Parking Ticket Appeals successes and failures

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

thank for you telling us this

Nickolarse74

I used to use RingGo phone service. Regrettably, the voice recognition (to swap between my car and my wife's) is terrible, so I installed the iPhone App instead, which Kingston Council's own website reassured me that "the GPS locator tells you which car park you're in".

Banquet Records in Kingston is right behind the Ashdown Road car parks and is not on the main Kingston roads, so there's nearly always spaces. As such, it's great for parking, popping to Banquet / Sainsbury's opposite then back roads straight back to the A3. I say "car parks", because there's 3 in Ashdown Road.... One on-street (road side meters) and two off street (Ring Go numbers 3102 and 26503, which used to be 6503 and all are listed, simply, as "Ashdown Road"). I've used the numbers above to attract Google searches to this post.

So the Ring Go GPS system told me I was in 3102, I paid, got the confirmation text and email, went shopping, came back to a ticket warden giving me a ticket. Usual arguments about "I've issued it, bad luck, etc." despite me showing him the text message and email, he tells me I have to write a letter. I ask "why should I write a letter if you've clearly made a mistake?" to which he replied a load of rubbish, most of which I couldn't understand.

Checking further, it seems that although RingGo told me I was in 3102, I was actually parked in 6503 (now 26503).

Long story short, I wrote 3 or 4 letters, including a formal representation, all of which Kingston Council rejected. Kingston Council made several mistakes, which I continually pointed out to them. The council continually suggested that I had paid to park "ON STREET" by accident at 3102, when I was actually parked "OFF-STREET" in 6503 (now 26503). This shows how bad and inefficient some councils can be, as the proof I posted them (text message screen grab, copy of Ring Go VAT invoice plus Ring Go map) clearly show that, as I had had the sense to check in advance, that 3102 is "OFF-STREET". Still the council would not admit fault.

So we go to independent adjudication at PATAS. It took me roughly 5 minutes to explain what the council had done wrong, and 30 seconds for the adjudicator to approve my appeal and tell the council they have to cancel the fine. Interestingly, although they were adamant they were correct, they didn't turn up to the hearing.

As a side note, I was armed with a printout of their own order / rules (and all it's subsequent amendments) which show nowhere that when using the "handheld device payment method", exactly who's responsible for checking the correct car park location number. I also had a printout of Kingston Council's own website, which at that time actually said "Ring Go app actually tells you your nearest car park location". Interestingly, they've now changed this instruction on their website.

Since reading more about the Ashdown Road car parks, I have also found out why, when I HAD PAID, Kingston Council seem so adamant not to give in on Ashdown Road errors. I am told that Richmond council own the car park for which I paid, whereas Kingston own the one in which I was actually parked. The argument of revenue protection versus common sense might seem valid here ?

I hope this post gives reassurance and assistance to other people in the same situation.

lindso82

I live in an apartment development which has limited underground parking and my flat doesn't have an allocated space (I rent one elsewhere). There is a large loading bay area outside the main gates which belongs to the development, and is mostly used for maintenance people, people moving in/out, etc.


One day last year I had bought a new TV which was too large, heavy, and valuable for me to carry from where my rented space is, so I stopped in the loading bay, making sure I wasn't blocking anyone in or blocking access at all. I went in to speak to the concierge, who can provide a temporary pass to load/unload; I was in there about 5mins, and in that time a ticket was stuck to my windscreen.


It was one of these which does an excellent imitation of the ones the council can legally slap on there had I been parked across the road on their land. I called the number on the signage, and they said I'd have to appeal, which I did following some of the advice on this site. They were trying to fine me for not displaying a valid ticket. I wrote to outline all the reasons it was unreasonable (too high a figure at £80, with no possible cost to them since it wasn't pay-and-display and I wasn't obstructing anything; no ticket machines and not sufficient time given to go in and get a permit; no access blocked; lack of prominent signage; etc etc) and that I would not respond differently unless they addressed all of my points sufficiently.


I got two letters; the first being a reminder of the ticket having been issued, and the second being a response to my letter, simply repeating the original reasons for issuing me a ticket. I re-iterated my original points, and pointed out that they hadn't addressed them so I still would not pay, and 8m later have never been chased, so I think they must have realised it wasn't worth the hassle!


