Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hello,

On 23rd June after returning from a trip abroad, I, the registered keeper, discovered I'd received a PCN through the post for my vehicle being present on site of Nuffield Hospital in excess of the amount of time paid for / without making a payment. The PCN letter is dated 18th June, with the incident occurring on 12th June.

Upon entering the hospital site from Windmill Road, the driver found a space in a disabled bay in the main car park, parked up, displayed their Blue Badge and went for their appointment under the impression that parking is free for Blue Badge holders.

The hospital website does confirm Blue Badge holders can park free of charge - although it also asks that the vehicle registration number is given to reception within 30 mins of arrival, which the driver did not do as they weren't aware of this requirement. The driver does not remember seeing any parking signs on entry to the hospital grounds or between the car parking space and the hospital's main entrance, let alone prominent ones clearly displaying this information. I live in a different city from the car park so I'm unable to personally check / document signage, nor can I find photos of the parking signs online. Street View images are from no later than 2017, way before the most recent parking price change in 2023.

Photos provided by the PCN only show the vehicle entering and exiting so there is no proof of the Blue Badge being displayed or not either.

Please could you advise how / if I should proceed in challenging this PCN?

Thank you all for your time and support!
__
Parking charge info on hospital website: https://www.ouh.nhs.uk/hospitals/noc/find-us/car/#new
The driver parked in the disabled bay closest to the pavement at this dropped pin location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DeJJMrxv2HknX41cA

I don't think a private hospital will have a "PALS" service. However, what have management at the Nuffield said when you approached them to get this cancelled?

Plan A is to always complain to the landowner or their agent who contracted this unregulated private firm to manage their car park. Go as high up the management food chain as you can.

UKPC signs never adequately bring the charge to the attention of the driver. That should be your focus when making your complaint.

Even if Plan A is unsuccessful, anyone receiving advice here does not pay a penny to UKPC. Even if this goes all the way to a claim, there is less than a 1% chance this would ever reach a hearing and even then, you would have a very good chance of successfully defending it.

The most likely scenario is that any claim will either be struck out or discontinued.

If there is a PALS service then definitely contact them.

Spoken to PALS who said they've had a few of these lately! They are going to contact UKPC on my behalf then let me know the outcome, so fingers crossed. I'll update when I hear back again.