APCOA Parking charge notice with no spaces in long-stay parking and train to catch

[LaoTse]

Hello,

 

This morning I drove to Totnes station to get the 10:19am train to London for a few days. I had checked on Saturday that there is long-stay parking in the APCOA parking at the station and the machines do long-stay tickets and offer the option to buy tickets in advance.

So you would think if you can buy a ticket in advance there would be enough space.

However there were no spaces except one in the parking allocated for maximum 1 hour stay. As far as I am aware there is no other long-stay parking in Totnes and with panicking about what to do with only a few minutes before the train I parked in the 1-hour area, ran over the bridge to buy a ticket for 4 days and ran back over to display the ticket and catch my train. Otherwise I would lose an expensive train fare.

 

Maybe I was foolish to e-mail APCOA explaining the situation and wanting assurance they would not capitalise and they replied:

 

Good morning,

Thank you for your email.

Is it possible to advise us of your vehicle registration number and for your arrival and departure dates and we can log this on our system?

Unfortunately we cannot prevent a parking charge notice from being issued, however we can give you a reference number for you to appeal against should you be issued one.

Kind regards,

APCOA Parking (UK)

 

I didn't send them my registration number (which I don't remember anyway since I just passed my driving test) but said I would be seeking legal advice.

 

I believe they will try to get £100 profit from me for having to use the last available space. I do not know if they use wheel clamps. It is patently ridiculous to

 

a. offer advance parking payment in a car park that was full the first time I used it and without reserving spaces

 

b. to claim they cannot prevent a parking charge from being issued since it is they who are issuing it.

Any advice on what to do in this case would be welcome.

 

Please advise on what I should do! Thanks!

Edited November 18, 2015 by LaoTse
message truncated

[armadillo71]

Well you'll have to wait and see if you have;

 

A. A penalty charge notice

 

B. A parking charge notice

 

C. Nothing

 

stuck on your windscreen. .. Then we can go from there.

 

Take photos of all signage at the station regarding parking as well.

[armadillo71]

And do not contact Apcoa again till you know what has been issued.

[ericsbrother]

Make sure you keep the ticket for the next 6 months at least in case they try dirty tricks down the line if they ahve identified you as the driver who contacted them.

[LaoTse]

Thanks armadillo71 and ericsbrother - I will follow your advice!