£70 Parking Fine in non P&D Car Park

peter_the_piper

Netpots, I don't doubt you are right, the leech was either on a bonus scheme or on piecework and gets a percentage. I am quite sure a large number of people opt for a quiet life and just pay up, this is what they rely on.

oldone_2

netpots wrote: »

I have followed this and other forums concerning Private Parking Companies and situations where people are not paying 'fines' for non payment of parking charge, showing permit, over staying etc. My situation is slightly different. I parked in a shoppers car park, free for two hours for shoppers. When I returned after 1 hour I had a 'ticket' affixed to my car from a Private Parking Company. No where on the 'ticket' did it state why it had been issued, just that I was parked in the car park, as if I did not know that fact. I wrote to the PPC, I know I shoudn't have, and my MP, who also wrote to the PPC, asking why it had been issued and photos showing their 'evidence'. Their reply - 'being dealt with by our appeals department' plus no photos or evidence sent to me or the MP. Seven months later - appeal refused, pay up.
My gripe - I was parked correctly, did not over stay, shopped at shops but given a 'ticket'. I really believe the 'ticket' was issued by the 'attendant' hoping I would just pay up and the PPC have not bothered to find out why it was issued. So you see my dilema, I was parked correctly. I am not fighting this because I disagree with the rights or wrongs of PPC, but because I have done nothing wrong.

The next step is to ignore everything from the PPC. You have done nothing wrong, so should not spend anymore time on this.

netpots

Thanks oldone but I am really annoyed at the thought of this PPC getting unsuspecting motorists to pay if they are in my situation. The motorists may question themselves wether they have overstayed etc. or once they get letters from the PPC just payup out of fear.
Could I not contact Trading Standards about this?

Morglin

Not really - so many people now know that these tickets are not worth the paper they are written on, that I wouldn't think TS would be interested.

The law says that the ticket is an 'invitation' to pay - they can chance their arm but there's no need for anyone to accept the invitation!

The only enforceable parking charges (unless you've been clamped or towed away, in which case you have no options!) are council or police ones.

Lin

Wig

Morglin wrote: »

The only enforceable parking charges (unless you've been clamped or towed away, in which case you have no options!) are council or police ones.

Lin

I disagree, other enforceable conditions would be a sign clearly visible, saying
"Anyone wishing to park here must pay a charge of £xx, please pay by phoning this number. Non payment will be persued with increased costs added"

This sort of signage has already been taken to court and found to be acceptable, the charge and the costs claimed were upheld.

For supermarkets etc who want to encourage customers with free parking the sign can be changed to "A charge of £xx will be applied after the 2 hour free period has finished"

Of course the contract is only going to be with the driver.

A possible challenge would be to ask the council if Joe Bloggs has got planning permission to use his premises as a business, and to use it as a fee paying car park. Though I am unsure if this would have any impact on the contract between car park and driver.

gliderguider

Interesting thread! I got issued with a penalty notice for "incorrect parking" in a local retail park "managed" by Euro Car Parks. I ignored it. I got an "Enforcement" notice today. Guess I'll ignore that as well!;)

On a slightly different note I was out last night for a very rare night out with my girlfriend for a meal. I parked in a P&D street where the charges stop at 6pm. Of course all the bays were occupied so I just lined up with a bunch of other cars on a double yellow thinking "there wont be any parking attendants around at this time of night" - it was after 8 pm. I have to say that the street is not a residential one and the placement of the double yellow is quite odd but you guessed it, when I got back to the car there was a ticket attached! A fair cop - my own fault etc etc. However when I checked the ticket it was for a different car - different make/reg/colour etc. presumably the attendant was knackered and got the tickets muddled up

Question is, is this ticket now enforceable? As I don't have the correct ticket I cant actually pay it as the reference number will be wrong. Naturally I am not going to phone the council and say "sorry I parked on a double yellow but got the wrong ticket, would you be so kind as to send me the correct one so I can pay it"

Comments?

dacouch

With regard to the Euro Car parks ticket you can ignore it as it is not enforceable, have a read of the advice about them and other private car park tickets here http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=163

Enfieldian

No, of course the ticket is not enforceable. It is not for your vehicle!

Wait to see if you receive an NTO and then if you do you can appeal that it was not served correctly which should result in a reduction in the fine at least.

Sounds like some p1sshead might have been having a laugh with a ticket he found or took off another car.

peter_the_piper

Post this please on the parking section and you will get more people looking at it and you will be more likely to get a correct answer.

cheekiboo

Just would like to add that I just recieved my £70 parking fine for parking in a retail car park that has always been free.
To those that have been saying that people missuse this and should pay up, our parking is for the supermarket and retail mall, I went up the mall first then to the supermarket and then home, I have 3 young children, you explain to me how I am meant to shop with a time limit when I have to goto my car and move it elsewhere just to have to walk back to the shops to continue with my shopping, totally unrealistic and if you are going to a shop in the area you are parked there is nothing wrong with that.
They should try fining folk that park in parent and child spaces that have no kids.
End of the day these fines are rediculous and should not be allowed by the government, our local council offices are also on this same spot and for them to allow this is mental. The signs are small and not clear to read, so therefore I am taking pictures and not paying my fine! I just found this forum and I am in Scotland it seems the rules maybe different but I will not pay a company in England for parking in Scotland. Something has to be done about these companies and I will investigate who owns the land!