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       #Post#: 97516--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: b789
       Date: November 10, 2025, 2:00 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       You’ve done everything you can. Wait and see what you receive
       next.
       As already pointed out, you cannot be liable as the keeper as
       long as the driver is not identified. That’s the law.
       #Post#: 97659--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: RT
       Date: November 11, 2025, 5:22 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: b789 link ---
       >
       > You’ve done everything you can. Wait and see what you receive
       next.
       >
       > As already pointed out, you cannot be liable as the keeper as
       long as the driver is not identified. That’s the law.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Thanks again b789.
       I have today received my appeal response letter from Alliance
       Parking. The response is here:
  HTML https://ibb.co/Q7VBPPgR
       The reverse is a copy of their Tc's and C's as before.
       This is odd for a couple of reasons - given that, they clearly
       state that they don't accept appeals through their e-mail -
       though they must have on this occasion.
       The letter is dated 03/11 (issued on 30/10 apparently) and was
       sent in a first class pre-paid envelope. Received today (11/11)
       Their claim that the machine told us on screen that the
       transaction had not been completed is 100% innacurate. It asked
       if we would like a receipt, we said yes, it did not give us a
       receipt. There was no mention that this hadn't been completed,
       and authorised transaction alert on the mobile from my bank
       would suggest the same.
       Presumably now I must submit a further appeal to the IAS?
       I think my main question is, as this progresses - am I likely to
       expect debt collectors to be knocking on my door or trying to
       'remove' things? Don't fancy having a barny with folks in the
       street if they start trying to stick clamps and such on
       vehicles.
       Many thanks again in advance of any guidance
       #Post#: 97662--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: jfollows
       Date: November 11, 2025, 5:36 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: RT link ---
       >
       >
       >
       > I think my main question is, as this progresses - am I likely
       to expect debt collectors to be knocking on my door or trying to
       'remove' things? Don't fancy having a barny with folks in the
       street if they start trying to stick clamps and such on
       vehicles.
       >
       >
       > Many thanks again in advance of any guidance
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       No, simply put.
       These companies have no more power to do this than I have if I
       write to you demanding money and you don’t pay.
       As this progresses you may get letters from debt collectors, but
       they are completely powerless and you will be advised to ignore
       them.
       #Post#: 97720--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: b789
       Date: November 11, 2025, 11:43 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: RT link ---
       >
       > I think my main question is, as this progresses - am I likely
       to expect debt collectors to be knocking on my door or trying to
       'remove' things? Don't fancy having a barny with folks in the
       street if they start trying to stick clamps and such on
       vehicles.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Oh dear... and this is how these firms prey on the low-hanging
       fruit on the gullible tree and intimidate them into paying out
       of ignorance and fear.
       Why no bailiff can knock on your door
       1. County Court Judgment (CCJ):
       [indent]• A bailiff (enforcement agent) can only get involved
       after a creditor has obtained a CCJ against you in a county
       court.
       • If the CCJ is under £600, the creditor cannot transfer it to
       the High Court for enforcement by a High Court Enforcement
       Officer (HCEO). Instead, enforcement would remain under the
       county court's jurisdiction.[/indent]
       2. Threshold for High Court Enforcement:
       [indent]• If a CCJ is over £600 (including fees and interest),
       the creditor can transfer it to the High Court for enforcement
       by an HCEO. This is a common method because HCEOs tend to be
       more effective at recovering money.[/indent]
       3. Cost-Benefit Analysis for Creditors:
       [indent]• For CCJs under £600, creditors may find it
       uneconomical to pursue enforcement through county court
       bailiffs, as they are generally slower and less effective than
       HCEOs.
       • As a result, creditors may opt not to escalate enforcement for
       small amounts.[/indent]
       4. Private Parking Charges and Bailiffs:
       [indent]• In the context of private parking charges, no bailiff
       action can occur unless the parking operator has gone to court,
       won a case, obtained a CCJ, and you fail to pay the judgment
       within the stipulated time (usually 30 days).[/indent]
       So, no bailiff will come to your door for a debt under £600
       unless the creditor deems it worth pursuing through county court
       enforcement. However, even if the debt is over £600, bailiff
       involvement only happens after a CCJ is issued, and enforcement
       is transferred to the High Court.
