Heathrow Terminal 5 drop off "parking" fine
Discussion
Trying to make my way to H/R T5 short stay car park, I mistakenly took the left fork into the drop off area. Drove straight through and got it right second go.
2 weeks later Apcoa issue me with a "Parking charge notice". Turns out I should have paid £5 for not parking/not dropping off but having the temerity of using 300 yards of road in the space of 77 seconds in order to go around again. Needless to say, I am going to appeal but they are insisting I "used" their drop off zone. "But I didn't drop anyone off and I didn't stop" says I. "It doesn't matter" says they. "There is clear signage" they add. On checking, the signage says £5 per visit. I would argue driving without stopping is not visiting.
Anyway, just a word of warning if anyone is visiting the short term car park.......take the right fork
2 weeks later Apcoa issue me with a "Parking charge notice". Turns out I should have paid £5 for not parking/not dropping off but having the temerity of using 300 yards of road in the space of 77 seconds in order to go around again. Needless to say, I am going to appeal but they are insisting I "used" their drop off zone. "But I didn't drop anyone off and I didn't stop" says I. "It doesn't matter" says they. "There is clear signage" they add. On checking, the signage says £5 per visit. I would argue driving without stopping is not visiting.
Anyway, just a word of warning if anyone is visiting the short term car park.......take the right fork
You should try east mindless airport. Even stopping in the petrol station to refuel TD you £100 ticket if the person you are picking up happens to get in your car whilst filling up.
Stop anywhere on site and open a door and someone gets in same again £100 fine.
Drop off or pick up for longer than 10 mins that’s a fine.
Stop anywhere on site and open a door and someone gets in same again £100 fine.
Drop off or pick up for longer than 10 mins that’s a fine.
no wonder these companies behave in such a way, so many people are evidently quite happy to roll over and accept a £5 charge for accidentally driving through the wrong piece of road for a few seconds....like they never make mistakes and wouldn't possibly be slightly irate if they did something similar no sir not at all...
JimSuperSix said:
no wonder these companies behave in such a way, so many people are evidently quite happy to roll over and accept a 5 charge for accidentally driving through the wrong piece of road for a few seconds....like they never make mistakes and wouldn't possibly be slightly irate if they did something similar no sir not at all...
Absolutely. That's why I am going to appeal and if turned down, go to POPLA. The issue has already made the national papers - well, The Sun 
t, that reminds me I should have paid mine yesterday I have found a way of never getting fines/charges at airports, and city congestion zone fines/charges.
I never go near airports, railway stations or major conurbations.
They achieve their stated intention, of stopping me cluttering up their space and using the services of their businesses, and I achieve mine of lowering my stress levels.
I never go near airports, railway stations or major conurbations.
They achieve their stated intention, of stopping me cluttering up their space and using the services of their businesses, and I achieve mine of lowering my stress levels.
JimSuperSix said:
no wonder these companies behave in such a way, so many people are evidently quite happy to roll over and accept a 5 charge for accidentally driving through the wrong piece of road for a few seconds....like they never make mistakes and wouldn't possibly be slightly irate if they did something similar no sir not at all...
Agreed. OP. Contest if you can. There was a Martin Lewis guide on these types of issues floating around many years ago. Pretty sure it’s not legitimate grounds for a fine but do look into it e.g. clear signage, did not pick-up/drop-off etc. According to Pepipoo, Heathrow's roads are covered by bylaws and are therefore not "relevant land" as far as the Protection of Freedoms Act is concerned.
This means that private parking companies cannot use POFA to transfer responsibility from the driver to the Registered Keeper, and they don't know who the driver is from a registration plate. The RK is not required to name the driver in civil cases so there's nothing they can do.
This means that private parking companies cannot use POFA to transfer responsibility from the driver to the Registered Keeper, and they don't know who the driver is from a registration plate. The RK is not required to name the driver in civil cases so there's nothing they can do.
Nimby said:
According to Pepipoo, Heathrow's roads are covered by bylaws and are therefore not "relevant land" as far as the Protection of Freedoms Act is concerned.
This means that private parking companies cannot use POFA to transfer responsibility from the driver to the Registered Keeper, and they don't know who the driver is from a registration plate. The RK is not required to name the driver in civil cases so there's nothing they can do.
Thanks. Looked into this and others have used this as a defence. I will do the same. Thanks again.This means that private parking companies cannot use POFA to transfer responsibility from the driver to the Registered Keeper, and they don't know who the driver is from a registration plate. The RK is not required to name the driver in civil cases so there's nothing they can do.
fatboy b said:
Auto810graphy said:
Would not be a problem if you were in the correct lane or read the big warning signs. Easier to pay and remember next time.
Gotta love a self righteous idiot. Just pay isn't reasonabke advice. The whole ethos is pick up/drop off and the OP did neither. It just shows the scummy tactics of big business.
QBee said:
I have found a way of never getting fines/charges at airports, and city congestion zone fines/charges.
I never go near airports, railway stations or major conurbations.
They achieve their stated intention, of stopping me cluttering up their space and using the services of their businesses, and I achieve mine of lowering my stress levels.
+1.I never go near airports, railway stations or major conurbations.
They achieve their stated intention, of stopping me cluttering up their space and using the services of their businesses, and I achieve mine of lowering my stress levels.
If they make the experience costly or difficult, I go elsewhere. Others will provide
a cheaper or better service.
I haven't been on a aeroplane in five years. Anywhere I want to go, I can drive to.
Airports generally are just too much hard work.
I know it's easy to say, 'Should have read the signs', 'Just pay the £5'.
But it's a huge p!ss take. Even paying £5 to drop somebody off who is going to be paying their way throughout the airport and they have to pay to be taken there? It's just part and parcel of actually getting to the terminal where you undoubtedly pay for food, drinks, shopping and then for the flight itself.
Let along to be 'fined' for driving through and not even stopping. Farcical.
But it's a huge p!ss take. Even paying £5 to drop somebody off who is going to be paying their way throughout the airport and they have to pay to be taken there? It's just part and parcel of actually getting to the terminal where you undoubtedly pay for food, drinks, shopping and then for the flight itself.
Let along to be 'fined' for driving through and not even stopping. Farcical.
vikingaero said:
fatboy b said:
Auto810graphy said:
Would not be a problem if you were in the correct lane or read the big warning signs. Easier to pay and remember next time.
Gotta love a self righteous idiot. Just pay isn't reasonabke advice. The whole ethos is pick up/drop off and the OP did neither. It just shows the scummy tactics of big business.
Whether he was wiling to pay a fiver for the privilege is another matter.
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