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#Post#: 105419--------------------------------------------------
Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley Centre -
Sheffield
DIR By: gravers007
Date: January 11, 2026, 11:30 am
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On the 7th Jan I received this Parking charge letter. I am the
registered keeper of the car referenced in the letter.
I've had to redact it, but I wanted to note that the picture of
the number plate on entry is very dark and almost impossible to
read.
Front:
HTML https://ibb.co/Z6rSQjG0
Back:
HTML https://ibb.co/hJqmwMFJ
I may be being daft, but can someone point me to the correct
process to follow?
I do not have pictures of the signage, but I can get that
tomorrow. The area hosts a parade of shops (link to google maps
below, however the parking signs have changed from what is
there). The area has a boots, tesco and other shops. It allows
cars 30mins free but you can pay if you wish to stay longer.
HTML https://maps.app.goo.gl/xSqSHLNVeyuArUbeA
Thanks in advance
#Post#: 105481--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: January 12, 2026, 5:05 am
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Some photos of the current signage would certainly be useful, as
GSV is rather out of date at this site.
The fact that the number plate is not particularly visible is
only a strong point if it was not your vehicle there at the
site. If it was, then that point is mostly a non-starter.
#Post#: 105496--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: jfollows
Date: January 12, 2026, 6:08 am
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The appeal process seems well defined on the rear of the notice
you have posted.
So on what basis are you proposing to appeal?
If the driver parked then the driver accepted the terms of a
contract defined by the sign in the car park. If they clearly
said free parking was only for up to 30 minutes but the driver
parked for longer than this, then according to the contract the
driver is liable to pay the requested amount.
If you do not identify the driver, then Retail Park Ltd. can
transfer the liability to the registered keeper if they comply
with the legislation. Their notice is within the time limits
defined for this, for example. See DWMB2’s links above for the
legislation and for the code of practice to which they agree to
adhere.
#Post#: 105500--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: DWMB2
Date: January 12, 2026, 6:40 am
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--- Quote from: jfollows link ---
>
> If the driver parked then the driver accepted the terms of a
contract defined by the sign in the car park.
>
--- End Quote ---
Provided those terms are capable of creating a contract and
suitably prominent to ensure that said terms are adequately
conveyed to the driver, of course, hence why seeing the current
signage would be useful.
#Post#: 105731--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: gravers007
Date: January 13, 2026, 11:40 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks very much for coming back to me. I will get pictures of
the signage tonight and post a link shortly.
I can't seem to see the links posted to the legislation and code
of practice. Can you post them again please?
I thought that if the licence is not visible then they can't
evidence that the car came in at that time. As such they can't
prove the vehicle stayed more than 30mins.
Is it worth appealing to the shops in the promenade (eg Tescos,
boots) or is that usually pointless?
#Post#: 105732--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: jfollows
Date: January 13, 2026, 11:41 am
---------------------------------------------------------
See the links above in DWMB2’s posts.
#Post#: 105775--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: gravers007
Date: January 13, 2026, 3:23 pm
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As mentioned previously, here are pictures of the signage.
HTML https://ibb.co/G3tRCx0c
HTML https://ibb.co/cc665SX7
HTML https://ibb.co/KzmjV7bS
I'll keep my fingers crossed.
#Post#: 105796--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: ixxy
Date: January 14, 2026, 12:47 am
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--- Quote from: gravers007 link ---
>
> I thought that if the licence is not visible then they can't
evidence that the car came in at that time. As such they can't
prove the vehicle stayed more than 30mins.
>
> Is it worth appealing to the shops in the promenade (eg
Tescos, boots) or is that usually pointless?
>
--- End Quote ---
The images were clear enough for the ANPR software to correctly
read the plate.
You can try one of the retailers but in this situation it's
whoever actually manages the site that you'd really need to
speak to (although Tesco would be my first point of call as the
biggest retailer there but Retail Park are not the company they
normally use suggesting it's the managing agent who contracted
the PPC). What justification would you give for requesting they
cancel the PCN? Usually people exceed a maximum stay as they are
making a big purchase and can evidence that. In this case you
would have been expected to pay if you exceeded the 30 mins free
so I can't see that being accepted.
#Post#: 106202--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: gravers007
Date: January 16, 2026, 9:57 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Thanks for the responses guys. Its weird I can't see the links
DWMB2s post on my phone - but I can on the PC.
I've reached out to Tescos but they couldn't help.
I've put this letter together. Any feedback on how it can be
improved would be really helpful. Also, is there a date I should
be aiming to send it? I know years ago the guideline was to send
it as close to the 28day window as possible, is this still the
case?
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to dispute your parking charge as the registered
keeper of the vehicle. I am not confirming who was driving, and
no such assumption should be made.
Since your Parking Charge Notice is a vague template, I require
a full explanation of the allegation and your evidence. Please
provide clear, legible photographs of: (a) the relevant signage
as it appeared on the date in question, and (b) the vehicle
showing the registration plate clearly.
The Parking Charge does not evidence that the car was parked but
rather that the vehicle entered and exited at certain times. To
allege a parking overstay there should be evidence that the car
was parked continuously during this period.
The picture shown of a vehicle entering the site is extremely
blurry and the registration plate cannot be verified beyond
reasonable doubt.
The vehicle in question is often used to make multiple visits to
that precinct. The letter contends that the vehicle was on site
for over 30 minutes, but provides no evidence that these are not
entrance and exit images from two separate visits within the
permitted time. Without evidence showing continuous presence,
these could reasonably be two distinct trips.
The Notice to Keeper was not received until 10th January, which
is outside the 14-day window specified in the Protection of
Freedoms Act 2012.
Your allegation involves an alleged overstay of minutes. The
British Parking Association Code of Practice requires a
10-minute grace period. Your evidence must demonstrate this was
provided and that any overstay exceeded it.
Given that these points have not been satisfied, I will not be
held accountable or liable for any charges you send to me.
Kind Regards, Gravers
#Post#: 106203--------------------------------------------------
Re: Parking Charge - Overstayed beyond free time - Berkeley
Centre - Sheffield
DIR By: jfollows
Date: January 16, 2026, 10:04 am
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You originally stated the NtK was delivered on 7 January, but in
any case it can be deemed to be delivered 2 working days after
its date, 2 January I think. As I previously said, this is
within the 14 day window.
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