       Nothing we advise on here will make anyone get a CCJ.
       --- Quote ---
       > A County Court Judgment (CCJ) does not just happen—it follows
       a clear legal process. If someone gets a Parking Charge Notice
       (PCN) from a private parking company, here's what happens step
       by step:
       >
       > [indent]1. Parking Charge Notice (PCN) Issued
       >
       > [indent]• The parking company sends a letter (Notice to
       Keeper) demanding money.
       > • This is not a fine—it’s an invoice for an alleged breach of
       contract.[/indent]
       >
       > 2. Opportunity to Appeal
       >
       > [indent]• The recipient can appeal to the parking company.
       > •If rejected, they may be able to appeal to POPLA (if BPA
       member) or IAS (if IPC member).
       > • If an appeal is lost or ignored, the parking company demands
       payment.[/indent]
       >
       > 3. Debt Collection Letters
       >
       > [indent]• The parking company might send scary letters or pass
       the case to a debt collector.
       > • Debt collectors have no power—they just send letters and can
       be ignored.
       > • No CCJ happens at this stage.[/indent]
       >
       > 4. Letter Before Claim (LBC)
       >
       > [indent]• If ignored for long enough, the parking company (or
       their solicitor) sends a Letter Before Claim (LBC).
       > • This is a warning that they may start a court case.
       > • The recipient has 30 days to reply before a claim is filed.
       > • No CCJ happens at this stage.[/indent]
       >
       > 5. County Court Claim Issued
       >
       > [indent]• If ignored or unpaid, the parking company may file a
       claim with the County Court.
       > • The court sends a Claim Form with details of the claim and
       how to respond.
       > • The recipient has 14 days to respond (or 28 days if they
       acknowledge it).
       > • No CCJ happens at this stage.[/indent]
       >
       > 6. Court Process
       >
       > [indent]• If the recipient defends the claim, a judge decides
       if they owe money.
       > • If the recipient ignores the claim, the parking company wins
       by default.
       > • No CCJ happens yet unless the recipient loses and ignores
       the court.[/indent]
       >
       > 7. Judgment & Payment
       >
       > [indent]• If the court rules that money is owed, the recipient
       has 30 days to pay in full.
       > • If they pay within 30 days, no CCJ goes on their credit
       file.
       > • If they don’t pay within 30 days, the CCJ stays on their
       credit file for 6 years.[/indent][/indent]
       >
       > Conclusion
       >
       > CCJs do not appear out of thin air. They only happen if:
       >
       > [indent]• A parking company takes the case to court.
       > • The person loses or ignores the case.
       > • The person fails to pay within 30 days.[/indent]
       >
       > If you engage with the process (appeal, defend, or pay on
       time), no CCJ happens.
       --- End Quote ---
       So, back to your case... They have no case. The driver is not
       identified and they cannot relay on PoFA to hold the Keeper
       liable if the driver is not identified. You have a clear cut
       case and this would never reach a hearing in court because it
       would be struck out before anything else. There is no case to
       answer.
       Of course, they hope you are to ignorant or fearful to know
       that.
       So, on to the useless IAS kangaroo court appeal. For what it is
       worth, just send the following:
       --- Quote ---
       > Preliminary issue – non-relevant land / no keeper liability:
       >
       > This PCN concerns Padstow Harbour car park, which forms part
       of the Padstow Harbour “harbour estate” (defined in the byelaws
       as “the docks, piers, wharves, quays… roads… and the lands,
       buildings and property… vested in or occupied by the
       Commissioners for the purposes of the Port”). Parking on the
       harbour estate is controlled by local byelaws. In particular,
       Padstow Port & Harbour Byelaws 1991 byelaw 43 provides:
       >
       > [indent]“43. (1) No person shall park or leave a vehicle in
       any place where it is likely to obstruct or interfere with the
       use of the harbour estate, or in any part of the harbour estate
       where the parking of vehicles is prohibited and notice of such
       prohibition has been erected by the harbour master.
