Parking Ticket for using Motorway Services Car Park

Mick_P_3

We recently met with friends at a Motorway Service Station at Donnington Park, our friends we're delayed due to traffic and we ended up staying three and 1/2 hours. During this time we saw no parking signs and did not realise that we had a maximum time period we could stay ie; 2 hrs free then £8 thereafter for 24 hour periods.

We were sent a parking ticket for £80 by CP Plus Ltd, and are not sure whether we should pay as the ticket says the signs in the car park state the timings and charges but on numerous trips to our car never saw a sign. It also says that you had to pay by mobile but we have been on holiday and had no battery left on the mobile so could not have paid even if we saw the sign! Caravan owners apparently can pay at tills but we visited most of the shops and never once saw signs relating to payment.

Does any one know whether the signage at Donnington Park is visible or not, we live too far away to go back & check, in order to help us respond to the fine. Or if anyone else has dealt with this company before. We have tried contacting the company ... no one answers and messages are not responded to.
Thanks Mick

peter_the_piper

No need to worry, just ignore all invoices, begging letters etc. Do not contact them or reply to any letters. Don't admit anywhere on forums who the driver is as they will send letters to the RK who is not necessarily the driver. CCTV pics will not be able to confirm who the driver is so that eliminates this arguement.

Cardiffairtaxi

Hello Mick,ive just spotted your letter,and i too have had a letter from the same company.
I had the audacity to park for 3 hours at Reading Services.
As the replies are showing,lets both give a mighty 2 fingered salute,to CP Plus,and save the "fine" money,for a nice meal!

lozratt

I have today recieved a parking ticket from CP plus on a motorway service station on the M6 in cumbria for parking in a parent and child space, I never noticed it wasa restricted space, the ticket was for £80 is it leagl and enforcable..

Thanks in advance for any help...

trisontana

lozratt wrote: »

I have today recieved a parking ticket from CP plus on a motorway service station on the M6 in cumbria for parking in a parent and child space, I never noticed it wasa restricted space, the ticket was for £80 is it leagl and enforcable..

Thanks in advance for any help...

Parent and child spaces (together with disabled spaces) have no legal standing in private car-parks. They could as well painted spaces with something like "reserved for red-heads" . It's just as meaningless. Just ignore.

lozratt

just another note the vehicle was a courtecy van from a garage who have my licence details, can the ticket firm do anything through the garare,,

cheers stuart

peter_the_piper

Check the lease? papers you had from the garage to see what it says about parking fines or invoices from ppc. Make sure they pass any onto you without paying as they will likely add an admin fee of £30 ish.

lozratt

cheers guys, I don't get anything from the garage it just a courtecy vehicle and I'm sure they will contact me before doing anything about the ticket ect...

Coblcris

Your problem if any will be with the garage. Check the wording of your agreement with them very carefully. If they are not aware of the games that Private Parking Companies play then perhaps you should make them aware.

Coupon-mad

lozratt wrote: »

cheers guys, I don't get anything from the garage it just a courtecy vehicle and I'm sure they will contact me before doing anything about the ticket ect...

Personally, I wouldn't assume that! You could end up paying the garage if they blindly cough up and later bill you. As Coblcris says, the garage may not be aware of the unenforceability of such tickets.

I would phone up the manager at the garage and explain that 'the driver' (don't say that is you) got a scam ticket on the windscreen. Ask them to expressly ignore any letter sent relating to the parking of that vehicle at that service station. Don't allow any misunderstanding of what sort of ticket it is, you need to convince him that it is just a scam - and that you are not going to be paying it and nor should they.

Make it clear that if they do pay this invoice then you will have no responsibility whatsoever to reimburse them (record the convo if you can?). You need to plan this bit before you say it, as you don't want to appear to be stitching them up or wriggling out of a legit 'fine' (which it is not).

They may be very concerned about the possibility of Court/fines/debt collectors. If need be point them to this forum and/ or the forums at www.pepipoo.com for info about the whole private parking tickets racket. Leave the manager with your details for forwarding any letters on to you, but ask him not to reply to any contact from the PPC.

Don't ignore the garage in all this nor assume anything about what they will/won't do. It could be pretty difficult if the Manager takes the wrong view, pays the 'fine' and then tries to get the money back from you under the terms of the courtesy car. It's possible the terms would allow him to do this - and whilst you can't force him not to pay the invoice you can at least forewarn him now.

Coblcris

Ultimately you need to communicate with the garage in writing. Depending upon how the telephone conversation with them proceeds. Ultimately you need to assert your rights. The exact wording of the written agreement with the garage for the loaned vehicle is important.
What does it say ?