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    • Hi, we are looking to get some opinions on weather or not to bother fighting this PCN. This comes from a very big retail park parking where there are restaurants, hotel, amongst other businesses. The parking is free but I suppose there must be a time limit on it that I am not aware of. We were in the area for around 4 hours. Makes us wonder how they deal with people staying in the hotel as the ANPR is on what appears to be a publicly maintained street (where london buses run) which leads to the different parking areas including the hotel.  1 Date of the infringement 26/05/2024 2 Date on the NTK  31/05/2024 3 Date received 07/06/2024 4 Does the NTK mention schedule 4 of The Protections of Freedoms Act 2012? [Y/N?]  YES 5 Is there any photographic evidence of the event? Entry and exit photos however, based on the photographs we are almost sure the photos are taken on public street. This is the location I believe photos are taken from.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/eii8zSmFFhVZDRpbA 6 Have you appealed? [Y/N?] post up your appeal] No Have you had a response? [Y/N?] post it up N/A 7 Who is the parking company? UKPA. UK Parking Administration LTD 8. Where exactly [carpark name and town] The Colonnades, Croydon, CR0 4RQ For either option, does it say which appeals body they operate under. British Parking Association (BPA) Thanks in advance for any assistance.  UKPA PCN The Collonades-redacted.pdf
    • Thank you for posting their WS. If we start with the actual WS made by the director one would have doubts that they had even read PoFA let alone understood it. Point 10  we only have the word of the director that the contract has been extended. I should have had the corroboration of the Client. Point 12 The Judge HHJ Simkiss was not the usual Judge on motoring cases and his decisions on the necessity of contracts did not align with PoFA. In Schedule 4 [1[ it is quite clearly spelt out- “relevant contract” means a contract (including a contract arising only when the vehicle was parked on the relevant land) between the driver and a person who is—(a)the owner or occupier of the land; or (b authorised, under or  by virtue of arrangements made by the owner or occupier of the land, to enter into a contract with the driver requiring the payment of parking charges in respect of the parking of the vehicle on the land; And the laughable piece of paper from the land owners cannot be described as a contract. I respectfully ask that the case be dismissed as there is no contract. WE do not even know what the parking regulations are which is really basic. It is respectfully asked that without a valid contract the case cannot continue. One would imagine that were there a valid contract it would have been produced.  So the contract that Bank has with the motorist must come from the landowner. Bank on their own cannot impose their own contract. How could a director of a parking company sign a Statement of Truth which included Point 11. Point 14. There is no offer of a contract at the entrance to the car park. Doubtful if it is even an offer to treat. The entrance sign sign does not comply with the IPC Code of Conduct nor is there any indication that ANPR cameras are in force. A major fault and breach of GDPR. Despite the lack of being offered a contract at the entrance [and how anyone could see what was offered by way of a contract in the car park is impossible owing to none of the signs in the WS being at all legible] payment was made for the car to park. A young person in the car made the payment. But before they did that, they helped an elderly lady to make her payment as she was having difficulty. After arranging payment for the lady the young lad made his payment right behind. Unfortunately he entered the old lady's number again rather than paying .for the car he was in. This can be confirmed by looking at the Allow List print out on page 25. The defendant's car arrived at 12.49 and at 12.51 and 12.52  there are two payments for the same vrm. This was also remarked on by the IPC adjudicator when the PCN was appealed.  