       > (2) Any notice erected under paragraph (1) of this byelaw
       shall be conspicuously posted in or in proximity to the place to
       which it relates.
       > (3) If the harbour master so directs, the owner of a vehicle
       parked or left in contravention of paragraph (1) of this byelaw
       shall remove the same… and if the owner fails to comply… the
       harbour master may remove the vehicle.”[/indent]
       >
       > The Commissioners’ statutory power to make byelaws “for
       regulating the movement, speed and parking of vehicles within
       the harbour estate” derives from the Padstow Harbour Revision
       Order 1987, article 18(m).
       >
       > Under Schedule 4 to the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012,
       “relevant land” expressly excludes “any land… on which the
       parking of a vehicle is subject to statutory control”: see para
       3(1)(c), with para 3(3) defining “statutory control” to include
       liabilities imposed by statutory provisions (criminal or civil)
       in respect of parking. Padstow Harbour car park is therefore not
       “relevant land” and there is no statutory route to hold the
       registered keeper liable. Unless the operator produces
       admissible evidence identifying the driver, this appeal must be
       allowed at the threshold.
       >
       > However, I am led to believe that the IAS is not truly
       independent and that the adjudicators are not really solicitors
       or barristers. If they were, they would not be so hesitant as to
       keep their identity secret. So, if the "Preliminary Issue" is
       not enough to get this PCN cancelled, I continue with the
       following:
       >
       > I am the registered keeper of the vehicle. I deny any
       liability for this parking charge and appeal in full.
       >
       > The parking operator bears the burden of proof. It must
       establish that a contravention occurred, that a valid contract
       was formed between the operator and the driver, and that it has
       lawful authority to operate and issue Parking Charge Notices
       (PCNs) in its own name. I therefore require the operator to
       provide the following:
       >
       > [indent]1. Strict proof of clear, prominent, and adequate
       signage that was in place on the date in question, at the exact
       location of the alleged contravention. This must include a
       detailed site plan showing the placement of each sign and
       legible images of the signs in situ. The operator must
       demonstrate that signage was visible, legible, and compliant
       with the IPC Code of Practice that was valid at the time of the
       alleged contravention, including requirements relating to font
       size, positioning, and the communication of key terms.
       >
       > 2. Strict proof of a valid, contemporaneous contract or lease
       flowing from the landowner that authorises the operator to
       manage parking, issue PCNs, and pursue legal action in its own
       name. I refer the operator and the IAS assessor to Section 14 of
       the PPSCoP (Relationship with Landowner), which clearly sets out
       mandatory minimum requirements that must be evidenced before any
       parking charge may be issued on controlled land.
       >
       > In particular, Section 14.1(a)–(j) requires the operator to
       have in place written confirmation from the landowner which
       includes:
       >
       > [indent]• the identity of the landowner,
       > • a boundary map of the land to be managed,
       > • applicable byelaws,
       > • the duration and scope of authority granted,
       > • detailed parking terms and conditions including any specific
       permissions or exemptions,
       > • the means of issuing PCNs,
       > • responsibility for obtaining planning and advertising
       consents,
       > • and the operator’s obligations and appeal procedure under
       the Code.[/indent]
       >
       > These requirements are not optional. They are a condition
       precedent to issuing a PCN and bringing any associated action.
       Accordingly, I put the operator to strict proof of compliance
       with the entirety of Section 14 of the PPSCoP. Any document that
       contains redactions must not obscure the above conditions. The
       document must also be dated and signed by identifiable persons,
       with evidence of their authority to act on behalf of the parties
       to the agreement. The operator must provide an agreement showing
       clear authorisation from the landowner for this specific site.
