Help with Parkking Ticket Please!!

Hippygirl

Help - I've just been issued with my first aprking ticket - initially I was amused, because I knew I had returned within 30 mins, and could prove this. I was in a carpark where the boards state 'first 30 mins free'.
However, when I rang, they said because it is a 'pay & display' car park, I should still have got a ticket. i was totally unaware that it is possible to press the button and be issued with a ticket, without first putting any money in. The person I spoke to said that because they state this on the board, I cannot appeal. i pointed out that I had no reason to read beyond the' first 30 mins free', but she was adamant that I should have done.
Has anyone successfully appealed in similar circs, or should I just pay up and learn from my mistake?!
many thanks!

balsingh

I doubt you will get anywhere if you appeal. They will come up with the reason that they need to know how long you have been there (even if less than 30mins). If there is no sticker, a warden is not going to know whether you have been there 30mins or 30 hours, hence the need to display a sticker regardless.

A local car park near me has the same policy too and its quite easy to be caught out.

pingu

i think you should put in writing and see what happens?