Pcn Charge

[Y88John]

Do I have to pay a Parking Charge Notice (PCN ) Issued by civil enforcement, Horton House, Exchange Flags,
Liverpool, L2 3PF

[sunny-dave]

It's from a private company - not the Police or Local Authority - but it is potentially enforceable in court if you don't pay.

You could risk it (many people do) and get away without paying - but you might be unlucky and it could cost you a lot more.

Do you accept that you broke (clearly displayed) Parking Regulations?

[Baldric]

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets

[Peter Pedant]

wasnt there recently a court case which "clarified" this ?
high court said a whole load of parking tickets against hospital workers had to be paid to the parking company the hospital had sold the rights to

[sunny-dave]

Yes - it confirmed that the penalty invoices of £80 - £100 were 'reasonable and appropriate' and could be enforced in the courts.

It's much more of a gamble to not pay one of these invoices than it used to be - especially since it can be enforced against the registered keeper if the driver is not identified.

[Buenchico]

When you park on private land where there are clearly displayed notices explaining the charges for parking (and those charges aren't 'unreasonable') then you automatically enter into a legally-binding contract compelling you to pay those charges upon demand.

So, assuming that you actually did park a vehicle on land controlled by Civil Enforcement Ltd (or that you allowed someone else to park your car there and you're not prepared to tell Civil Enforcement Ltd who that person was) and that you parked for the time (or excess time) specified on the PCN, together with a further assumption that there was a clearly displayed notice setting out the parking charges (and that they're not 'unreasonable') you're obliged to pay up. If you don't, Civil Enforcement Ltd can pursue you through the courts for the debt.

What is a 'reasonable' charge is entirely a matter for the courts to decide but one test case went all of the way to the Supreme Court, where it was ruled that an £85 charge for overstaying on a private car park was not 'unreasonable':
https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/supreme-court-dismisses-85-parking-ticket-challenge/5051987.article

Ignoring such parking charges can get very expensive, e.g:
http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/community/15278/judg
or even
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-39478203