cannot send bailiffs or get a CCJ. Ignore them DRAs. Never, ever, ever try and communicate with them. Just ignore them.

So, if you think it will make you feel better by appealing to Excel, go ahead, but don't expect anything positive from doing so.

Excel might not bother with the effort of telling you. Just keep hold of the confirmation from Iceland just in case.

Good result, Iceland seem to be pretty good at intervening.