Excess charge notice

isOcan

On holiday in Somerset, I visited a shopping outlet with my Mom who has a blue badge for disabled parking. There were no spaces left for disabled parking, but a sign said you could park in other spaces free of charge with a disabled pass. We eventually found a space and Mom had difficulty getting out as it wasn't as wide as disabled spaces - I usually get her out first and then park, but it was very busy and she was getting anxious as someone had beeped at us. She must have knocked the pass off the dashboard as she got out, as when we returned to the car, it was on the floor, although it was still visible, as it had fallen so you could see it was a blue badge. I usually check that the pass is visible, but as she was getting a bit panicky and I guess I was in holiday mode, I didn't on this occasion. I received a £60 excess charge notice from Mendip District Council (£40 if you pay within 14 days). I have appealled at stage 1 and been rejected. It seems a bit disproportionate as parking is £1.50 for 4 hours and we were only there a couple of hours.
I don't know whether to cut my losses and just pay it - what do others think - is it worth a try?

James_N

Could you clarify that it's a commercial location but that the ticket comes from the local council - and is not just made up to look that way?

sarahg1969

The only recourse for a local authority excess charge notice is through the Magistrates Court. It is worth writing to the council in the first instance, explaining what happened, and asking for leniency on this occasion.

isOcan

Yes, it is the district council - I went onto their website and emailed my first appeal, so they are legit. I just got a standard letter back saying I still had to pay. I don't think they will listen even if I appeal again, although the £40 reduced charge is frozen until they reply, so it's worth a try I guess. It just seems a lot of money, when as soon as I realised what had happened, I took the disabled badge up to the attendant who had issued the charge to prove that I had one and wasn't just trying to get out of paying. He just told me to write to the address on the back of the ticket and got a bit confrontational, so I left it at that. My own fault for not checking the pass was on the dashboard I suppose, but an expensive lesson. I'll let you know what my second appeal results in.

Thanks for replying