       >
       > 3. Strict proof that the enforcement mechanism (e.g. ANPR or
       manual patrol) is reliable, synchronised, maintained, and
       calibrated regularly. The operator must prove the vehicle was
       present for the full duration alleged and not simply momentarily
       on site, potentially within a permitted consideration or grace
       period as defined by the PPSCoP.
       >
       > 4. Strict proof that the Notice to Keeper complies with the
       Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (PoFA), if the operator is
       attempting to rely on keeper liability. Any failure to comply
       with the mandatory wording or timelines in Schedule 4 of PoFA
       renders keeper liability unenforceable.
       >
       > 5. Strict proof that the NtK was posted in time for it to have
       been given within the relevant period. The PPSCoP section
       8.1.2(d) Note 2 requires that the operator must retain a record
       of the date of posting of a notice, not simply of that notice
       having been generated (e.g. the date that any third-party Mail
       Consolidator actually put it in the postal system.)
       >
       > 6. The IAS claims that its assessors are “qualified solicitors
       or barristers.” Yet there is no way to verify this. Decisions
       are unsigned, anonymised, and unpublished. There is no
       transparency, no register of assessors, and no way for a
       motorist to assess the legal credibility of the individual
       supposedly adjudicating their appeal. If the person reading this
       really is legally qualified, they will know that without strict
       proof of landowner authority (VCS v HMRC [2013] EWCA Civ 186),
       no claim can succeed. They will also know that clear and
       prominent signage is a prerequisite for contract formation
       (ParkingEye v Beavis [2015] UKSC 67), and that keeper liability
       under PoFA is only available where strict statutory conditions
       are met.[/indent]
       >
       > If the assessor chooses to overlook these legal requirements
       and accept vague assertions or redacted documents from the
       operator, that will speak for itself—and lend further weight to
       the growing concern that this appeals service is neither
       independent nor genuinely legally qualified.
       >
       > In short, I dispute this charge in its entirety and require
       full evidence of compliance with the law, industry codes of
       practice, and basic contractual principles.
       --- End Quote ---
       Don't worry about the tone. This is a challenge written for the
       record, not for their approval.
       #Post#: 97733--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: RT
       Date: November 11, 2025, 1:01 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: b789 link ---
       >
       >
       >
       > Don't worry about the tone. This is a challenge written for
       the record, not for their approval.
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Thank you for your efforts yet again b789. I have submitted the
       IAS appeal online just now.
       I had to trim the middle and end a little, as there is a 1000
       word limit on their appeal.
       I also attached the same screenshots that have previously been
       pooh-pooh'd by AP.
       Interesting that they immediately try to capture driver details
       in the process of registering- I say interesting, why woulnd't
       they! And that by submitting online, you also waive your right
       to appeal physically, rather than digitally.
       Oh - and one also has to agree to cookies and sign up to their
       site as well in the process. Magical.
       I'll let you know how I get on.
       Thanks again
       #Post#: 99470--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: RT
       Date: November 24, 2025, 2:12 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Don't worry about the tone. This is a challenge written for the
       record, not for their approval.
       [/quote]
       Morning B789 - Unfortunately, due to work commitments I have
       only just now noticed the appeal response - which only gives me
       today to reply further. Any further advice will be greatly
       appreciated -
       See their response below - they are it seems assuming I was the
       driver, and neglecting to accept the basic principal that their
       terminal offered no such message of failed payment, or that the
       merchant services have failed to accept the authorised payment
       presented to them.
       They have also stated their records show the payment to have
       been 'aborted' and then infer that this is the same as failed -
       two completely different things, at least as far as I'm aware
       and according to the english dictionary. Link to their 'proof'
       on this matter:
  HTML https://ibb.co/0yL8L2d2
       The operator made their Prima Facie Case on 18/11/2025 21:12:10.
       The operator reported that...
       The appellant was the driver.
       The appellant was the keeper.
       ANPR/CCTV was used.
       The Notice to Keeper was sent on 30/10/2025.
       A response was received from the Notice to Keeper.
       The ticket was issued on 30/10/2025.
       The charge is based in Contract.
       The operator made the following comments...
