How Can I Challenge An Ocean Parking Services PCN?

This blog serves to answer the question “How Can I Challenge An Ocean Parking Services PCN?” The blog mentions a list of the 12 parking contravention codes enforced by Ocean Parking Services in its car parks. You should not forget about the existence of these codes while using a car park in order to avoid being handed a PCN that cannot be appealed successfully or that cannot be challenged by using any acceptable evidence.

How Can I Challenge An Ocean Parking Services PCN?

While attempting to challenge an Ocean Parking Services PCN you need to be ready with an accurate description of the events which led to your parking PCN, authentic evidence material to use with your PCN challenge, as well as a good idea of the assertion you can use to get your PCN cancelled (for which you need to study the contravention code). Once all these 3 pieces of information are in place and have been typed into your computer as an amalgamated whole, you can visit the Ocean Parking Services website to make your challenge.

You have 2 options for sending in your Ocean Parking Services PCN appeal, if you prefer to submit your case by mail, you need to convert any video clips into photographs with the help of a video player. 

You need to capture snapshots of the scene, which clearly show how your vehicle was correctly parked in its designated space or how your vehicle’s engine was off while it was parked in the parking zone (this might be better proven by using a video instead). These photographs need to be printed out and attached with your PCN challenge form (on your Notice to Owner) before filling in the form and mailing it to Ocean Parking.

If you have received a PCN with the contravention code 73 (parked without paying the required parking charge) you have to show a pay and display ticket or parking permit for the required duration of time as evidence in your challenge. 

Unless you have paid the correct amount of parking charges, no other form of evidence can help you to get the PCN cancelled. You can add a short video from the parking lot, which shows you purchasing the pay and display ticket or parking permit and then parking your vehicle for the mentioned time limit in the car park, to this evidence material.

Ocean Parking is a trading name of Anchor Security Services Ltd

In many cases, PCNs are not enforceable and you may be able to win your case and avoid having to pay your fine.

You could begin the process by speaking to an online solicitor for as little as £5. 

What is the procedure for appealing against an Ocean Parking Services PCN?

You can submit a formal representation to your Ocean Parking PCN by writing a letter addressed to Ocean Parking Services or by filling in the online formal representation form on the Ocean Parking website..

You need to brainstorm reasons to challenge an Ocean Parking PCN from the day of your parking violation incident and list them down in word processing software or on paper. It is essential to have some authentic evidence to attach with your Parking PCN appeal in the form of video footage of your actions inside the car park or videos of you parking your vehicle within the marking of your parking space. 

You can make sure to record these each time you visit an Ocean Parking  Car Park to have some evidence for challenging a future PCN. You need to save scanned copies of your medical certificates explaining your mitigating circumstances, or scanned copies of your pay and display tickets used at Ocean Parking Car Parks. 

The evidence must be matched with the grounds for your appeal before describing the incident from your point of view. Your rough formal representation can be edited for clarity multiple times before it is ready to attach to your online appeal to Ocean Parking Services You need to visit the Ocean Parking website to submit a formal representation to your PCN. 

You can confirm that you agree with the conditions to register your appeal by ticking at the option near the bottom of the page here and click on “Continue”. On this webpage, you have to enter your PCN Number, Vehicle Registration Number, the date of your Contravention (mentioned on your PCN) select whether you are the driver or registered keeper of the vehicle (or both), your Name, your email address and mention the grounds of your Ocean Parking PCN challenge in a field given for that purpose. 

You can attach different kinds of files as evidence of your PCN challenge but it is advisable to first convert your videos into photographs to upload onto the Ocean Parking website. Photo and video evidence is the most convincing kind of evidence to prove your case to Ocean Parking, you can just upload the snapshots from your video to show how the contravention never happened

If you feel any discrepancies between your PCN challenge and your available evidence or if you cannot match the evidence with your representation, you can wait an extra day or two and come back again to complete the form.

You cannot afford any mistakes in your Ocean Parking PCN challenge as a weakly formulated case will fail to convince the car park management company and lead to a Notice of Rejection of Representations.

It is essential to upload authentic evidence material with your Ocean Parking PCN challenge to describe your mitigating circumstances to Ocean Parking Services and for explaining your point of view of the events which took place at the traffic violation scene..

The text of your appeal must state the relevant contravention code on your PCN and explain how you attempted to avoid the error (supported by photos or video footage).

Once you have proofread your appeal to eliminate any reasons for your challenge which might convey a disregard for traffic contravention codes enforced in Ocean Parking’s Car Parks (by mixing up the parking contraventions) or reasons which involve forgetfulness to justify your actions, you can submit the formal representation by clicking on “Submit”.

Another way to send in your Ocean Parking PCN challenge is by mail. You can write down a formal representation on the Notice to Owner document and attach evidence documents or photographs to the form using a stapler or paper clip. Your letter should mention your Ocean Parking PCN number, date of issue of the PCN, your vehicle registration number, and personal details. 

