I received a fine at a hospital car park in October despite having paid £10 for a week’s parking. I appealed to POPLA (the parking on private land appeals process), which found against me because it was claimed I had entered my car number plate with a K instead of a J. My number plate does, in fact, include a K. The J is a figment of their imagination. When I pointed out their statement was factually incorrect they refused to reconsider.
MR, Tyne & Wear
POPLA, in its reply, stated that you cannot appeal against its decision even though, in your case, its decision appears to have been founded on an error. I notice, from the parking permit you bought, that the number plate you entered included a zero at the end when, given the format of UK licence plates, it should presumably be a letter O.
When I contacted POPLA it discovered it had made an error when it accused you of entering a K instead of a J. It had, instead, meant to explain you had confused an O with an 0. It justified this by pointing out the J and K are beside each other on the keyboard. You had a better excuse – Os and 0s are indistinguishable on licence plates and thousands of motorists are caught.
However, POPLA, while also guilty of butter fingers, is unyielding. In the world of private parking enforcement, it matters not that you can prove you paid, only whether you abided, quite literally, to the letter of the rules on car-park signs.
And those stipulate registration plates must be correctly entered so that the automatic number plate recognition cameras, which monitor comings and goings, can match the payment to the vehicle.
“While POPLA’s typo has caused confusion for the motorist, it doesn’t materially alter the outcome of the case,” POPLA says. “As the driver did not make a payment against the correct vehicle registration, it is correct that his vehicle remained at the car park for longer than permitted.
“The fact that he did make a payment, alone, is not enough reason to cancel the parking charge notice.”
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