Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi! I live in Housing Association flats. The private communal car park is patrolled by PCM, a parking company, who require residents to buy permits. However, for the 19 years I've lived here I have parked in the same disabled parking space and only displayed my Blue Badge. 

In the last six weeks I, another resident and visitors have all received several PCNs while parked in disabled spaces with Blue Badges in the windscreen. The PCNs stated we had parked without displaying a valid PCM permit. We've never been informed by the Housing Association or PCM that we need permits. 

I've googled private car parking laws and can't find any change in them. PCM's signs don't even mention disabled badge holders despite there being nine clearly designated spaces. I've contacted the Housing Association and they have not engaged with my enquiry and are now refusing to discuss the matter further. I'll deal with them by making a formal complaint but the important thing is that I deal with the PCNs. 

If anyone has advice on how to appeal two PCNs on my car and one on my mother's car I'd be really grateful. Thanks very much.

Thanks very much. I'll get pictures in daylight tomorrow. I've requested a copy of my lease. Will post all info tomorrow.

The woman I spoke to at PCM said they started patrolling here in 2017. There has never been a consultation to my knowledge (or memory).

3. These are the three PCNs I need to deal with. The first was on a visitor's car and the other two were on mine.

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I've requested my lease by email and phone; still waiting, no surprise there! Is there anything I can do to hold off PCM while the complaint goes through the extremely inefficient housing association? I'm extremely physically disabled and there is no way I could have parked my car in that space. Also, if there are marked disabled spaces and no mention of any restrictions on the signs is that worth mentioning? The signs were all replaced about 6 months ago. I just don't want my visitors or me getting in more debt or court action with PCM.

Thanks again for your help.

Yes, someone else always parks it. I don't have a driving license.

The notice says I have 28 days to appeal. I'll try with the last one.

Sorry; the third PCN. It's within 28 days unlike the others. The housing association made me wait for over 10 working days to completely ignore my issue and refuse to discuss it further.

Should I just pay the PCNs and try to get the housing association to reimburse me? This is a lot to deal with and if PCM are going to be litigious am I risking huge debts?

Should I just pay the PCNs and try to get the housing association to reimburse me? This is a lot to deal with and if PCM are going to be litigious am I risking huge debts?

Absolutely not, they almost certainly won't and getting it cancelled is more likely than them reimbursing you!

IF it went to court and IF you lost it would cost the £100 each for the notices and about £120-130 on top, so no.

They aim to make it look like a lot to deal with as it makes you more likely to cave and pay, if you understand their mindset it puts you in a stronger position to fight it.