Unfair Parking Ticket

barrett8302

Hi could someone please give me a little bit of advice?

A while ago I parked in a multistorey car park in a cinema/restaurant complex in Romford, Essex.

I paid for parking and displayed my ticket on my dashboard, there was no sticker or anything, just a piece of paper. Without realising, I put it there upside down! And when I returned from the cinema, I had a parking ticket stuck on my windscreen by MET Parking (I think it is a private company) for £100 (50 if paid early). On the terms of use of the ticket it says that it needs to be displayed properly and that is why they say they gave me the ticket (they also have pictures of my car with the ticket upside down).

I sent them a letter straight away along with a scan of my parking ticket and parking fine, stating that I still had the ticket as evidence, I paid for parking and therefore should not be fined.

They replied that the terms of use clearly state that the ticket must be displayed correctly and that they have evidence that it wasn't. And if I do not pay it will go up to 100, and then if I still do not pay they will be contacting debt collection agency / take me to court.

I then replied that I was being treated unfairly, I paid for parking, have proved that I have paid for parking and therefore should not be charged. It was a simple mistake, when the door closed the ticket must have blown over, and they should provide sticky tickets.

Then just this week I received a letter saying that they have enough proof to be "evidenced" in a county court etc... and that the terms of use clearly state blablabla and it is now £100 to be paid within 14 days.

Can someone please advise me where I stand? I don't want a criminal record or anything which might affect my credit rating. Am I in the right to refuse to pay? Or should I just pay up? Not too sure what to do next???

Thanks very much for any advice.

Chris

bargepole

barrett8302 wrote: »

... Can someone please advise me where I stand? I don't want a criminal record or anything which might affect my credit rating. Am I in the right to refuse to pay? Or should I just pay up? Not too sure what to do next??

This would be a civil matter, not criminal. And your credit rating could only be affected if you lost in court, and didn't pay the judgement.

To succeed in court, the PPC would have to prove they lost money as a result of you parking there. Which they didn't, as you bought a ticket. They know that, which is why they issue all those empty threats instead of making a court claim.

Ignore all their rubbish - it's a scam.

Rockporkchop

I got a parking ticket at the Brewery too, a couple of months ago. I bought a ticket and put it on the dashboard. When I got back to the car, the stupid bit of paper was on the driver's seat. I don't know why - it must have happened when I slammed the doors or otherwise because I had left the windows slightly open to try to get rid of the smell of baby sick.

It's so annoying as the car park changed to a pay on exit system the week after I got the ticket.

Anyway I have since had their follow up demand but have ignored it as I have no intention of paying. You are doing yourself no favours by trying to bargain with them - don't enter into any more correspondence, just sit it out and ignore them.