Parking Ticket from CMS UK Ltd

Marina_Baker

I received a parking ticket for £80 whilst parking at Robin Park Retail Park last Friday for 55 minutes. Ticket says "For parking outside trading times". It was my first visit to Robin Park and the shops were closing on my arrival but I was unaware of these parking regulations and took my son for a Burger King meal. There is a sign saying no parking outside retail hours but I never saw it. I have appealed but CMS say I still need to pay the fine. If I pay within 14 days I only need to pay £50! A solicitor friend says to ignore the fine and any forthcoming correspondence from CMS. However, Trading Standards have told me to pay it. Can anyone advise. What is the worst possible scenario if I don't pay this fine please?

trisontana

Your solicitor friend is correct (apart from calling it a "fine), just ignore. As for Trading Standards , on this matter they haven't got a clue. From now on do not contact the company again and ignore any correspondence from them. The worst thing that will happen to you will be that your recycling bin will fill up faster than usual from all the stupid letters you might receive from the parking company.

fb1969

This thread should answer your questions http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1690419

Your solicitor friend knows what they are talking about, and is correct. Sadly Trading Standards, with the exception of Lancashire www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/cgi-bin/lancashire/con1item.cgi?file=ADV0004.txt, don't know what they are talking about.

trisontana

I have just looked at this company's web site . They certainly like the word "solutions", the whole website is peppered with that overused word.

On the "appeals" page they have this:-

Lodging an appeal is not a delay of payment. If the initial fine is not paid within 14 days the fee will rise.


Of course it's not a fine, and they are breaking the law by calling it so.

RobertoMoir

When it comes to parking issues like this, trading standards don't know their backside from their elbow. You may as well take advice from a drunken tramp as them.

Your solicitor friend is quite correct.

DaveF327

Hang on.. if you took your son for a Burger King meal, then wouldn't Burger King be open and trading? If so, then you have indeed parked during Burker King's "trading times" so shouldn't be in any breach of contract. I'd check the signage again to clarify exactly whose trading times they refer to, but like others have said, don't pay. The clarification above just gives you that extra ammunition in the unlikely event they take it further.

Coblcris

As the outlet was open and the poster bought goods there it was de facto within trading hours.

trisontana

Earlier today I emailed CMS asking them to tell me which particular statute law is being broken (hence their use of the word "fine") when somebody parks on private land.

Although I received this by return :- "We have received your email and will deal with it promptly", as yet they haven't replied. I wonder why?

peter_the_piper

I've ask a couple of ppc's this question and have yet to receive a reply. Maybe they are still looking for it?

bromsgrovebarry

trisontana wrote: »

Earlier today I emailed CMS asking them to tell me which particular statute law is being broken (hence their use of the word "fine") when somebody parks on private land.

Although I received this by return :- "We have received your email and will deal with it promptly", as yet they haven't replied. I wonder why?

I would give them 48 hours to reply and if they fail to do so, give them a fine of £200 with an early settlement discount. Threaten them with bailiffs and CCJs for non payment.

robredz

Report them to trading standards and the police for impersonating a statutory authority. No seriously they are committing criminal offences by trying to pass off a dubiously contractual relationship as a fine, as no private company or individual can "fine" another, merely send an invoice.