Gatwick airport drop off - PCN with autopay?
Discussion
I've received a PCN for using the Gatwick airport £5 drop off zone... except I have an autopay account and have an email and VAT receipt showing payment was made for the exact date and time of the PCN and the car registration is correct!
Is this a one-off or has their system had a meltdown and started sending out lots of fines for people who have already paid?#
They have only introduced the system not long ago, so it looks like it may have some teething problems.
Is this a one-off or has their system had a meltdown and started sending out lots of fines for people who have already paid?#
They have only introduced the system not long ago, so it looks like it may have some teething problems.
Edited by Whataguy on Saturday 27th November 15:37
Whataguy said:
I've received a PCN for using the Gatwick airport £5 drop off zone... except I have an autopay account and have an email and VAT receipt showing payment was made for the exact date and time of the PCN and the car registration is correct!
Is this a one-off or has their system had a meltdown and started sending out lots of fines for people who have already paid?#
They have only introduced the system not long ago, so it looks like it may have some teething problems.
All you will get off here is opinions, or worse still, some people who want to use you as some revengeful proxy.Is this a one-off or has their system had a meltdown and started sending out lots of fines for people who have already paid?#
They have only introduced the system not long ago, so it looks like it may have some teething problems.
Edited by Whataguy on Saturday 27th November 15:37
First step, is to appeal with the proof of payment.
I did similar for a fine in a private car park, and they immediately dropped it.
Thanks, it's a weird one - car reg on the PCN and the autopay site are both the same.
The exact entry and exit date/time down to the second are the same on the autopay VAT receipt and the PCN.
It looks like one system hasn't been talking to another.
FYI It took them 30 days to issue the PCN.
Typically, they send the PCN out on a Friday and you can't contact anyone about it until next week.
I've filed an online appeal - will be interesting to see how they proceed. There might be others who have forgot they signed up for autopay and maybe just paid the incorrect fine.
The exact entry and exit date/time down to the second are the same on the autopay VAT receipt and the PCN.
It looks like one system hasn't been talking to another.
FYI It took them 30 days to issue the PCN.
Typically, they send the PCN out on a Friday and you can't contact anyone about it until next week.
I've filed an online appeal - will be interesting to see how they proceed. There might be others who have forgot they signed up for autopay and maybe just paid the incorrect fine.
My guess/wild conjecture is.. the machine mis-read your plate, auto-pay somehow not linked to plate reading or two different cameras and the fine camera just reads plate, incorrectly and sees wrong plate not on prepay list.. pcn got sent to wrong person, they appealed it, human checked photo and figured out real plate and sent fine to you without checking if you paid.
I'm sure it'll all pan out when you appeal anyway, do report back.
I'm sure it'll all pan out when you appeal anyway, do report back.
They've confirmed an issue with their systems issuing some people with PCNs when they actually have valid autopay accounts.
It's being looked into, so hopefully resolved soon.
The one month delay in issuing a PCN could mean a big bundle of them if you were using the drop off frequently, as you wouldn't know until they arrived as for me.
It's being looked into, so hopefully resolved soon.
The one month delay in issuing a PCN could mean a big bundle of them if you were using the drop off frequently, as you wouldn't know until they arrived as for me.
All I have to say is there is a Christmas kitty to top up and you’re the wallet that’s going to fill it.
Similar thing happened to me at one of those criminally crap train station parking things, followed by s
t loads of threatening bailiff letters for £200 a pop, three at a time.
The ‘evidence’ they showed was me entering the place on two separate days. Not overstaying as they claimed.
Legalised extortion, nothing more.
Similar thing happened to me at one of those criminally crap train station parking things, followed by s
t loads of threatening bailiff letters for £200 a pop, three at a time.The ‘evidence’ they showed was me entering the place on two separate days. Not overstaying as they claimed.
Legalised extortion, nothing more.
AS per others on here. Send them photocopies of your invoices that match with their request for payment., but if you want some good advice, put it up on pepipoo for them to look at
If all your ducks are in order ,and after pointing it out to them and telling them to cease contact, if they persist you could have some spending money for misuse of GDPR ( i think) but check on pepipoo.. they love this sort of challenge and it doesnt cost a penny to you
If all your ducks are in order ,and after pointing it out to them and telling them to cease contact, if they persist you could have some spending money for misuse of GDPR ( i think) but check on pepipoo.. they love this sort of challenge and it doesnt cost a penny to you
It really is extortion isn’t it ? A fiver to make a 30 second drop off - with every chance that the passenger will then add to Gatwick’s revenue at one of their shops/restaurants.
I flew in today and organised for my wife to pick me up from the Shell garage at the NT roundabout. Along the approx 400 metre entirely legal pavement walk no less than 4 signs tried to persuade me to do a U turn and return to the charge zone. Despicable.

I flew in today and organised for my wife to pick me up from the Shell garage at the NT roundabout. Along the approx 400 metre entirely legal pavement walk no less than 4 signs tried to persuade me to do a U turn and return to the charge zone. Despicable.
Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 6th April 20:00
moffspeed said:
It really is extortion isn’t it ? A fiver to make a 30 second drop off - with every chance that the passenger will then add to Gatwick’s revenue at one of their shops/restaurants.
I flew in today and organised for my wife to pick me up from the Shell garage at the NT roundabout. Along the approx 400 metre entirely legal pavement walk no less than 4 signs tried to persuade me to do a U turn and return to the charge zone. Despicable.

Wouldn't be surprised if you get a fine for stopping there to pick up.I flew in today and organised for my wife to pick me up from the Shell garage at the NT roundabout. Along the approx 400 metre entirely legal pavement walk no less than 4 signs tried to persuade me to do a U turn and return to the charge zone. Despicable.
Edited by moffspeed on Wednesday 6th April 20:00
Monkeylegend said:
Wouldn't be surprised if you get a fine for stopping there to pick up.
Currently, its the only "free" area. I was sent to wait there by my valet co. as I arrived early in my car.It's laughable.
Airport intrudices entirely unreasonable fee for daring to even drive by the terminal. Canny public think "sod that" and pick up from the near by petrol station. Airport then place multiple signes telling you not to walk between the petrol station and terminal.
Next up will be rolls of barbed wire along the pavement.....
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