Hi all,
I'm hoping for some advice regarding a UKPC parking charge.
This is actually for a relative who has only recently asked me for help, so I'm unfortunately coming into the case fairly late. I've tried to include as much information as possible, but if I've missed anything, please let me know and I'll happily answer any questions.
The driver is an Uber driver. On 19/04/2026 he attended Sterling Industrial Estate, Dagenham to collect a pre-booked passenger. The passenger had an item to load into the vehicle, so the driver stopped only just long enough for the passenger to get in and load the item.
The engine remained running throughout, the driver never left the vehicle, and then drove away immediately.
The Notice to Keeper states the alleged contravention was:
"Vehicle parked on yellow lines/hatched area."
Notice to Keeper records the duration of stay as 0 hours, 1 minute and 1 second.
The driver also has the Uber trip record from that morning, which I've attached.
Timeline
19/04/2026 – Alleged parking event.
23/04/2026 – UKPC Notice to Keeper received (attached).
The driver's son submitted an appeal via the UKPC portal.
06/05/2026 – UKPC rejected the appeal (attached). No POPLA appeal was submitted.
11/06/2026 – ZZPS debt recovery letter received (attached).
10/07/2026 – "Warning Notice of Transfer to Solicitors" received from GCTT (trading name of ZZPS), stating that UKPC intends to pursue the matter through the courts if the balance remains unpaid.
I'm attaching:
Original Notice to Keeper.
UKPC appeal rejection.
ZZPS letter.
GCTT "Transfer to Solicitors" letter.
Uber trip details.
One thing that also stood out to me is that the appeal rejection states the vehicle:
"was not parked correctly in the bay markings"
whereas the original Notice to Keeper alleges:
"Vehicle parked on yellow lines/hatched area."
That seems to be a different allegation.
I'd really appreciate any advice on:
Is there still a realistic prospect of defending this? He's sufficiently aggreived at the ticket for 1 minute collection that he says he will go to court to fight it if necessary even if fine is the same.
Is the recorded stay of 1 minute 1 second likely to be significant?
Does the fact this was simply an Uber passenger pick-up, with the engine running and the driver remaining in the vehicle, make any difference?
What would be the recommended next step from here?
Thanks in advance for any help.