       As detailed on the clear and prominent signage (the contract),
       drivers agree to pay a Parking Charge of £100 if 'payment for
       the duration of your vehicle's stay has not been made in full'.
       The appellants' vehicle occupied the car park for 58 minutes on
       22/10/2025. The attached search of our payment records details
       that no payment was made; therefore, the Parking Charge was
       issued correctly.
       In response to the appellants' pertinent comments:
       * The appellants' multiple references to POFA are of no
       relevance to this matter, as we are not utilising the Act, nor
       have we suggested that we are. The use of POFA is not mandatory,
       as per para 4(6) of the Act:
       "Nothing in this paragraph affects any other remedy the creditor
       may have against the keeper of the vehicle or any other person
       in respect of any unpaid parking charges (but this is not to be
       read as permitting double recovery)."
       * The appellant is the Registered Keeper of the vehicle. The
       image of the vehicle entering the car park shows a male driver
       and a female passenger. The appellant has confirmed that they
       were present; indeed, they have submitted a screenshot of an
       attempted payment from their own mobile phone. As such, in the
       absence of any evidence to the contrary, it is 'more probable
       than not' (the standard of proof in these matters) that the
       appellant was indeed the driver.
       * It is nonsensical to suggest that we do not have authority
       from the landowner. No landowner would tolerate the installation
       of signage and 4 ANPR cameras. Not to mention the fact that we
       use their power supply. That said, the Adjudicator has sight of
       our contract with the landowner, which meets the requirements of
       the applicable Code of Practice, which is not the "PPSCoP" as
       this is not a new site.
       * The time and date of the ANPR is updated in real time via the
       Network Time Protocol, much like a mobile phone; therefore, it
       is always 100% accurate. No 'Grace Period' applies, as no
       payment was made for parking.
       * The screenshot of a payment submitted by the appellant is a
       'Pending Payment', as the attached 'RK66LDN-Aborted Payment'
       confirms that this transaction was aborted (i.e. failed), as
       confirmed by the appellant's own 'PHC Bank Alert' that they have
       uploaded. The appellant was informed that their transaction had
       failed via the terminal's LCD screen, with the appellant
       conceding in their initial appeal to us that the terminal did
       not issue a receipt.
       In light of the above and attached, we trust that this appeal
       will be dismissed as it has no merit.
       #Post#: 99487--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: b789
       Date: November 24, 2025, 4:43 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       No one really cares what the IAS are going to think or decide.
       There is one simple fact that you must remain aware of, and that
       is that as long as the driver has not been identified, there is
       no Keeper liability.
       Who cares whether they claim that the Keeper identified as the
       driver. Put them to strict proof. They will always simply say
       the driver is identified.
       You seem to have put in your head that the IAS and this scamming
       unregulated private parking firm of ex-clampers are somehow
       going to play fair. Stop being so gullible. You have been warned
       that the IAS is nothing but a corrupt arm of the IPC and their
       adjudicators are anonymous liars pretending to be solicitors.
       They aren't.
       Simply say the following as your response to their prima facie
       case:
       --- Quote ---
       > Before any alleged “breach of contract” can be entertained,
       the assessor must first determine whether the appellant can be
       liable at all:
       >
       > Padstow Harbour car park is on harbour-byelaw land (Padstow
       Port & Harbour Byelaws; Padstow Harbour Revision Order 1987).
       Land under statutory control is not “relevant land” for Schedule
       4 of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 (Sch 4, para 3(1)(c)
       and 3(3)). The operator expressly states it is not relying on
       PoFA. There is therefore no statutory route to hold the
       registered keeper liable. Unless the driver is identified with
       admissible evidence, the appeal must be allowed at this
       threshold stage without considering any alleged contractual
       terms.
       >
       > Operator’s false assertion about driver identity:
       >
       > The operator’s statement that “the appellant was the driver”
       is untrue. The appellant has never identified as the driver.