So it is quite disgraceful that Bank have continued to pursue the Defendant knowing that it was a question of  entering the wrong vrm.  Point 21 The Defendant is not obliged to name the driver, they are only invited to do so under S9[2][e]. Also it is unreasonable to assume that the keeper is the driver. The Courts do not do that for good reason. The keeper in this case does not have a driving licence. Point 22. The Defendant DID make a further appeal which though it was also turned down their reply was very telling and should have led to the charge being dropped were the company not greedy and willing to pursue the Defendant regardless of the evidence they had in their own hands. Point 23 [111] it's a bit rich asking the Defendant to act justly and at proportionate cost while acting completely unjustly themselves and then adding an unlawful 70% on to the invoice. This  is despite PoFA S4[5] (5)The maximum sum which may be recovered from the keeper by virtue of the right conferred by this paragraph is the amount specified in the notice to keeper under paragraph 9[2][d].  Point 23 [1v] the Director can deny all he wants but the PCN does not comply with PoFA. S9 [2][a] states  (2)The notice must— (a)specify the vehicle, the relevant land on which it was parked and the period of parking to which the notice relates; The PCN only quotes the ANPR arrival and departure times which obviously includes a fair amount of driving between the two cameras. Plus the driver and passengers are a mixture of disabled and aged persons who require more time than just a young fit single driver to exit the car and later re enter. So the ANPR times cannot be the same as the required parking period as stipulated in the ACT. Moreover in S9[2][f]  (ii)the creditor does not know both the name of the driver and a current address for service for the driver, the creditor will (if all the applicable conditions under this Schedule are met) have the right to recover from the keeper so much of that amount as remains unpaid; You will note that in the PCN the words in parentheses are not included but at the start of Section 9 the word "must" is included. As there are two faults in the PCN it follows that Bank cannot pursue the keeper . And as the driver does not have a driving licence their case must fail on that alone. And that is not even taking into consideration that the payment was made. Point 23 [v] your company is wrong a payment was made. very difficult to prove a cash payment two weeks later when the PCN arrives. However the evidence was in your print out for anyone to see had they actually done due diligence prior to writing to the DVLA. Indeed as the Defendant had paid there was no reasonable cause to have applied for the keeper details. Point 24 the Defendant did not breach the contract. The PCN claimed the Defendant failed to make a payment when they had made a payment.   I haven't finished yet but that is something to start with
    • You don't appeal to anyone. You haven't' received a demand from a statutory body like the council, the police or the courts. It's just a dodgy cowboy company trying it on. You simply don't pay.  In the vast majority of these cases the company deforest the Amazon with threats about how they are going to divert a drone from Ukraine and make it land on your home - but in the end they do nothing.
    • honestly you sound like you work the claimant yes affixed dont appeal to anyone no cant be “argued either way”  
    • Because of the tsunami of cases we are having for this scam site, over the weekend I had a look at MET cases we have here stretching back to June 2014.  Yes, ten years. MET have not once had the guts to put a case in front of a judge. In about 5% of cases they have issued court papers in the hope that the motorist will be terrified of going to court and will give in.  However, when the motorist defended, it was MET who bottled it.  Every time.
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Confused about fraud!!!


