Parking Fine - Error on Letter from Council

[cobster]

I recently picked up a parking fine for parking in an area that had one hour free parking. What I didn't realise was that I had to obtain a ticket to show what time I had arrived. Whilst I was there for less than an hour I was given a ticket. I wrote to appeal which was turned down. Their letter to me was undated. The letter states "the council will accept the discounted amount of £30 in full and final settlement, if paid within 14 days of the date of this notice". As the notice is undated can I get away with not paying it? ;)

[BritBrat]

What I didn't realise was that I had to obtain a ticket to show what time I had arrived.

I have never seen that before, I must keep my eye open for that one.

Sorry I cant help with your problem but maybe you can save others getting caught.

[nej]

Well I once got away with a parking ticket because it said 11:30 not 23:30, so I waited until the reminder letter came then said "I wasn't there at 11:30, please provide me with some evidence."

Not quite the same though.

[cobster]

The parking payment machine clearly said "First Hour Free" in nice big letters. About 8 inches down it says in much smaller letters "First Hour Free - obtain ticket from machine" - I know because I went back to check. Definitely a case of the council trying to catch motorists out who feel they have parked perfectly legally. I was not the only one that fell into this trap.

I had an e-mail back from the Council thanking me for bringing this discrepancy to their attention and that they would be sending out a duplicate letter, but this time dated, and I can pay 14 days from the date of that notice. I guess that is something but perhaps I should ask for a discount for pointing out their mistakes!

[anewman]

Surely you should not have any fine? I would let them take it to court and contest it on the basis of no reasonable notice. The council seems to have already accepted fault. I wouldn't pay it and would let them waste their money on their legal costs and your legal costs.

[cobster]

I was going to write back to them to say that I made an honest mistake when I parked there without readin the whole notice to realise that I had to take in a ticket. In the same vein, their employee made an honest mistake by not dating the letter. If the notice is undated then 14 days from no date is never. And then ask them to reconsider their actions given that mistakes have been made on both sides - yet I am the one being penalised. What do you reckon?

[moonrakerz]

There was an interesting article in the paper a few weeks ago about appealing to the independent adjudicator about parking tickets.
I can't remember the exact figures (80% ?) but the vast majority of people who take it that far win their case. Most Councils don't even bother to contest it when it gets that far. Some councils also have such a bad reputation for sloppy paperwork etc that they never even get to fight their case, the adjudicator backs the appeal immediately.

[dnc1781]

See:
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/faq.htm?id=66