       ANPR stills and speculation about who was at the wheel do not
       constitute driver identification. There is no legal presumption
       that the keeper was the driver; courts have rejected attempts to
       infer identity or to misuse Elliott v Loake / CPS v AJH Films.
       Persuasive appellate authority (e.g. VCS v Edward (2023))
       confirms that, absent a clear admission or cogent identification
       evidence, a claimant cannot meet its burden merely from keeper
       status or photos of occupants.
       >
       > Assessor’s duty and transparency:
       >
       > The IAS represents that appeals are decided by legally
       qualified assessors. If the assessor is a solicitor (or higher),
       they will know that, on non-relevant land with PoFA not invoked,
       there is no keeper liability; only an identified driver can be
       pursued. If the appeal is to be rejected notwithstanding these
       fundamentals, the decision should state plainly (a) the
       admissible evidence said to identify the driver, and (b) the
       legal basis for any keeper liability on non-relevant land when
       PoFA is not relied upon.
       >
       > Outcome:
       >
       > Non-relevant land + no PoFA + no driver identification = no
       claim against the keeper. Cancel the PCN.
       --- End Quote ---
       If they accept and cancel the PCN, great. GO and buy a lottery
       ticket because you have beaten the odds. If they reject, which
       is the most likely scenario, who cares? Their decision is not
       binding on you and you do not pay.
       They have absolutely no basis in law to pursue you as the
       Keeper. End of. Let them try and take you to court. They would
       receive a spanking if they tried that.
       Trust me, if I lived near Padstow, I'd go and get a PCN from
       them at the same location and let them take me to court and then
       slap them with a Summary Judgment application and get my costs
       and £750 because I'd do it before allocation to track.
       #Post#: 99604--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: RT
       Date: November 24, 2025, 12:00 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Trust me, if I lived near Padstow, I'd go and get a PCN from
       them at the same location and let them take me to court and then
       slap them with a Summary Judgment application and get my costs
       and £750 because I'd do it before allocation to track.
       [/quote]
       Thank you again b789 - very much appreciated. Further details
       added word for word. Though, again, they didn't make it easy as
       they have disabled copy + paste, so requires typing out, again
       with a 1000 word limit. I'll endeavour to keep a closer eye on
       my inbox this time!
       Thanks again
       #Post#: 99607--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: b789
       Date: November 24, 2025, 12:10 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       How to bypass no paste controls on a web form (DEV Community)
  HTML https://dev.to/eviltester/how-to-bypass-no-paste-controls-on-a-web-form-id8
       It explains why some sites block pasting and shows practical
       workarounds using browser developer tools. It’s written for
       testers and everyday users, not just developers, so it’s
       accessible to anyone encountering this problem.
       #Post#: 105903--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Padstow Parking Charge - Paid at meter, No receipt given,
       screen shot of debit, money not taken
   DIR By: RT
       Date: January 14, 2026, 12:31 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       --- Quote from: b789 link ---
       >
       > No one really cares what the IAS are going to think or
       decide.. . .
       >
       --- End Quote ---
       Evening - I've finally received an update from the IAS - and -
       as you suspected - the appeal outcome is Dismissed and common
       sense has not prevailed. See below for their full response.
       I'd love some guidance on where I go from here - presumably the
       original oporator will waste no time at all and be in touch
       swiftly, no doubt trying to obtain hundreds of pounds - or will
       that happen after the 28 day period? I can only assume I now
       ignore that and wait for them to take me to some sort of court?
       Your help is always very much appreciated. . .
       Dear Richard,
       The Independent Appeals Service (IAS) has received a decision
       from the Independent Adjudicator regarding your recent appeal
       for the below PCN.
       Parking Charge Number (PCN): 583280
       Vehicle Registration: R###
       Date Issued: 30/10/2025
       Appeal Outcome: Dismissed
       The Adjudicators comments are as follows:
       "The Appellant should understand that the Adjudicator is not in
       a position to give legal advice to either of the parties but
       they are entitled to seek their own independent legal advice.
