Station Parking - fined for simply picking up. Help?

Thu 15 May, 11:17

Thank you Christine.   Yes, I got a sore finger searching for information - surprised by what you can find, eg train arrival and departure time going back for goodness knows how long.   As a good introvert I'm going to let it go down through the filter-beds and wait for a response to emerge.   Grrrr.

There's a photograph of me looking all winsome and interesting on Page 3 of a national newspaper with the caption 'Campaigner sets out to bust bureaucracies', dating from when I was working.   It's so frustrating being elderly and on the receiving end.   Grrrr again. 

Thu 15 May, 08:46

Valerie, Can I suggest you read the advice on MoneySavingsExpert.com before you decide if and how to appeal.

The general advice is here: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/ It's from 2022, not sure if there are updates. 

There are also loads of technicalities about Railway Land and APCOA, and even some discussion about Charlbury Station of the Forum of MSE. 

Thu 15 May, 00:11 (last edited on Thu 15 May, 00:23)

Thank you everyone.   On the notice I discovered some alphanumeric characters written in capital letters in dark grey on a black background less than half a centimetre high at the very top - very easily missed.   It may be timing information - I ordered a magnifier - so it may be readable tomorrow.   If so, Word provides the capacity to write in dark grey on a black background, all in capitals, so I propose to reply in kind, probably saying that they have 28 days to reply or I am allowed to take their first-born children.  

Thanks once again.  

Wed 14 May, 23:43 (last edited on Wed 14 May, 23:44)

Angus, You are right! Charlbury is APCOA Connect. Sorry for the confusion.

I see that it's also APCOA Connect (as well as RingGo) at Oxford Parkway Station, but Autopay is not offered there although it is at Charlbury, Hanborough, Kingham, Worcestershire Parkway,  also one of the Didcot Car Parks. There's a full list of Car Parks with Autopay here: https://www.apcoaconnect.com/faqs

There's a different list of stations offering Late Pay. This includes Charlbury and also Oxford Station Long Stay, but not Oxford Parkway. It doesn't include Kingham, and only includes Car Park 2 at Hanborough. All very confusing ... 

I don't think it makes any difference insofar as Valerie is concerned, but do recommend Autopay at Charlbury Station for those who don't qualify for Blue Badge parking.

Wed 14 May, 22:31

I don’t understand: I think I’ve always paid via Apcoa Connect and I’ve just Googled those words and searched…. Charlbury Station came up as Car Park 2111.

Wed 14 May, 21:01

It is not a fine, it is an invoice, there is a difference.

Wed 14 May, 15:39

It used to be a 20 minutes grace period, but believe it has now reduced to 10 minutes. Google POPLA Grace Period to see the time limit and conditions. It says a site is  obliged to advertise the grace period, not sure if this is displayed at Charlbury Station

Personally I opt for Auto Pay at the Station, so as to avoid these problems.

Charlbury is an APCOA site, not APCOA Connect,  and on the APCOA website says "All Blue Badge holders need to register their vehicles on APCOA Blue Badge Portal Please ensure that your Blue Badge is always displayed when parking at this station car park. If dedicated Blue Badge bays are occupied, please park within any available space, and display your Blue Badge. You will need to register but parking is still free for Blue Badge holders."

Oxford Parkway is APCOA Connect, and is different.

Wed 14 May, 15:34

This has happened to my husband and he wrote to  the company and complained as the train was late.  He was not charged.

Wed 14 May, 15:18

Hi Valerie, you are allowed a certain time free for pick ups and drop offs so i would ask them to clarify the times. 

Wed 14 May, 15:00

I wonder whether we have anyone with expertise about the station car park?

I've just received a parking charge notice alleging that I contravened the parking regulation a few weeks ago.   I was probably going to pick up the friend with whom I share the car; I parked near the bridge where many people park when collecting passengers who've just come off the train.   From memory I don't think that the train was delayed by very much, if at all.   

They've attached a photograph of the car going in and going out, with no times visible so they can't show the length of time that I stayed.   There's no photograph of me actually being parked.   Their letter gives just 17:10 as the time of the offence, doesn't say anything about being parked for X number of minutes.  

I have a blue badge but didn't park in the disabled space.   Lots of people do what I did, ie arrive close to the train's arrival time and park as near to the bridge as they can and then drive off.   I can't see how it's possible to class that as an offence. 

Could anyone contribute suggestions or things I may have missed?  Before I give them some free medical advice?

Many thanks.