Clearly wrong parking ticket - Can i charge the council

s8nbam

Hi Guys.
My Partner was in Manchester City Centre on 28/06/2010, she got a parking ticket 13 mins after she parked the car and purchased a ticket.

The Ticket which was clearly on display was bought at 13:26, and lasted an hour to 14:26. The PCN was given at 13:39.

Seen as this is clearly wrong, she contested it with a different parking inspector who said she would have to write in, then she called the parking office at manchester city council, who said the same.

My Initial plan was to just write them a nasty letter and appeal the ticket and state that they need to hire literate people and the parking inspector in question needs disciplinary action and training.

I am now thinking i should charge them for my time to investigate the ticket, copy the evidence and write them an appeal.

Is it possible for me to send an invoice to them?

Velcro_Hotdog

Mistakes happen, Id write to explian the mistake and give the evidence needed to back up your reason for not having to pay and then leave it at that.

Why does every one these days require compensation for their time, if time was that important you wouldn't have time to post your complaint on the tinternet!

sunshinetours

s8nbam wrote: »

Hi Guys.
My Partner was in Manchester City Centre on 28/06/2010, she got a parking ticket 13 mins after she parked the car and purchased a ticket.

The Ticket which was clearly on display was bought at 13:26, and lasted an hour to 14:26. The PCN was given at 13:39.

Seen as this is clearly wrong, she contested it with a different parking inspector who said she would have to write in, then she called the parking office at manchester city council, who said the same.

My Initial plan was to just write them a nasty letter and appeal the ticket and state that they need to hire literate people and the parking inspector in question needs disciplinary action and training.

I am now thinking i should charge them for my time to investigate the ticket, copy the evidence and write them an appeal.

Is it possible for me to send an invoice to them?

Have you ever made an error? No need to write a "nasty" letter, just explain the cirumstances. If you don't get any joy that would be the time to step up the pressure not on pointing out a mistake.

I assume it was given out in error and not just recorded wrong on the ticket? Had the ticket fallen off the window screen?

s8nbam

I understand what you guys are saying. But its just it annoyed me that they hire people that are quite ruthless when it comes to giving PCN's (i remember a number of tickets which just needed a little thought from the parking inspector, 1 for going to get change from a shop next to the parking bay for the machine, and 1 for being literally a minute over, where the parking inspector actually stood and waited, and one for having a flat tyre and pulling over at a bus stop) then having to continuously explain your selves to them. In this case it was CLEARELY in time as manchester council write the time in HUGE writing ensuring there Parking officers can quickly and efficiently spot overdue tickets.

For me its not the money (if it was i would have sued the council 3 times for damaging my alloy wheels and requiring replacements from pot holes!).

Its more the fact that they need to realise its not ok to hire argumentative ignorant parking officers!

s8nbam

Besides when i moved into manchester they where very quick to correct a council tax bill when i informed them 1 week late that i had moved in, then took me 4 months to get a rebate for over paying on a property when i moved.

Harry_Flashman

Quite agree old chap - these people are VERY keen to rack up the charges to the motorist at every given opportunity (and some made up ones). Give 'em a dose of their own!

JQ.

Does it state what the ticket was for, Manchester CC are very keen on handing out tickets for not parking within the lines or other such infringements?

vansboy

You'd have a hard time charging, at this stage, as you'll have 'agreed' to the terms THEY applied, when parking.

However, you could write to them & put them on notice, applying YOUR terms, should they fail in the future & THEN try!!

But YOUR council tax would be increased, to support the costs involved, should everyone do this!!

VB

s8nbam

JQ. wrote: »

Does it state what the ticket was for, Manchester CC are very keen on handing out tickets for not parking within the lines or other such infringements?

It says "Parking after the expiry of pad for time"

rev_henry

vansboy wrote: »

You'd have a hard time charging, at this stage, as you'll have 'agreed' to the terms THEY applied, when parking.

However, you could write to them & put them on notice, applying YOUR terms, should they fail in the future & THEN try!!

But YOUR council tax would be increased, to support the costs involved, should everyone do this!!

VB

Do this. Write to them saying: 'I expect to hear your response within 14 days cancelling the ticket, and failing this I shall be invoicing you for my time in chasing the matter up with yourselves, at a rate of £10 per hour.'

sillygoose

I have had this happen many times in central Birmingham, I have even collared the warden and pointed out the clearly visible valid ticket on display, they just shrug and say you can contest it and walk away.

Each time I have contested it they drop it without apology or even a reply. Everyone can make a mistake true, but these are not mistakes, its legalised attempted fraud. A certain percentage of poor saps will pay up.

No you won't get anything back but if there were any fairness in the world there would be a fine paid to you for them wasting your time, reality is you won't even get a stamp out of them.