Your PCN appeals form and all accompanying evidence documents (enclosed in an envelope) need to be sent to:

Ocean Parking,

Seasons House,

Lakeside Business Village,

Ewloe,

Deeside,

CH5 3YE

Ocean Parking will respond to your Parking PCN appeal and your Ocean Parking PCN will be cancelled or you will be sent a Notice of Rejection or Representations, which needs to be received promptly in order to contest the notice with the Parking on Private Land Appeals service.

What is a Penalty Charge Notice?

A Penalty Charge Notice is a monetary penalty issued to drivers or motorists for committing certain traffic contraventions including violating Parking, Bus Lane, and Moving Traffic restrictions. A PCN is issued for failing to follow Parking zone, bus lane enforcement, and moving traffic restrictions mentioned in the Road Traffic Act 1984 and the Traffic Management Act 2004.

A penalty charge notice can be handed to you by a Civil Enforcement Officer or dispatched to your (DVLA) residential address by post. Traffic contraventions are observed by CCTV cameras and Civil Enforcement Officers before a violation is detected and the vehicle is charged with a PCN.

A PCN might also be issued for failing to pay road charges on time. You have 28 days to decide how and if you would like to challenge your Penalty Charge Notice. After 28 days if you have neither paid nor challenged your PCN, your unpaid PCN amount will be registered as debt at the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

Which parking contravention codes are enforced in Ocean Parking Services managed car parks?

The following parking contravention codes are enforced in Ocean Parking Services managed car parks:

• Contravention Code 71 parked within an electric vehicle’s charging space without being charged (in restricted hours)

• Contravention Code 73 parked without paying the required parking charge.  (with a 10-minute observation time)

• Contravention Code 80 parked in a parking space for a duration longer than that allowed by the car park.  (with a 10-minute observation time)

• Contravention Code 82 parked after the expiry of the time limit mentioned on the parking permit or pay and display ticket (with a 10-minute observation time)

• Contravention code 83. Parked in an Ocean Parking Services managed car park without clearly showing the parking permit or pay and display ticket on its windscreen  (with a 10-minute observation time)

• Contravention code 84. Parked in an Ocean Parking Services run car park with payment made to extend(parking) beyond the original time limit first paid for. You can only buy parking for your vehicle once when you bring your vehicle to the Ocean Parking Services parking lot and this amount (time duration) should be enough for your visit.

• Contravention code 86. A vehicle that is shown not to be clearly parked within its designated parking space.

• Contravention code 90. A vehicle that has been reparked within the same car park within one hour of leaving the zone

• Contravention code 93. A vehicle has been left parked inside a car park, while the Ocean Parking Services parking lot was closed.

• Contravention code 94. A vehicle that has been left parked inside a pay-and-display car park without properly displaying 2 pay and display tickets where required.

• Contravention code 95. A vehicle that has been left parked within an Ocean Parking Services run parking lot for a different purpose than that which the car park is meant for.

• Contravention code 96. A vehicle that has been left parked in an Ocean Parking Services run car park, with its engine on (where prohibited)

What Do I Need to Know About Ocean Parking Services?

Ocean Parking Services was established in 2010, it also offers the following services along with car park management:

• First Aid Response in its car parks

• Security Patrols for its car parks

• Maintenance checks for vehicles entering and leaving its car parks

• Ocean Parking Services drivers are also provided by first aid response kits to aid in its emergency response operations.

Ocean Parking Services patrol services team are trained in Conflict Management and the team is fixed with an Edesix lone worker CCTV system. They provide maintenance review and reporting services along with a comprehensive monthly site report. The services of Marshals are available for peak periods such as Christmas to manage extra vehicles using your car parks. Ocean Parking Services uses HD ANPR cameras to make sure that all vehicles are correctly recorded into its electronic registry system and anyone violating a parking contravention gets charged immediately/

How Can I Pay An Ocean Parking Services PCN?

It is best to make your Ocean Parking PCN fine payment online on the council website using Visa Card, Master Card, Direct Debit or Maestro Card. This method saves time and is also more precise. 

You need to enter your PCN Charge Number (Ticket Reference) and your vehicle registration number after opening this webpage to pay your Ocean Parking PCN by using a credit card..To complete your fine submission online you also have to enter your payment card details in the next window after clicking “Search” You must remember to wait for 24 hours after your PCN is issued before attempting to pay it.

Your Ocean Parking PCN fine is also payable by telephone. You need to dial the following number to connect to Ocean Parking Services’ payments system: 0845 401 4045. Next, you need to enter your payment card details on the call as well as your card’s billing address. Your vehicle registration number and Ocean Parking PCN number are also needed to complete your payment. This automated payments hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What happens if I don’t pay my Ocean Parking PCN within 28 days?

You should not consider a private car park PCN any less than a regular PCN issued by your local council. The higher level parking contravention codes enforced by Ocean Parking make you legally bound to respect them while using the company’s parking zones.

