Penalty Charge Notice from Plymouth City Council

beautifulandfit

Can anyone give me some suggestions as to how best to proceed with a recent parking fine I was issued in Plymouth, (South Devon).



Firstly, I found the signage displayed in the area I parked in to be completely ambiguous and completely unclear as I understood that whilst I was in a residential area the signage suggested to me that I could park in this area between the hours of 10 am – 5 pm.



There was a sign literally next to where I parked the car, so I have no excuse that I couldn't read or see the signage. Having been issued with a PCN ticket my misunderstanding of the signage was now very obvious! I assumed that residents would need parking overnight between 5pm & 10 am when not at work and therefore looking to park their vehicles overnight outside there homes. The signage does NOT clearly specify that an offence is taking place if I parked between 10 a.m. & 5p.m. So surely Plymouth City Council should make it clear by stating; ‘NO PARKING’ BETWEEN 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the signage in the areas where the parking offence has taken place so that there is no misunderstanding otherwise as I am new to this area of Plymouth how am I meant to know that I had committed an offence by parking in this area as the signage is frankly indistinct & therefore meaningless. So far my initial appeal has been rejected & the fine has now doubled from £35.00 to £70.00 - ouch! :mad:
One final point is that my work (I am self employment) has literally fallen off a cliff since July this year & I would never have knowingly or willingly risked a fine of this size with my finances under such pressure. I am fit and healthy & could have (& would have) walked from a variety of locations nearby offering free parking to avoid not only the fine but the hassle of appealing against this fine.



All comments & suggestions are most welcome.

Coupon-mad

Always challenge a Council PCN, IMHO, so you doing the right thing but just need more advice about what to say in an appeal to jump the hoops of the next stages in the process.

For informed advice, post about your case on pepipoo forums, start a new thread there including a scan or pic of the front and back of the PCN (just blank out car ID and PCN number). Read the FAQs and sticky threads, register and post when you can on here:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

After informal appeal and Notice of Rejection comes a Notice to Owner. Have you got that yet, it's the owner's chance to send formal reps (get pepipoo's advice).

Then if the Council reject those reps it's time to take it to the adjudicator.

The vast majority of cases posted on pepipoo win. Let us know when you do.

HTH

Neil_B

As above. take it to the recommended site.

(One good member there is from Plymouth I think).