Vehicle Control Services Ticket

DisgruntledofUK

Hi

New to this, so would appreciate some advice.
Went to the cinema and when we got there, there was a large event going on in a nearby venue (not part of the cinema complex). Clearly a lot of people attending the event had parked in the cinema car park and walked to the event as the car park was crammed (on an evening when you wouldn't expect it to be). The car park was free for cinema users.

There were no spaces, and lots of people parked on the grass verges around the car park so we did too and went in to the cinema. After the film, we came out and found all the cars which had been parked on verges/out of bays ticketed. £80 fine (increases to £120 after 7 days).

Went to the on site security office who said we were in breach of the rules hence parking ticket issued and advised us to appeal to VCS in writing. Told us the car park "was often busy" - implication that it had nothing to do with the event.

So far have ignored (only ticketed yesterday). I feel we have fair grounds to appeal this extortionate charge notice. Should we?

Driver8

DisgruntledofUK wrote: »

Hi

New to this, so would appreciate some advice.
Went to the cinema and when we got there, there was a large event going on in a nearby venue (not part of the cinema complex). Clearly a lot of people attending the event had parked in the cinema car park and walked to the event as the car park was crammed (on an evening when you wouldn't expect it to be). The car park was free for cinema users.

There were no spaces, and lots of people parked on the grass verges around the car park so we did too and went in to the cinema. After the film, we came out and found all the cars which had been parked on verges/out of bays ticketed. £80 fine (increases to £120 after 7 days).

Went to the on site security office who said we were in breach of the rules hence parking ticket issued and advised us to appeal to VCS in writing. Told us the car park "was often busy" - implication that it had nothing to do with the event.

So far have ignored (only ticketed yesterday). I feel we have fair grounds to appeal this extortionate charge notice. Should we?

Just one word; IGNORE !

That's it, completely ignore it.

Just read the threads on here and you will see what scams are going on up and down the country.

Kite2010

The landowner has suffered nil damages, hence the landowner can't sue for a penny.

Ignore ignore ignore

Coupon-mad

I know you really want to state your case but it's pointless appealing when there is no appeals process!

Oh, I know the so-called 'ticket' says there is an address to 'appeal' to, but that's just a sham, designed to make the fake PCN seem like a real one and in order for them to gather info about you for free (such as who was driving, an address, possibly a phone number to harass you...).

So forget about the rights and wrongs of who parked where, it doesn't matter! Read up about these fake tickets. Here's a link to the whole board, at the very least read the sticky threads by Crabman:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

The stickies include pics of the letters they will get their pet debt collector to send to the registered keeper. Ignore them. Another sticky thread shows you info about the legality/unenforceability of private parking charges and a clip of Watchdog's legal advice on what to do with a fake PCN...:D

HTH, tell your friends, spread the word about this generic scam.

It's like a protection racket taking place in most retail car parks in the UK and too many people still believe the tickets are real. They are not and ignoring does not affect your credit rating as there's no debt, no credit agreement, no fine at all.

esmerobbo

Do as advised and ignore it! Appealing just encourages them!

I would love to hear how they could justify that as a breach of contract. I am sure the sign would say the usual! B]"By parking in this car park you are accepting this contract"[/B bet it didn't mention the grass verge!!:p