No Response on CPM Parking Charge Notice (PCN) - Any advice?

[JennyBear20]

Hello,

I received a PCN from CPM (Car Park Management) back in June when I was helping my sister move some furniture into her apartment in London. I specifically did not park in any of the bays where there were signs that says no parking and parked at what looks like a loading bay for 15 mins max. My sister says other residents and delivery vehicles normally park there so felt it was unfair that I got the PCN so I appealed via their online appeals form.

CPM website says their online appeals will be dealt with within 21 days, when I submitted the online appeal I got an automated reply saying 35 days but this time has been and gone and still no response. I've checked my junk folder too.

I tried to call them several times but they have an automated message saying they are closed due to Covid-19 and to be assured that all appeals will be dealt with within 28 days which is not what their automated email says but either way it is over 35 days, it is almost 2 months!

I went online and found someone in a similar situation, they submitted an online appeal but heard nothing and then 2 months later received a debt recovery charge through the post. They too couldn't get through to CPM either and got an automated voice message saying they are closed until further notice due to Covid-19.

I'm starting to worry I will get a debt recovery charge even though they have not responded to my appeal yet, not sure what else I should do or if I should be doing anything at all? Has anyone experienced anything similar with CPM or any other private parking firm?

If they attempt to levy a debt recovery charge you should write to them pointing out that you submitted an appeal and still have not heard the outcome. The courts would not uphold the original fine, let alone a debt recovery charge, whilst there is an unresolved appeal.

Don’t risk it. I currently am waiting out a ccj on my file for a parking charge which I paid over the phone with my local council... turns out they gave me the wrong figure on the phone and I owed them 30 quid. After paying the full amount they wanted over the phone, I then was unexpectedly visited by a bailiff TWO YEARS later (no follow up Contact from the council saying I Still owed them), the bailiff tried to take my car and it had racked up to around 400+ quid!

I rang up the council Who apologised and said it was their fault, and if I paid the 30 to them they would stop the debt recovery. So I paid them.

Then 5 months later I had the same issue with the bailiff!! I tried to tell them I had settled it with the council but they were persistent that I still needed to pay their fee.

I rang the council to complain and see what they could do and they said it was nothing to do with them!

After trying to sort it with them to no avail, I had to hide my car and eventually move home due to the threat. I was a single mum and full of anxiety at the time and couldn’t afford to take it to court.

I have two years left of ccj now so I’m just waiting it out. It’s going to affect me buying my first home.

Don’t risk it, the parking people are dirty bastards.

I got a fine once too when the ticket fell off my screen (same council), I protested the fine. Everything was written down this time in email I made no mistake of phoning them again.

I had sent them email after email after email, they answered the first one saying it is under ‘review’ and then they were all ignored for 18 months after sending them monthly queries about it.

The charge was finally dropped (in writing!!!) so a small victory for me but it took some time and effort.

It appears the CCJ was obtained without your knowledge. If that is the case you could have applied to have it set aside. There are also things you could have done about the bailiff.