       The Adjudicator's role is to consider whether or not the parking
       charge has a basis in law and was properly issued in the
       circumstances of each individual case. In all Appeals the
       Adjudicator is bound by the relevant law applicable at the time
       and is only able to consider legal challenges and not factual
       mistakes nor extenuating or mitigating circumstances. Throughout
       this appeal the Operator has had the opportunity consider all
       points raised and could have conceded the appeal at any stage.
       The Adjudicator who deals with this Appeal is legally qualified
       and each case is dealt with according to their understanding of
       the law as it applies and the legal principles involved. A
       decision by an Adjudicator is not legally binding on an
       Appellant who is entitled to seek their own legal advice if they
       so wish.
       I am satisfied that the Appellant was parked in an area where
       the Operator has authority to issue Parking Charge Notices and
       to take the necessary steps to enforce them.
       The Appellant accepts that he was the keeper of this vehicle but
       denies that at the time of the incident he was the driver. In
       the case of ELLIOTT v LOAKE in 1982 the principle was
       established that in the absence of sufficient evidence to the
       contrary the keeper of a vehicle is assumed to be the driver of
       that vehicle at the time of an incident such as arises in this
       Appeal. The burden of proof is then on the keeper of the vehicle
       to prove on the balance of probabilities that he/she was not the
       driver at the time of the incident. In this case such evidence
       has not been provided by the Appellant to establish that he was
       not the driver and therefore the Operator is entitled to assume
       that as the registered keeper he was also the driver.
       Images have been provided to me by the Operator which shows the
       signage displayed on this site. After viewing those images I am
       satisfied that the signage is sufficient to have brought to the
       attention of the Appellant the terms and conditions that apply
       to parking on this site.
       The terms and conditions of parking at this location are such
       that drivers must make a valid payment for the full duration of
       their stay. In the photographs provided to me I can see that the
       Appellant entered the site at 10:33 and exited at 11:32; a total
       stay of 59 minutes. In the data provided I can see that no
       payment was made for the Appellant's VRN. It is the driver's
       responsibility to ensure that they make a valid payment for
       their parking session and otherwise conform with the terms and
       conditions of the Operator's signage displayed at this site.
       Mitigating/extenuating circumstances cannot be taken into
       account. Whilst I appreciate that an attempt at payment may have
       been made by the driver, evidence of a pending payment e.g. on
       mobile banking, is not sufficient. The Appellant has not
       provided any other evidence that he/the driver was entitled to
       believe he had purchased a valid parking session. The Appellant
       raises as an issue the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 and
       purports that the site is not relevant land within the meaning
       of Schedule 4 as well as suggesting that the Operator has not
       complied with the other requirements therein such as the
       timescale to send the NTK. I must point out that whilst the Act
       does need to be complied with including the site being within
       the definition of relevant land, in cases where the Operator
       wishes to avail themselves of the keeper liability provisions
       under Schedule 4, they are not obliged to do so where they do
       not. Instead, the Operator is entitled to rely either on the
       legal presumption that the keeper of the vehicle was also the
       driver (which they are entitled to do in the absence of credible
       evidence to the contrary) or on an acceptance that they were
       driving at the material time. On the present facts, the
       compliance or otherwise with the Act, is not a relevant issue.
       As such, on the basis of the evidence provided, I am satisfied
       that the Appellant breached the displayed terms and conditions
       and that the PCN was correctly issued on this occasion.
       I have considered all the issues raised by both parties in this
       Appeal and I am satisfied that the Operator has established that
       the Parking Charge Notice was properly issued in accordance with
       the law and therefore this Appeal is dismissed.
       "
       As your appeal has been dismissed, the Independent Adjudicator
       has found, upon the evidence provided, that the parking charge
       was lawfully incurred.
       As this appeal has not been resolved in your favour, the IAS is
       unable to intervene further in this matter.
       You should contact the operator within 28 days to make payment
       of the charge.
       Should you continue to contest the charge then you should
       consider obtaining independent legal advice.
       Yours Sincerely,
       The Independent Appeals Service
       *****************************************************
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