How long do you expect to be out of the country?
If it is likely to be for an extended period, even just a few months, then you should instruct APCOA’s Data Protection Officer to update their “address for service” to your overseas address, provided you can show reasonable proof that you are resident there for the period in question.
Here’s how that works in practice:
Under UK GDPR (Article 16 & 19), you have the right to request rectification of personal data, which includes updating contact details.
You should make this a formal data rectification notice to APCOA’s DPO, stating that all correspondence must now be sent to the overseas address and that the UK address must be erased or marked as obsolete.
APCOA must then update their records and pass the change to any third parties they have already shared the data with (e.g., debt recovery agencies) unless it’s impossible or disproportionate.
Debt collectors are obliged to stop contacting the UK address once they’re informed of the new one — continuing to write there after being told it’s not the service address could be harassment or misuse of data.
Most debt recovery agencies will refuse to post abroad and instead return the case to APCOA, effectively ending contact until APCOA decides what to do. It won’t “wipe” the underlying parking charge, but as APCOA doesn’t litigate, then the chain of threatening letters usually stops.
