Author Topic: Euro Car Parks_ Overstayed max time_M&S foodhall_Beckenham  (Read 98 times)

0 Members and 7 Guests are viewing this topic.

Euro Car Parks_ Overstayed max time_M&S foodhall_Beckenham
« on: »
Hello,
Can anybody advise on this parking charge notice from Euro Car Parks please, is this worth appealing?
The registered keeper has received a Parking Charge Notice from Euro Car Parks relating to a stay at an M&S car park in Beckenham.
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps. · maps.app.goo.gl


Car park limit: 90 minutes
ANPR recorded stay: 1 hour 43 minutes (entry 13:15:32, exit 14:58:24), with ANPR photos of the vehicle number plate on entry/exit
Date of event: 6 April 2026 (Bank Holiday Monday)
PCN issued: 13 April 2026
£85 charge, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days

The driver entered the car park and, due to it being a busy bank holiday, it took some time to find a space.

Signage is present at the entrance, near the shop entrance, and in parts of the main car park. However, the driver eventually parked in a smaller bay (approx. 6 spaces) on the opposite side where there were no visible signs at all (photos available).

On leaving, there was congestion: a one-way exit with no alternative routes, and a queue of cars waiting at traffic lights with a long cycle. This caused delays exiting the site.

The Notice to Keeper is dated 13 April but was only received on 20 April, so a week of the reduced payment period has already passed.

Any guidance on the best approach and likelihood of success would be much appreciated. Is it worth appealing to Euro Car Parks first (and then to POPLA if rejected)?

Many thanks in advance.

photos uploaded on ibb, links here:
 
Image IMG 3946 in the Ruskhat's images album
ImgBB · ibb.co

Image IMG 3947 in the Ruskhat's images album
ImgBB · ibb.co

Image IMG 3948 in the Ruskhat's images album
ImgBB · ibb.co

Image IMG 3949 in the Ruskhat's images album
ImgBB · ibb.co

https://ibb.co/M5Dyyf6P
https://ibb.co/cc2x594W
https://ibb.co/MyV5sv57
https://ibb.co/xKKWcMtL
https://ibb.co/WNSjTyr1
https://ibb.co/5hXF0vmJ
https://ibb.co/S433zzND
https://ibb.co/k2C7MH8b
https://ibb.co/d0WqMQKF
https://ibb.co/V0gnX0qj
https://ibb.co/mCh7tP4g
https://ibb.co/sJ1wF0CJ

Share on Bluesky Share on Facebook


Re: Euro Car Parks_ Overstayed max time_M&S foodhall_Beckenham
« Reply #1 on: »
You could appeal on the basis that you were unable to leave due to traffic congestion - they will probably reject, but it puts them on notice.  Make sure you appeal as keeper only, and refer to the driver in the 3rd person.  The PCN is missing the invitation to pay or name the driver which is a point for POPLA or the small claims court if it goes that far.  The signage may be a point for POPLA as well - it looks like you parked in the small bay on the right of the entrance - if there are no signs as you enter, and turn into this area, then you could argue for inadequate signage as well - but this will not hold much water if you drove around the carpark 3 times first, past all the other signs, and then entered the store passing the sign at the door (there is one shown on Street View, but it refers to different terms)!

This appears to be an M&S owned car park, so, assuming you were a customer, you should also get on to them and ask them to get it cancelled.

Re: Euro Car Parks_ Overstayed max time_M&S foodhall_Beckenham
« Reply #2 on: »
Hi, thank you very much for your advice. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.
Just to clarify a couple of points:
The keeper did contact M&S to see if they could help cancelling the charge, but they advised that it is not their car park and is privately managed, so they were unable to help.

Regarding the layout, the bay where the driver parked is actually just before the exit. What is quite unusual is that all the signage appears to be positioned on the opposite side of that bay. On the side where the vehicle was parked, there are no visible signs at all, despite there being plenty of space for them. It does feel somewhat disconnected from the rest of the car park in that sense. I take your point about signage being present elsewhere, though.

Also, thank you for mentioning the wording point on the notice. Looking at it more closely, it seems to include some elements of the requirements under Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 Schedule 4, but the wording appears somewhat fragmented and spread out rather than set out clearly in one place. Would it be correct to understand that this part needs to meet a fairly strict standard in terms of how the “invitation” is presented?
Thank you very much again for your help.

Re: Euro Car Parks_ Overstayed max time_M&S foodhall_Beckenham
« Reply #3 on: »
The keeper did contact M&S to see if they could help cancelling the charge, but they advised that it is not their car park and is privately managed, so they were unable to help.
 Yet the signage says it is managed on behalf of M&S!
Agree Agree x 1 View List

Re: Euro Car Parks_ Overstayed max time_M&S foodhall_Beckenham
« Reply #4 on: »
it does sound like the store staff just didn’t want to get involved.
I might try again with someone else at a quieter time. After reading some similar cases on here, the point about the NtK potentially missing important bits is very valuable. Thanks for pointing it out @RichardW.