Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice and support regarding five parking charge notices issued by Smart Parking while I was working at a retail site in Manchester, UK.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

I received 5 PCNs from Smart Parking:

• 10/01/25

• 11/01/25

• 13/01/25

• 15/01/25

• 21/01/25

On all of those dates, I was working on-site as a staff member. I’ve got my rota, payslip, and employment confirmation to prove this.
The issue came from me driving a new vehicle and not realising I needed to provide the registration for staff parking authorisation in the retail car park. I also asked my manager about a key fob for the staff car park but was told none were available and that the site owner wasn’t reachable.

All initial appeals to Smart Parking were rejected. I was also told by management that the issue would be handled internally, which delayed my POPLA appeal slightly. The 21st Jan charge was appealed to POPLA — although it was submitted 2 days late, they accepted it and it’s currently marked as “decision in progress.”
The charge for 11th Jan has now been passed to Debt Recovery Plus, and I’ve received a letter asking me to decide how I want to proceed. I’ve not responded yet.
I haven’t heard anything yet from DRP for the 10th Jan charge, but I assume it’s coming soon.
I also know of other colleagues who’ve had the exact same issue — parking fines issued while working due to registration not being updated — and their charges were resolved.
My question is — what’s the best way to handle the DRP letters? Is it worth responding? Should I wait for POPLA to make their decision first? Also, is there anything I can do to get Smart Parking to cancel the other charges on the same basis?

Appreciate any advice or guidance you can offer. I’ve kept records of everything and just want to resolve this properly without paying for something I don’t believe is fair.

Thanks in advance!

You mention 5 parking charges, but only 1 POPLA appeal?

We need to see exactly what you said in your appeals, and the parking charge notices - read the following for guidance on providing images: READ THIS FIRST - Private Parking Charges Forum guide

If some are with debt collectors, there's little you can do now other than keep the pressure on whoever 'management' is to get them cancelled, and then wait to see if you receive a 'Letter of Claim' from Smart's solicitors. If you do, come back here for advice.

Thanks for your reply! Yeah, I appealed for all 5 charges through Smart Parking and they all got rejected. My management then told me not to do anything else as they will sort it for me so as a result I didn't appeal again through POPLA until I got the first debt collectors letter through the post for one of my charges. I am too late to appeal through POPLA for any of the other charges.