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because benefit fraud is a criminal matter the standard of proof (beyond reasonable doubt) is a lot higher than the overpayment issue (balance of probabilities)

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There are 2 different things going on

 

1) have you been overpaid? this is a civil matter which you can appeal to a tribunal over - the tribunal have the power to decide whether you have been overpaid and whether the overpayment is recoverable from you

 

2) have you committed benefit fraud? this is a criminal matter and can go 5 ways off the top of my head: -

a) no case to answer

b) case to answer but no sanction action applied

c) case to answer, caution applied

d) case to answer, administrative penalty applied

e) case to answer, prosection pursued

 

If you win your appeal, the fraud case normally collapses

 

If you lose your appeal, then any of the options in part 2 could be possible, you should bear in mind that whether you are found guilty or not guilty of benefit fraud, you would still owe the overpayment

 

Is this right? The person I know of that was found not guilty of 45k's worth would still have to pay it back then? At least there is some justice then!

Although, what if someone refused to pay it, DWP would have to take them to court for it, then they provide proof they were found not guilty? How does DWP then enforce payment?

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Is this right? The person I know of that was found not guilty of 45k's worth would still have to pay it back then? At least there is some justice then!

 

 

They wouldn't have to pay it back if the tribunal also agreed that the boyfriend was living with his family - in that case there would be no overpayment.

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They wouldn't have to pay it back if the tribunal also agreed that the boyfriend was living with his family - in that case there would be no overpayment.

 

Ah darn. I guess that'll apply to them then. His family didn't bat an eye lid perguring (sp) themselves in court. His dad & brother anyway. His mum is my mums best friend, although she didn't have to give evidence, just the dad & brother did. But the mum was saying they didn't even have anything to show for all the money! Just designer clothes for the kids & a couple of holidays. The whole system seems to be the wrong way round though doesn't it.

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jadeybags

 

whether there is an overpayment is a matter for the tribunal

 

whether fraud has been committed is a matter for the court

 

they can come to opposing decisions, for example, if the case was 60:40 against the people you mentioned - then they would be expected to lose an appeal to a tribunal (based upon balance of probabilities) - but would be found not guilty in court (based upon beyond reasonable doubt)

 

in that case, they would still owe the money, even though they won their court case

 

alternatively, if the case was 40:60 in favour of the people you mentioned - then they would be expected to win an appeal to a tribunal (based upon balance of probabilities) - and be found not guilty in court (based upon beyond reasonable doubt)

 

in that case, they would not owe the money

 

does that make sense?

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Is this right? The person I know of that was found not guilty of 45k's worth would still have to pay it back then? At least there is some justice then!

Although, what if someone refused to pay it, DWP would have to take them to court for it, then they provide proof they were found not guilty? How does DWP then enforce payment?

 

They would be enforcing a civil debt, which stands irrespective of the outcome of the criminal case.

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jadeybags

 

whether there is an overpayment is a matter for the tribunal

 

whether fraud has been committed is a matter for the court

 

they can come to opposing decisions, for example, if the case was 60:40 against the people you mentioned - then they would be expected to lose an appeal to a tribunal (based upon balance of probabilities) - but would be found not guilty in court (based upon beyond reasonable doubt)

 

in that case, they would still owe the money, even though they won their court case

 

alternatively, if the case was 40:60 in favour of the people you mentioned - then they would be expected to win an appeal to a tribunal (based upon balance of probabilities) - and be found not guilty in court (based upon beyond reasonable doubt)

 

in that case, they would not owe the money

 

does that make sense?

 

I think so. I guess there is no way of jo public knowing if a tribunal upholds the over payment then. Although I cant say I have heard any mention of them having to pay it back.

You & id6052 seem to be saying different things though?

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They would be enforcing a civil debt, which stands irrespective of the outcome of the criminal case.

 

Hasn't a court of law said they weren't guilty of the offense that related to that over payment though?

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Hasn't a court of law said they weren't guilty of the offense that related to that over payment though?

 

 

i will give you an example

 

joe bloggs is working and earning £100 per week, he is also claiming housing benefit of £60 per week

 

in october 2010, his earnings increase to £110 per week and he does not notify the council of the increase as he thinks he only has to notify changes when the council requests info from him

 

the council find out in april 2011, they reassess his housing benefit back to october 2010 and it reduces to £53.50 per week

 

this results in an over payment of 26 weeks @ £6.50pw = £169

 

they decide to prosecute (unlikely for such a low amount). the judge believe that he did not act dishonestly and it was just a mistake in not declaring the change - he would be found not guilty of fraud

 

however he appeals the overpayment, the tribunal accepts that he did not do it on purpose, however the overpayment would still be recoverable as he contributed to the cause of the overpayment

Edited by id6052

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if you win both the tribunal and the court case you owe nothing

 

if you lose the tribunal case, but win the court case, you owe the money, but you have not committed fraud

 

if you lose both, you owe the money and you will get a separate penalty for the fraud offence e.g. a fine/community service/curfew order/etc

