Check the Location Carefully
NCP is one of the oldest operators. They manage city center lots and railway station car parks. The rules are totally different for each.
The Railway Trap
If your NCP ticket was issued at a train station car park, check whether the PCN references:
- Railway Byelaws
- Transport Act
- Network Rail
If so, the land is likely "not relevant land" under POFA 2012, meaning keeper liability doesn't apply.
The "Not Relevant Land" Defense
Railway land is excluded from the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 keeper liability provisions. This means:
- NCP can only pursue the driver
- The keeper has no obligation to identify the driver
- Without identifying the driver, NCP cannot enforce the charge
City Center NCP Car Parks
For non-railway NCP locations, use standard defenses:
- Payment machine failures
- Unclear bay markings
- Barrier malfunctions (paid but barrier didn't lift)
- Notice to Keeper timing issues
NCP's "RingGo" Issues
Many NCP car parks use RingGo phone payment. Common issues:
- App crashed during payment
- Payment processed but not registered
- Wrong location code entered
Evidence to Keep
Always screenshot your RingGo payments immediately. Bank statements showing payment attempts are valuable evidence.