PCN received today for 3 minutes parking

andy2004

Today I parked on the side of the road, went to the cash machine to get some money out for my mum, got back as the warden was putting the ticket on my car, its seems that sometime in the last 3weeks they have changed the sign on the pole, from free parking up to 30min or 1hr if disabled to disable only parking.
After swearing at the warden telling him this, i decided to go directly to the council and they inform me that this Sign has not been changed in the last 3 weeks its been the same since they did the work on the road.
However i distinctly remember parking there 3-4 weeks ago in exactly the same spot and after getting out i read the sign and it clearly said free parking upto 30min, or 1hr if disabled, then i went into the shop and came out. Good way for the council to catch people out and get some money into their pockets.

I've been told by the council that if i appeal the 14 day reduction of 50% would be on hold until after they decided if i was correct or wrong aka if it takes them a month and then decide i'm in the wrong and that i have to pay, that i have from that date 14 days to pay the minimum payment, £35 if i leave it after that it goes to £70. I have appeal stating FACTs about the signs, even though the council are saying that the signs have not been changed at all in the part 3-4weeks. infact 2 out of the 4 signs in the road have been changed.

the PCN was issued in Sombourne Drive in Leigh Park outside of the charity shop Help the aged. I have no idea what the contravention code is just says 40, also says on the ticket further information about Civil Parking enforcement (including PCNs) is available online at www.patrol-uk.info which is where i'm going next.

I've put in my appeal so now just need the letter from them.

been to the site and read this

a £70 PCN costs:£35 - if paid before the period of 14 days beginning with the date of service. For PCNs issued through the post this period is 21 days. (The council may extend this period if they are considering you challenge)
£70 - If paid within the 28 time limit.
£105 - if not paid within the 28 days
£112 - If not paid within a further 14 days
£112 plus bailiffs costs - If £112 is not paid.

so i phoned the number up on the ticket and paid, now how do i get my money back.

Trebor16

That doesn't look like a council issued PCN at all, and it seems by paying up you have been totally scammed. Your chances of getting your money back are two hopes........................no hope and Bob Hope is dead.

If it is a council PCN then by paying you have little chance of a refund.

IanD

Code 40 is "Parked in a designated disabled person's parking bay without clearly displaying a valid disabled person's parking badge".

If you've paid and then appeal, it is possible to get a refund if the appeal is upheld.

However, personally, I wouldn't expect "I didn't notice the signs had changed" to be accepted as valid grounds for appeal regardless of whether the signs had been changed recently or not.

If you got a ticket after just 3 minutes, it sounds like the enforcement officers were lurking and looking to pounce on people such as yourself who were unaware of the changes in restriction. Nice little earner for the council and makes the enforcement company look good for when their contract comes up for renewal.

peter_the_piper

As Trebor says, as its paid its too late anyway

Text deleted, my error (I blame the flu)

esmerobbo

Is this not a council ticket? http://www.patrol-uk.info/site/index.php Only deal with council PCN's

Coupon-mad

andy2004 wrote: »

Today I parked on the side of the road, went to the cash machine to get some money out for my mum, got back as the warden was putting the ticket on my car, its seems that sometime in the last 3weeks they have changed the sign on the pole, from free parking up to 30min or 1hr if disabled to disable only parking.
After swearing at the warden telling him this, i decided to go directly to the council and they inform me that this Sign has not been changed in the last 3 weeks its been the same since they did the work on the road.
However i distinctly remember parking there 3-4 weeks ago in exactly the same spot and after getting out i read the sign and it clearly said free parking upto 30min, or 1hr if disabled, then i went into the shop and came out. Good way for the council to catch people out and get some money into their pockets.

I've been told by the council that if i appeal the 14 day reduction of 50% would be on hold until after they decided if i was correct or wrong aka if it takes them a month and then decide i'm in the wrong and that i have to pay, that i have from that date 14 days to pay the minimum payment, £35 if i leave it after that it goes to £70. I have appeal stating FACTs about the signs, even though the council are saying that the signs have not been changed at all in the part 3-4weeks. infact 2 out of the 4 signs in the road have been changed.

the PCN was issued in Sombourne Drive in Leigh Park outside of the charity shop Help the aged. I have no idea what the contravention code is just says 40, also says on the ticket further information about Civil Parking enforcement (including PCNs) is available online at www.patrol-uk.info which is where i'm going next.

I've put in my appeal so now just need the letter from them.

been to the site and read this ...
so i phoned the number up on the ticket and paid, now how do i get my money back.

You could put in a FOI request online to ask when the signs were changed at that place. Be specific about the very place and the signs you are asking about.

Or ring & ask for the 'signs & lines' Dept of Highways/Traffic, so you get through to the actual people who change the lines & signs. Do not believe the version given to you by the Parking Ticket appeals Dept as it's not they who change the signs. Once you get through to a person who works for the correct Dept then ask them - or get an email address for the correct person who will tell you exactly when this work was on their schedule.

If you then find the Parking Dept was wrong, you could complain and then escalate that complaint within the Council - if ned be going to the Local Authorites' Ombudsman if you feel they have acted vexatiously which has left you out of pocket (as you 'would' have appealed the PCN and potentially 'could' have won if you had been able to show procedural impropriety).

Oh, and next time DON'T rush to pay a PCN. That's what pepipoo forum is there for:

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

If you ever get a Council PCN again then appeal and do not pay at the same time - check with pepipoo to see if you have a case (and you say you would have been re-offered the discount anyway so why rush to pay?). If you ever get a private 'Parking Charge Notice' IGNORE it of course = fake PCN trash.

andy2004

esmerobbo wrote: »

Is this not a council ticket? http://www.patrol-uk.info/site/index.php Only deal with council PCN's

ok here is a scan of both sides of the PCN

pogofish

andy2004 wrote: »

so i phoned the number up on the ticket and paid, now how do i get my money back.

Oh dear..!

Err, you don't. Paying effectively admits everything and closes the case. Your chances of getting this reopened are next to nil.

NEVER pay prior to appealing a ticket - Almost all councils will extend any "discount period" whilst the appeal is in progress and will inform you of the remaining time when they send the decision. So get proof of postage and keep copies of everything.

vax2002

If you pay the fine you admit to owing the penalty and you agree to submit to the procedure of summary justice.
Which incidental is banned in most civilised countries and also banned by the European human rights (no punishment without crime)

andy2004

Thanks for the info. IF i ever get a ticket next time i'm throwing it straight in the bin. and they can do what they like, not taking this anymore from this RIP OFF country, cant afford to on the JSA money i get, which is £65 a week, yeah i know half went on that damn ticket of £35 yesterday. I'll get it back even if i have to

BoGoF

What a charmer you are