Parking Fine Westminster

Newjob

Westminster operates parking by mobile phone and I used this to park. Unfortunately I put in the wrong car registration - I have two cars registered on the system. I did pay for parking but for the wrong car. I received a ticket and Westminster have told me that the fine has to be paid even though they accept it was an error and that the parking was paid.
Is there any point in making a challenge.

Coupon-mad

Newjob wrote: »

Westminster operates parking by mobile phone and I used this to park. Unfortunately I put in the wrong car registration - I have two cars registered on the system. I did pay for parking but for the wrong car. I received a ticket and Westminster have told me that the fine has to be paid even though they accept it was an error and that the parking was paid.
Is there any point in making a challenge.

There is always a point in challenging a Council parking ticket IMHO. Having been a regular on pepipoo for 2 years (more as a reader than an adviser but I try) I would appeal ANY Council parking ticket. Even if I was bang to rights - Westminster are a classic example of a Council who make errors with their paperwork (from PCNs to rejection letters) all of which can give you an appeal for the adjudicator. Most adjudications find in the motorist's favour.

Post about your case on pepipoo, showing them a picture of the front & back of the PCN (all wording, all dates, location etc but just blank out your car reg and the PCN number/barcode).

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

If you can, also show them a pic of the signs & lines at the place where you parked. If you cannot return to get pics then a GoogleStreetView link to the spot would be helpful - but not wholly reliable as it could have changed.

Have they put in writing that they 'accept that the parking was paid'? If so then that would be a point for the adjudicator, as Penalty Charges are supposed to be levied in a P&D car park only where there's an attempt to evade payment, or where there's another contravention. The Chief Adjudicator has made it clear that Councils need to act with common sense and not just pursue PCNs for the money(!):

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8052777/Parking-tribunal-chief-tells-councils-to-show-common-sense.html

I think I have seen an appeal allowed by an adjudicator in a case like yours but I also think that the poster found other points to appeal on as well, with pepipoo's expert help. Most importantly, don't be put off that they refused your first informal appeal, that almost always happens and means diddly squat.