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#Post#: 124239--------------------------------------------------
APCOA passed fine to debt collector but never got PCN
DIR By: HarryLantern
Date: July 9, 2026, 4:46 pm
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I got a debt collector letter from a company called DCR today
for an apparent fine from April for a private car park in the
centre of a town in England operated by Apcao. Two issues
though, first I never got the PCN (v5 is correct). Will the debt
company give it to me if I ask? Second, I have worked out what I
was doing that day. I drove into the car park in question, it
was 7am so I was checking if it was free, it was not so I left
within 30 seconds without leaving the car. Not sure that
warrants a fine (or is that normal?)
My questions are
1. Can I ask to see the PCN before paying a debt collection
agency? Feels odd to just pay it.
2. Would entering and leaving within 30 seconds be a breach of
contract that means you need to pay a fine? I am not
exaggerating about the 30 seconds (okay maybe 45 at a push) but
I haven’t seen a PCN to say what the timing was.
I should add - I am not the registered keeper,
I am a named driver on insurance. My wife is the keeper, I was
driving though as I dropped her at work before this.
#Post#: 124249--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA passed fine to debt collector but never got PCN
DIR By: jfollows
Date: July 10, 2026, 1:08 am
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It’s not a fine, it’s an invoice for payment under the contract
the driver entered into by reading the signs and parking.
In your case the driver read the signs and didn’t park. It’s
called the “consideration period” in
HTML https://www.britishparking.co.uk/write/Documents/AOS/Sector%20Code%20Templates/sectorsingleCodeofPracticeVersion1.1130426-2.pdf
You could obtain the original PCN by sending APCOA a Subject
Acces Request if you wanted to.
However it’s our experience that APCOA doesn’t “do” court. Debt
collectors are powerless. They use red ink and scary words to
try and frighten you into paying.
So, practically, ignore and do not pay. In the unlikely event
you get a Letter of Claim from a solicitor then come back and
show it to us. Ignore everything from debt collectors. Obtain
the PCN using the SAR process if you can be bothered.
What do you mean by “v5 is correct”? Oh, OK, I guess you mean
the details on your V5C including your address are up to date
and correct.
#Post#: 124361--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA passed fine to debt collector but never got PCN
DIR By: ixxy
Date: July 11, 2026, 2:27 am
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And no a PCN for 30 seconds in a paid car park is a blatent
breach of the code of practice, should be at least 5 minute
consideration period to condsider the contract which is exactly
what the driver did. You need a copy of the original PCN. There
would have been more than one letter before the debts collectors
were engaged so if the V5 is correct I'd be investigating where
they went and whether any other post has failed to make it to
you.
#Post#: 124374--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA passed fine to debt collector but never got PCN
DIR By: Dave65
Date: July 11, 2026, 4:37 am
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Without spending too much time on this, could you get photos of
the signage?
If you contact APCOA make sure it`s in writing and do not give
any indication of who was driving.
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