 

if you win the tribunal case and lose the court case, the law is an ass, this should not happen - however it can occasionally happen if the court case precedes the tribunal case, in which case you should appeal the court case on the basis of winning the tribunal

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There are 2 different things going on

 

1) have you been overpaid? this is a civil matter which you can appeal to a tribunal over - the tribunal have the power to decide whether you have been overpaid and whether the overpayment is recoverable from you

 

2) have you committed benefit fraud? this is a criminal matter and can go 5 ways off the top of my head: -

a) no case to answer

b) case to answer but no sanction action applied

c) case to answer, caution applied

d) case to answer, administrative penalty applied

e) case to answer, prosection pursued

 

If you win your appeal, the fraud case normally collapses

 

If you lose your appeal, then any of the options in part 2 could be possible, you should bear in mind that whether you are found guilty or not guilty of benefit fraud, you would still owe the overpayment

 

 

I couldn’t tell you if I’m honest.

I have been IUC for fraud, after hearing nothing for so long I called the interviewing officer and he said they had decided an overpayment had been made and would write to me ASAP.

The letter I got says its an overpayment due to me not telling them about someone moving into/out of my home, doesn’t give specifics.

I have no idea what’s going on, sorry, I’m not being very helpful.

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I couldn’t tell you if I’m honest.

I have been IUC for fraud, after hearing nothing for so long I called the interviewing officer and he said they had decided an overpayment had been made and would write to me ASAP.

The letter I got says its an overpayment due to me not telling them about someone moving into/out of my home, doesn’t give specifics.

I have no idea what’s going on, sorry, I’m not being very helpful.

 

right so if they have decided you have been overpaid, as soon as you get any decision letters, ask them for a statement of reasons for their decision - then decide whether you wish to appeal to the tribunal

 

it sounds like they are still in the process of calculating the overpayment, once they have worked out the amount of the overpayment, they will decide whether they will take any further action

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right so if they have decided you have been overpaid, as soon as you get any decision letters, ask them for a statement of reasons for their decision - then decide whether you wish to appeal to the tribunal

 

it sounds like they are still in the process of calculating the overpayment, once they have worked out the amount of the overpayment, they will decide whether they will take any further action

 

Should I get on and do this now (with the one letter I had) as you stated earlier and then wait on any others and repeat this every time?

I’ve checked on the letter and nowhere does it use the actual word “fraud” only “overpayment”

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Thank you so much for your help (everyone on here)

I’m sorry I’m so clueless, I know it must be frustrating me asking a question then double checking the answer with you, but this has really knocked my confidence and got me questioning everything I say and do.

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if you win both the tribunal and the court case you owe nothing

 

if you lose the tribunal case, but win the court case, you owe the money, but you have not committed fraud

 

if you lose both, you owe the money and you will get a separate penalty for the fraud offence e.g. a fine/community service/curfew order/etc

 

if you win the tribunal case and lose the court case, the law is an ass, this should not happen - however it can occasionally happen if the court case precedes the tribunal case, in which case you should appeal the court case on the basis of winning the tribunal

 

 

Yep, that makes total sense now! Good way of explaining it.

I was lucky they didn't prosecute me then really, although mine including council tax was just under the 2k. And I didn't appeal the overpayment as it was there as fact, I did everything I was asked when I put in my claim, their staff didn't ask me for more info that they should have done, & they based my claim on insufficiant evidence. But to win an appeal it was said on here that I would need to prove thatI didn't realise I was being overerpaid.

Me not reading award letters & trusting what their staff told me over the phone would have looked ridiculous wouldn't it. And I hate putting things off, would rather deal with it when it happens.

I have since found some old award letters & it does say weekly earnings 70 per week. Not the 100 that the first award letter said based on my work contract they have. They changed my benefit after I gave them my first payslip, which was not a full month. But even the 70 a week I would have thought was them taking 35% off or whatever it is they allow you over a certain amount. And my months run on of full benefit confused things even more.

