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#Post#: 131220--------------------------------------------------
APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way M/S
Station, St Albans
DIR By: frustin
Date: September 22, 2026, 1:16 pm
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The driver parked in the aforementioned carpark. It was late and
the driver made two mistakes:
1. Used the registration number from the previous car i.e. not
the one using the carpark
2. Paid when the driver departed said carpark, rather than when
entering
Driver has receipt of the payment and covers the full amount for
the use of the carpark.
HTML https://ibb.co/TD5JDrrZ
HTML https://ibb.co/hJRMwrmw
HTML https://ibb.co/Fk5jVRjM
street view of the carpark
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/Qs8DuGVRNUXKiBUz9
#Post#: 131262--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: September 23, 2026, 4:34 am
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There are a couple of options:
1. Major Keying Error
Appeal as the keeper, pointing out that the driver made payment
covering the full duration of their stay, but input the wrong
VRM. In line with the Private Parking Sector Single Code of
Practice, this should lead to APCOA offering a reduced charge of
£20 for what is known as a 'major keying error'.
2. Play the long game
Now that railway stations are 'relevant land' under Schedule 4
of the Protection of Freedoms Act, the previous railway station
appeal no longer works. From a quick look at APCOA's notice I
can't see any glaring PoFA failures. Historically, APCOA have
never been litigious, we've so far never seen them take a case
to court. On that basis, you could appeal on some ground or
another, and then once the appeals are exhausted, simply ignore
them unless you receive a Letter of Claim. As noted, we've so
far never seen APCOA take a case to court, but we can't
guarantee they won't change their way of operating in future.
#Post#: 131263--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: frustin
Date: September 23, 2026, 4:51 am
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Thanks very much, something like this:
"I am appealing this Parking Charge Notice as the registered
keeper of the vehicle.
The driver paid the required parking tariff for the parking
event in question. A copy of the payment receipt is attached,
confirming payment of £3.95 (plus the applicable £0.15
convenience fee) at St Albans Station Way M/S (3010) on 10
September 2026.
Unfortunately, when making the payment, the driver entered an
incorrect Vehicle Registration Mark (VRM).
In accordance with the Private Parking Sector Single Code of
Practice, this is a keying error. The parking tariff was paid,
and the attached receipt provides clear evidence of the
corresponding payment and should enable APCOA to identify and
verify that payment within its records.
The Parking Charge Notice alleges Use of private car park
without a valid payment/permit. However, payment was in fact
made for the parking event; the issue is that the payment was
associated with an incorrectly entered VRM.
I therefore request that APCOA checks its payment records
against the attached receipt and applies the provisions of the
Single Code of Practice relating to keying errors and that the
Parking Charge Notice is cancelled accordingly.
For the avoidance of doubt, this appeal is submitted by me
solely in my capacity as the registered keeper. I am not
identifying the driver.
I look forward to confirmation that the Parking Charge Notice
has been cancelled."
#Post#: 131265--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: September 23, 2026, 4:55 am
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If you're going down the 'keying error' route, yes.
Given entirely the wrong reg was entered, they probably won't
cancel the charge, but should reduce it to £20. As per my
previous, where you go from there is your choice.
#Post#: 131266--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: jfollows
Date: September 23, 2026, 4:55 am
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If you appeal on the basis of a "keying error" then the invoice
won't be cancelled, simply that they'll accept something like
£20 as a reduced amount.
Make sure you provide them with both cars' VRMs to make their
life easier matching up the records. It wasn't clear from your
post.
#Post#: 131269--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: frustin
Date: September 23, 2026, 5:17 am
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--- Quote from: DWMB2 link ---
>
> If you're going down the 'keying error' route, yes.
>
> Given entirely the wrong reg was entered, they probably won't
cancel the charge, but should reduce it to £20. As per my
previous, where you go from there is your choice.
>
--- End Quote ---
yes, that's correct. thank you
#Post#: 131270--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: frustin
Date: September 23, 2026, 5:19 am
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--- Quote from: jfollows link ---
>
> If you appeal on the basis of a "keying error" then the
invoice won't be cancelled, simply that they'll accept something
like £20 as a reduced amount.
> Make sure you provide them with both cars' VRMs to make their
life easier matching up the records. It wasn't clear from your
post.
>
--- End Quote ---
the APCOA site provides clear pictures of the VRM of the car
using the carpark and also the invoice (which i attached to the
appeal) shows the VRM as well. I assume that will suffice.
#Post#: 131313--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: Jackisback123
Date: September 23, 2026, 3:42 pm
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Another option is to appeal (potentially to POPLA) on the
grounds that APCOA do not have authority to issue Parking Charge
Notices; only Penalty Notices.
I have obtained a copy of Thameslink's contract with APCOA and
uploaded a copy here:
HTML https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8pbxmg3u7b3l8u1zalntr/APCOA-Contract_Redacted.pdf?rlkey=qet1mh2orryz9h6uwcmnllvkd&st=5eikvind&dl=0
You would need to ideally download and then upload the full
document rather than just providing a link as POPLA don't open
external links.
Appeal along the lines of:
--- Quote ---
> APCOA's authority to operate at St Albans Station Way M/S is
governed by its agreement with Govia Thameslink Railway Limited
(PSC0677) dated 18th September 2020 ("the agreement").
>
> Page 88 of the agreement specifies that "St Albans Station way
M/S" is one of the sites in the List of Sites (Schedule 6) to
which the agreement applies.
>
> Page 51 of the Agreement requires that the ANPR service
includes (at paragraph 1.1.4.) a system for issuing Penalty
Notices.
>
> Page 52 of the Agreement states:
> 2.1. The Suppliers Patrollers shall issue Penalty Notices
(PN) for infringements in accordance with the Railway Byelaws.
>
> Page 7 defines "Penalty Notice/PN" as meaning "a document
placed on a vehicle, or sent by post to the registered keeper or
hirer of a vehicle, requiring payment of a penalty, the
liability for which has arisen due to a breach of the Byelaws".
>
> This definition is clear: a penalty notice must arise from a
breach of the Byelaws.
>
> For the avoidance of doubt, the agreement does not permit
APCOA to issue Parking Charge Notices for contractual breaches
which do not arise from a breach of the byelaws.
>
> APCOA have however issued a Parking Charge Notice, which
alleges a "breach of the terms and conditions of use".
>
> APCOA have no authority to issue Parking Charge Notices on the
land in question. The PCN is therefore ultra vires and therefore
this appeal must be allowed.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
#Post#: 131318--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: September 23, 2026, 4:41 pm
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Are we confident that hasn't at some point been amended by
contract variation at one of the various extension points (or in
between extension points)?
#Post#: 131320--------------------------------------------------
Re: APCOA Parking PCN Parking Charge St Albans Station Way
M/S Station, St Albans
DIR By: Jackisback123
Date: September 23, 2026, 4:54 pm
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--- Quote from: DWMB2 link ---
>
> Are we confident that hasn't at some point been amended by
contract variation at one of the various extension points (or in
between extension points)?
>
--- End Quote ---
Folder of the all the documents I received as part of the FOIA
Response dated 17th August 2026:
HTML https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/6o51jepyzc16cbmukr8vg/AGNt3g1ElxTe0mKQ0ndorRo?bounce=y&rlkey=3olpljpr5hzcseo3xkwwqmfea&st=qgw4wjju&e=1&dl=0
Given the response is so recent, and the comprehensive contract
amendments provided (which so far as I can see don't amend the
contract in that respect), I'm reasonably certain yes. Unless
I've missed something, or the FOIA Response has missed
something.
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