Barnet Council ignore their own error

 

Miss P went to Mill Hill Broadway. She parked in bay 9499 but she paid but for the wrong vehicle. She received a PCN

Mr Mustard looked at all of the photos which the 'traffic warden' had taken. He knew they weren't of Station Road, NW7 but of The Broadway at Mill Hill.

Dental Wellness of Mill Hill are visible in the background, their address is 46 The Broadway, NW7. Mr Mustard checked location 9499 on the PayByPhone App, the location was 67 The Broadway.

Mr Mustard smiled, the PCN was a dead duck.

Mr Mustard made the informal challenge, as the first challenge in response to a PCN is called.

One problem with contracting out to so-called experts is that they aren't anywhere near Barnet (APCOA have an office in Wigan) so don't know Mill Hill from Millwall. They could have checked the bay location in the same way as Mr Mustard did but that would have taken diligence, which went missing.

The rejection ignores the difficult fact about location which 100% must be accurate and focusses on the lack of payment which wasn't challenged. APCOA, the sub-contractor, knew that Mr Mustard was acting so they should also know they were merely putting off the inevitable.

As he often does when contractors go wrong Mr Mustard emailed a parking manager at Barnet Council. 

Usually the manager responds in 24 - 48 hours but not this time. Mr Mustard was content to let the process run its course.

The Notice to Owner arrived. The location had been slightly amended since the PCN was issued, which is irregular. It now said 'Station Road, NW7 , Mill Hill' but that didn't make the address correct and so the same blank denial was put forward as formal representations.

It only took 4 days and the council responded

This time the council admit their error, which is as it should be. There was no explanation as to why the same challenge was rejected at the earlier stage, it wouldn't be the need to raise money would it?

The does not set a precedent line is a waste of ink, every location the council get wrong is a good ground for cancellation.

The end.