If you neither pay your Ocean Parking PCN within 28 days nor decide to appeal against it, you will be sent a letter from the car park company to pay your PCN in full within 14 days. If you donot pay the PCN within the next 14 days, your (nonpayment) case will be passed on to enforcement agents or bailiffs. Your actions will also result in the filing of a court order (for recovery of debts) against you by Ocean Parking Services

Your unpaid Parking PCN amount will be treated as a debt with the Traffic Enforcement Centre at the Northampton County Court.

The court order for debt recovery enforces that the charge certificate amount must be paid in full within 21 days the county court will have to use additional powers to recover the money from your possession which means employing Enforcement Agents, to (contact you or) visit your personal premises.

Can I dispute my Notice of Rejection with POPLA if Ocean Parking dismisses my appeal?

You can dispute your Notice of Rejection of Representations from Ocean Parking with the Parking on Private Land Appeals service (POPLA). Your challenge can be sent in 2 different ways, the first method is to download the POPLA Appeals Form, print it out and send it to the Parking On Private Land Appeals service postal address:

POPLA,

PO Box 1270,

Warrington,

WA4 9RL

The letter must mention the 10 digit reference number contained in your Notice of Rejection from Ocean Parking Services. You need to remember that the appeal to POPLA is just like a regular Parking PCN challenge. You can upload evidence such as video clips of your traffic violation scenes (taken from inside your vehicle), medical certificates from a certified General Practitioner, and scanned copies of “pay and display” tickets.

The evidence is necessary to convince the Parking on Private Land Appeals service that you did not breach the relevant Parking contravention code. You should preferably memorise all these codes before using Ocean Parking’s parking zones so that you know how to challenge a PCN and can do your best to avoid getting one.

If you have mentioned mitigating circumstances in your POPLA appeal, you must be able to explain the cause-and-effect relationship between the condition which led you to commit the traffic violation (such as leaving your vehicle parked for an extended period of time owing to a medical emergency). The evidence material to be sent with your written representation needs to be a document or photographs from the scene of the incident. You can convert a video clip into photographs by using a video player or video editing software by simply taking snapshots of the relevant frames showing your claim.

A first-class mail letter takes between 1 to 2 days to reach POPLA and second-class mail takes between 3 to 5 days. So you need to send in your challenge by the 20th day at the latest for it to be considered side by side with the Ocean Parking legal proposition.

You also need to remember that you must submit a challenge to your Notice of Rejection from National Car Parks to POPLA within 28 days of receiving your Notice of Rejection.

How can I submit my challenge to the Notice of Rejection of Representations from Ocean Parking by using the online form?

In order to submit your challenge to the Notice of Rejection of Representations from Ocean Parking online, you need to visit the POPLA website. On this page you need to first agree to the terms and tick each one off and enter your 10-digit verification number stated on the Notice of Rejection from Ocean Parking. You need to click on “I Confirm that the operator is correct” and click on “Start Appeal” after that. On the next page you will be asked for your Ocean Parking PCN Number, Vehicle Registration Number, the reasons for your challenge, and the evidence material to support your case (which can be uploaded onto the POPLA system).

Here you can easily attach evidence material such as video clips and scanned copies of your medical certificates (for supporting your mitigating circumstances) through your computer. It is also an advantage to be able to first edit the text of your formal representation in a word processing software and then transfer it onto the online appeals form on the POPLA website. A better-worded parking contravention challenge that mentions the legal technicalities stated in the Road Traffic Act 1988 or the Traffic Management Act 2004 regarding your parking contravention code to put forward your challenge will be considered as a strong formal representation.

The evidence attached with your challenge should also be correctly matched with the grounds of your appeal and not seem out of place. The document or video clip needs to clearly prove your mitigating circumstances or show that the traffic contravention didn’t occur, and convince POPLA to accept your evidence over that provided by Ocean Parking.

Once POPLA is satisfied that Ocean Parking’s case has been refuted outright by your representation of the matter, the adjudicator (or assessor) of your case will probably make the final decision in your case.

This decision will be sent to both you and to Ocean Parking via email simultaneously. If the decision by POPLA is made in your favour the Ocean Parking PCN will immediately be cancelled.

If your appeal is rejected by Parking on Private Land Appeals service, you will have to pay the fine within the next 28 days to avoid your case being taken to the debt collection stage by Ocean Parking.

At POPLA “assessors” or adjudicators of your case will make their final decision based on :

• The act of legislation your case (traffic contravention) refers to such as the Traffic Management Act 2004

• The Code of Practice used by The British Parking Association

• The articles of evidence put forward by Ocean Parking and you which are representing opposing viewpoints of the situation.

Conclusion

This blog post addressed the question “How Can I Challenge An Ocean Parking Services PCN?” You should be able to correctly remember the events that occurred inside the Ocean Parking Services car park before moving on to writing your appeal as you have to include some details apparently missed out by the car park management company and also attach evidence showing these circumstances. Evidence in the form of photographs or video clips filmed inside an Ocean Parking Services car park can be accepted if they are genuine and clearly show how the traffic violation never happened.