POPLA still pending - Enforcement Agent Debt Threats
Discussion
I have been fighting a PCN and raised it to POPLA for an assesment within the given timeframe. I also documented a complaint to the enforcement agency who wrote me an email acknowledging the POPLA case.
Today I received a threatening letter from the enforcement agent, adding £70 to the original £100 bill, and threatening me with legal debt collection action if I don't reply to them within 30 days. (By the way, how was the letter written on the 3/3/26 but only arrived on 9/3/26 - is that a special 3rd class rate!?)
Am I right in saying they're just chancing it, and that legally there's no grounds to pursue a debt until POPLA confirm the PCN is/is not valid?
Or is POPLA outside of the legal debt collection legislation?
Any way I can report them for this type or predatory/harassing behaviour? I'm sure some folks would panic and fall for it immediately..
[BACKSTORY: Whilst I did overstay (17mins), I lucked out as the parking enforcement dingbats published the wrong address for the carpark on the PCN - they state I parked at units 6-8, but the carpark is actually situated at unit 12 according to the land registry. They were lazy in their standard response and failed to prove the address of the carpark matched the address on the PCN. It's daft, but I think I have a good chance on this technicality.]
Today I received a threatening letter from the enforcement agent, adding £70 to the original £100 bill, and threatening me with legal debt collection action if I don't reply to them within 30 days. (By the way, how was the letter written on the 3/3/26 but only arrived on 9/3/26 - is that a special 3rd class rate!?)
Am I right in saying they're just chancing it, and that legally there's no grounds to pursue a debt until POPLA confirm the PCN is/is not valid?
Or is POPLA outside of the legal debt collection legislation?
Any way I can report them for this type or predatory/harassing behaviour? I'm sure some folks would panic and fall for it immediately..
[BACKSTORY: Whilst I did overstay (17mins), I lucked out as the parking enforcement dingbats published the wrong address for the carpark on the PCN - they state I parked at units 6-8, but the carpark is actually situated at unit 12 according to the land registry. They were lazy in their standard response and failed to prove the address of the carpark matched the address on the PCN. It's daft, but I think I have a good chance on this technicality.]
Appeals Process
Will the charge be put on hold while it is with POPLA?
While your appeal is with POPLA, the operator must not pursue you for payment. If the operator requests payment from you while your appeal is with POPLA, please notify the British Parking Association who will look into it.
Source: https://www.popla.co.uk/faqs#3wANdxZ3K4kxBNAnZPP4d...
Will the charge be put on hold while it is with POPLA?
While your appeal is with POPLA, the operator must not pursue you for payment. If the operator requests payment from you while your appeal is with POPLA, please notify the British Parking Association who will look into it.
Source: https://www.popla.co.uk/faqs#3wANdxZ3K4kxBNAnZPP4d...
TheAngryDog said:
Appeals Process
If the operator requests payment from you while your appeal is with POPLA, please notify the British Parking Association who will look into it.
Source: https://www.popla.co.uk/faqs#3wANdxZ3K4kxBNAnZPP4d...
NICE! I probably should have done more reading. It's often easy to assume the system's rigged against the driver.. Thanks mate.If the operator requests payment from you while your appeal is with POPLA, please notify the British Parking Association who will look into it.
Source: https://www.popla.co.uk/faqs#3wANdxZ3K4kxBNAnZPP4d...
TheAngryDog said:
Appeals Process
Will the charge be put on hold while it is with POPLA?
While your appeal is with POPLA, the operator must not pursue you for payment. If the operator requests payment from you while your appeal is with POPLA, please notify the British Parking Association who will look into it.
Source: https://www.popla.co.uk/faqs#3wANdxZ3K4kxBNAnZPP4d...
Look into it.Will the charge be put on hold while it is with POPLA?
While your appeal is with POPLA, the operator must not pursue you for payment. If the operator requests payment from you while your appeal is with POPLA, please notify the British Parking Association who will look into it.
Source: https://www.popla.co.uk/faqs#3wANdxZ3K4kxBNAnZPP4d...
Better than a poke in the eye I suppose.
XplusYplusZ said:
IBy the way, how was the letter written on the 3/3/26 but only arrived on 9/3/26 - is that a special 3rd class rate!?
That sounds about right for Royal Mail presently.Our post is coming once or twice weekly if we’re luckly. Usually on a Thursday we get a big batch of letters, up to 10-15. Nothing again until the following week.
Good luck with your PCN fight
I won!
The Parking Operator had compared my 2 hour parking session with the 2:14 from entrance to exit and determined I was beyond their acceptable grace period (I guess 10 mins).
But POPLA agreed with me that there should have been a 3-4 minute grace period BEFORE the parking session started - to park, download the app, and pay for parking. With this time considered, I'd paid for 2 hours and left after 2:11 which POPLA deemed to be within the grace period.
They didn't bother looking at my other arguments, and dismissed the PCN.
The Parking Operator had compared my 2 hour parking session with the 2:14 from entrance to exit and determined I was beyond their acceptable grace period (I guess 10 mins).
But POPLA agreed with me that there should have been a 3-4 minute grace period BEFORE the parking session started - to park, download the app, and pay for parking. With this time considered, I'd paid for 2 hours and left after 2:11 which POPLA deemed to be within the grace period.
They didn't bother looking at my other arguments, and dismissed the PCN.
The Parking Operator just said that since the appeal had been successful, the case was closed - No apology, no acceptance that what they did was wrong, no commitment to fixing the problem...
[So I raised an official complaint to the British Parking Association! Yes, I'm a petty git. But don't illegally threaten innocent folks with debt collection and years of poor credit! So hopefully they get a wrist slap or worse if there are other complaints against them].
[So I raised an official complaint to the British Parking Association! Yes, I'm a petty git. But don't illegally threaten innocent folks with debt collection and years of poor credit! So hopefully they get a wrist slap or worse if there are other complaints against them].
XplusYplusZ said:
The Parking Operator just said that since the appeal had been successful, the case was closed - No apology, no acceptance that what they did was wrong, no commitment to fixing the problem...
[So I raised an official complaint to the British Parking Association! Yes, I'm a petty git. But don't illegally threaten innocent folks with debt collection and years of poor credit! So hopefully they get a wrist slap or worse if there are other complaints against them].
Well done, excellent news, I don’t bend over for these parasite scum either. [So I raised an official complaint to the British Parking Association! Yes, I'm a petty git. But don't illegally threaten innocent folks with debt collection and years of poor credit! So hopefully they get a wrist slap or worse if there are other complaints against them].
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