Stansted parking charge and moorside legal

[Stanstedsucks]

Flew from Stansted airport February 2025. We booked valet parking as actually it turned out to be cheaper than the nearby car park and we have small children so thought it was very convenient. Arrived about 5.30am, bag drop closed at 7.10am so we were definitely at the gate in time being so early.

Monday we get a letter, first one, saying we had a parking charge for £170 and we have to pay it in 7 days. This is a shock and I use the system for trace debt to provide images of the valet parking and our ticket. Call them up they tell us the ticket is from 7.19am so we know it’s the valet that have done this and it’s some mix up. Anyway we try but Moorside legal who handle it make it hard to talk to anyone. They had the case on hold but hey presto again today asking for £170 via email and saying we have 7 days or they will take us to court.

I contacted stander direct by email and had a response saying they’d look into it but so far nothing else coming from them.

so my question is do we just pay it or risk them taking us to court?

I know they’re wrong, but our financial situation changed since then significantly so while the £170 is huge for us, court scares the hell out of me because we can’t afford even the £170!! Hope someone can help us!

As long as you have proof to substantiate that you did nothing wrong then I would ignore and let them take you to court.
Im sure money saving expert has templates for responses to unfair parking disputes and most of the time I believe they dont follow through once they realise youre prepared to challenge it.
They're chancing it on hope they will scaremonger you into paying.

Thanks, I have proof of payment for valet parking, proof of flight ticket and then I suppose the rental car at Belfast proves we flew. I am just shocked this is the first we heard of it too, and it’s crazy how they’ve not looked at our evidence. The guy on the phone said we are best just paying it.

I've been threatened several times for car parking fines and I've challenged each one and they've backed off completely and dropped the charge.
one was when you had to enter your car registration and my husband who is dyslexic put they last two letters of the registration they wrong way round 🙈. I asked them for the images of the vehicle with the incorrect registration and obviously they didn't have any to substantiate their claim against me.
Remember they are there to make money and £170 threat is an easy one which most people will cave, which is what they prey on!

Was it Stanstead's Valet Parking or a third party?

Clearly at the time the ticket was issued the car was in the hands of the Valet parking service BUT if its a third party you may be out of luck getting them to pay.

It was Stansted valet parking. As it was so long ago, I can’t remember exact time we got there but we paid from 5am and I remember being there before sunlight, so I think it was 5.30am. And again, bag drop closed at 7.10am so we definitely were past to the gate then with a 1 year old and 3 year old. I thought with two small kids it would make our lives easier and here I am over a year later kicking myself! I’d say I’d never do it again but truth is we can’t afford to travel so my saying that is an empty promise.

Well the obvious point is that at the time the ticket was issued the vehicle was in the hands of their own valet parking services so they need to send it to the Valet Parking Service and not yourselves

Thank you, it just seems impossible to
get through to them about this. I can’t email them and even with the evidence supplied it’s like they’ve not read it. Moorside legal even said that it’s no longer with Stansted so I wonder if someone bought the debt or something

Just email them, state you booked valet parking and have the proof and state that you're happy if they want to take you to court, pay the court fees and both your expenses for the day.

They'll back off.

This is from over a year ago? what about previous letters?

The initial letter you received should detail an appeals procedure. If it doesn't, ask them for it, or write to them stating that you are appealing the fine.

You need to either...

-Appeal immediately on the grounds that you were not driving the car when the fine was issued. Evidence this with copies of your receipt/invoice/booking confirmation from the valet company.

...or...

-Tell them you are transferring liability to the valet company and provide their full business name, address and contact details, and the full name of the driver/your contact at the company if you have it. You don't need to include other anecdotal details.

They should cancel the fine/accept your appeal either way, assuming you have provided full and accurate proof/information. Obviously send via recorded delivery.

You should also contact the valet company and make them aware. Assuming they accept that they had possession of the vehicle at the time, they (or their insurer) should take care of the fine on your behalf.

Don't be scared into paying the fine and trying to claim the money back from the valet company. You are not liable if they had taken possession of the vehicle before the fine was issued.

Don't be scared into paying the fine and trying to claim the money back from the valet company. You are not liable if they had taken possession of the vehicle before the fine was issued.

I'm afraid this is wrong. Under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the registered keeper of the car is liable for any unpaid parking charges. The fact that the valet company was in possession of the car is irrelevant. OP is therefore unable to transfer liability. However, if OP parked in the Express Set Down area and handed over her keys to a member of the valet parking team, there should not have been any charge. I would suggest that she contacts Stansted's valet parking service on 0800 093 7851 and ask them what is going on.

Thanks I would email them that but they don’t have an email address. They emailed me with a no reply email. They use an app where you upload the evidence but no way to communicate with them except on the phone. I suppose I could call them on the phone to say that.

Not had any letters, this was the first we heard of it. And of course because we paid for valet parking and followed directions we had no reason to even think we had a ticket. I have to say that was one of the biggest shocks that they’ve had written a year later

Part of the problem is we have ZERO details of the fine except what we were told on the phone. As this is the first we’ve heard of it in a year since, there is no option on the letter for appeal. They just said we can upload evidence. It’s all very murky, with nothing obvious for appeal and no way to write an email to them. I have to look at the letter again to see if there is a postal address.

Thanks I wrote to Stansted but I will call them. I now see why the valet parking was so cheap!! Clearly they’re not good once they have the car.

i am just now realising how bad this is, we’ve not had any PCN notice, not seen any evidence, the number to call the valet provided here and online doesn’t work. I may just have to write a letter

Are you sure it isn't a scam / fishing parking ticket?

Call them.

Tell them to take you to court.

Accept mediation - they may drop it at that point.

90% chance they will drop it entirely a few days before the court date.

(when preparing for court they will have to gather evidence for the case - they will realise they are wrong).

Remember you can choose court close to you (so they have to travel).

Even if you lost you wouldn't have a CCJ if you paid.

I would’ve agreed with you and it was our first thought but the letter has the correct date we took the flight and our correct license plate. We’ve not paid anything yet, not sure where we’d find the money anyway. Starting to think best to just keep chasing up Stansted for a response from them.

Could there have been a data leak by the parking company so a targeted scam?

Maybe, they seem to be a real company and other people have dealt with them. We’ve also called the government debt management advice line and they know of these companies.

Stansted airport parking is managed by APCOA. There is an app and an email address.

if you use ChatGPT - put your info into that and ask for its suggestions on how to challenge the fine.

we had two erroneous fines in quick succession over Christmas and got them successfully cancelled. The ChatGPT advice, info about validity and suggestions for the text to use was spot on.

good luck - very frustrating indeed 😡

This group is really useful for parking issues.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/426233990873672

Stansted APCOA issues do come up, but have a search for the debt company.

Post your letters, but hide your personal info, and you’ll get advice.

The guy who runs the group does help people for a small fee. £15 I think. But he will only take your own if he thinks he can resolve it for you.

thank you

Thank you