Anyway, it was all double dutch to me & I basically accepted that I had been paid what I wasn't entitled to, so it needed paying back. Not fair on other claimers otherwise is it.

At least they decided to take no further action so I didn't have a penalty or prosecution.

I wouldn't have paid a penalty though, already decided that after the interview & obviously wouldn't have accepted a caution.

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jadeybags

 

bit late now, but from scenario you describe, i think you should have appealed

 

not sure if you would have won or not, but would definitely have been worth a punt

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jadeybags

 

bit late now, but from scenario you describe, i think you should have appealed

 

not sure if you would have won or not, but would definitely have been worth a punt

 

Most people said that too, but a couple did point out that I should really have noticed. At the interview under caution I did state to the lady that I would need to understand their award letters really. She did do a lot of head nodding, & when I mentioned wondering now if the person that worked out my claim was someone they dragged in off the street, she did have a smile on her face. But she waited until the taped was stopped before saying she sgreed about the mess up.

But it doesn't change the fact I had been given what I wasn't entitled to. And it's not rhe DWP, it's the council, so we still have to pay for their mistakes.

I accepted that, but wont claim from them again. Not as long as I can help it anyway. Have upped my hours at work starting next week & can manage. I am now wondering what I was spending my money on before! It aint what you got it's what you do with it for sure!

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Jadey, you talk a lot of sence, hope you do well xx

Thank you :-D I just wish I knew then the little I do now, back when I first started working after being on income support. I would have made sure they had done it right & not been so nieve, but we live n learn! And I believe everything happens for a reason, this kerfuffle was my time to stand on my own 2 feet basically.

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Glad it all worked out for you in the end Jadeybags, its such a stressful thing to go through. Hearing about any happy endings (weather simular to my case or not) is always nice.

Good luck in the future.

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Glad it all worked out for you in the end Jadeybags, its such a stressful thing to go through. Hearing about any happy endings (weather simular to my case or not) is always nice.

Good luck in the future.

 

Thank you x

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  • 3 weeks later...

Hi again, Just an update really….

I’ve had all my decision letters back now and (of course) am appealing them all (god only knows how long that could take)

None of the letters themselves say you committed fraud now pay up, but they do say I’ve been overpaid and will need to pay back all the money that’s owed (near £20,000) in instalments.

I don’t know if that’s a good thing (it doesn’t say fraud) or a bad thing (they obviously think I’m in the wrong) but at least I have something to appeal against now.

I have also spoken to my ex who has said that two of the people he stayed with have been in touch with the job centre and confirmed he stayed with them for at least some of the time that’s being questioned, I can only hope that helps.

Does anybody know what happens next? I understand how to appeal (and have written in via solicitor to do so) but where does it go from here?

Thanks again for everyone’s help

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  • 4 weeks later...

Well I’ve spoken to my solicitor and he’s informed me that prison could well be on the cards, not what I wanted to hear!!!

Still I’ve asked him to help me appeal, which of course he’s happy to do and the letters have gone off.

I’ve had one reply saying that they’ve looked into the decision and nothings changed so they’ll prepare for appeal and notify us of the date when they know it.

There has also been 2 statements given to the DWP from people my ex stayed with whilst he was of NFA. It doesn’t cover the whole time, but a good part of it.

I’m trying to stay positive and not let this effect my children, but its becoming harder by the day. I’m terrified my solicitor has given up and accepted I’m going to prison, or maybe preparing me for the worst (either way it feels awful)

Please someone help me, I’m worried the only light at the end of this tunnel is an oncoming train

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I think your solicitor is maybe just wanting you to be aware prison CAN happen. But it's unlikely. My friend that's in court in june for a similar thing has also been told the same by his solicitor. Yet my brother is in court again soon for a non benefit related thing & his solicitor has told him community service at most, but his is more likely to end in prison! So I dont know how these solicitors work half the time.

Good luck with the appeal.

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