I'd advise stick to your guns :-)

Coupon-mad

But just to add for newbies, the fact that the above poster should have been sent a POPLA code if this was a BPA member PPC (and IMHO should not have appealed at windscreen ticket stage unless it's a company or hire car).

And no-one phones the number on signs on private land - no-one calls a PPC!

This one (above) should have been a case won at POPLA like all the other successes on here when people read the NEWBIES sticky thread to see how to win at appeal. A case that's gone quiet may not be dead seeing as PPCs have years to sue if they are so minded. Also the advice differs if Scotland/NI and the whole appeals process is explained in the NEWBIES sticky thread. We win every time.

SAB123

Hi, I got a ticket last week while parking in the street outside my daughters house, I had displayed a residents visitors parking card but had put the wrong date on it. I'm surprised I got the month right, my daughter had just had a premature baby and had been in and out of hospital, I was there to help her as her partner had to return to work. I explained this in the appeal and apologised for making the mstake but was told that "the onus is on the motorist whenever parking to observe and comply with the parking restrictions in place, by displaying a valid permit."
I am very cross about it as the residents parking is supposedly to help residents and their vistors park in a an area close to town, not penalise their visitors for very simple mistakes. Does anyone think I could continue the appeal and win?

Thanks Sue

p.s. my grandson is now feeding properly and putting on weight, but we were very worried at the time.

Umkomaas

SAB123 wrote: »

Hi, I got a ticket last week while parking in the street outside my daughters house, I had displayed a residents visitors parking card but had put the wrong date on it. I'm surprised I got the month right, my daughter had just had a premature baby and had been in and out of hospital, I was there to help her as her partner had to return to work. I explained this in the appeal and apologised for making the mstake but was told that "the onus is on the motorist whenever parking to observe and comply with the parking restrictions in place, by displaying a valid permit."
I am very cross about it as the residents parking is supposedly to help residents and their vistors park in a an area close to town, not penalise their visitors for very simple mistakes. Does anyone think I could continue the appeal and win?

Thanks Sue

p.s. my grandson is now feeding properly and putting on weight, but we were very worried at the time.

Please start a new thread so that we can give you advice that is absolutely germane to your circumstances. Jumping in on another thread means mixed messages which no one necessarily understands to whom they relate. This causes confusion which can ultimately become costly to all.

When you do start your new thread, please indicate from whom you received the parking charge. Help will be available then - and, yes, you should definitely continue to contest this - what have you got to lose?

Also read this sticky which details everything you really need to know, then you may not even need to start a new thread.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

Coupon-mad

Welcome to MSE - but this unneeded, rambling old thread you found isn't 'the forum', this is the forum:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

Start at the top and read the sticky thread for NEWBIES. Also watch this (click on it): New To The Forum?

Ivor_Pecheque

Parking Eye vs Mrs Pecheque.

Fistral. Circling trying to find a space for 31 minutes.

Case dismissed. Judge said that we couldn't read signs if circling, so couldn't form contract, also, would have found it difficult to justify £100 loss to Parking Eye.

Transcript ordered.

Netty181

Parking charge notice from G24 Ltd. for parking in the Sports Direct car park in St Helens for 90 minutes. They said the limit was 60 minutes but we had looked and there were no obvious notices and no way of paying for parking. The PCN was £100.

We didn't pay and sent an appeal letter to G24 Ltd. using the template from the MSE forum
**NEWBIES!! PRIVATE PARKING TICKET? OLD OR NEW? **READ THESE FAQS FIRST!**

Within 1 week had a letter back from G24 saying that they confirmed the charge had been waived.

JOB DONE. Great result thankyou Money Saving Expert contributors.

:j

Edw65

I sucessfully won an adjudication today against London Borough of Newham who had accused me of having "altered" a visitors parking permit..when in fact I had written it out in pencil in error..and then re-iterated it in ink as the permit requires. Adjudicator accepted that what I had done was not alteration and £130 saved. Note that my well written 2 previous appeals with photographic evidence that a valid permit was displayed etc had been rejected by LBN...My guess is they just reject these and let it go the distance...I decided to attend in person..and the whole thing was done in less than 10mins!! Thanks MSE for the courage to follow my instinct and pushing on to get justice!!!