@Footloose In my experience of these privately owned parking con-men, you don’t stand a chance, mate. I got a PCN in one for being 12 inches outside the bay marking line – had to do this because bay so narrow could not get out of car.
Was going to appeal but did some research and found that none of the appeals made ever lead to a cancellation of fine. This seems to apply to all of the different, private parking con-men across the country.
Research the management/staff/owners of “your” one. I bet you’ll find that the majority and got a criminal conviction tucked away somewhere; that they have been “directors” of at least six concerns which have gone into liquidation; that many of them have previously worked in “security application” aka club bouncers.
That is what I discovered about the firm issuing my PCN – they are a bunch of small-time villains who have discovered a perfectly legal way to rob you. They get the law to do it for them – if you appeal and take it to court, they WILL win. Moreover, they will tot up penalty factors and increase the amount they steal from you. In some cases a £60 fine has become £5-600 or more.
My advice, and it really sticks in my throat, pay the £60 and avoid all the angst, worries (and in some cases physical threats from the bouncers).