Your Thoughts on Claiming Expenses

kelsaecraig

Hiya, love this site and the forum.

I parked in Edinburgh in October and received a fine on the day. The problem was that I had not parked within the bay markings. This is true. I took some pictures and decided to appeal. The appeal was on the grounds that when I parked there had been other vehicles incorrectly parked resulting in me doing the same (parallel parking). This was rejected. I got a little mad about it and wondered how I had made that mistake. I checked on Google maps and on the street view I saw very clear parking bay markings. I could not remember seeing them on the day.

So, I traveled to Edinburgh to see. Cost me a train ticket and parking at the station. When I got there I took more pictures to show that the markings had weathered and were hard to see. I researched on this website and followed the links to the various regulations covering the council's responsibilities. There are a lot of references to what they needed to do, that they had failed to do.

Once I got the next letter from the council I appealed again, including pictures from Google maps and the state of the markings in November. I then highlighted all the references to their responsibilities and how they had failed to meet the regulations.

I received a letter from the council yesterday saying that the fine was cancelled and my appeal accepted.

Now I good smile and file the documents, but, I am a little mad at them so here are my questions:
1. Can I claim back my expenses in gathering the information for the successful appeal? It is a low amount <£20, but the principle makes me want to stick it to the man.
2. Should I write to a local paper and highlight to others that may be getting fined as a result of the council's failings?
3. Should I ask for a freedom of information request to get the number of fines issued for this contravention in that area and if the fines have increased with the weathering of the markings, make a formal complaint to the council?
4. Smile and shut-up and feel good about sticking to the man as I have?

My wife is for #4

Thanks!
Craig

Trebor16

There is an option 5.

Post your story on www.pepipoo.com, including the exact location of where you parked so that other people can be aware of the bay where you parked and the fact it is not properly marked.

I don't think you will have any luck with claiming expenses so I think the above option and option 4 are probably the best ones.

jimbo24168

A couple of years ago my local council issued tickets to motorists who had parked when the ground was covered in snow but then found themselves outside of the marked bays when the snow thawed. I'm not sure what the outcome of any appeals was.

TrickyWicky

#4

They didn't have to let it go but they have. Just because someone else parked wrongly and didn't leave enough space in that bay doesn't mean you can do the same if your vehicle won't fit into the bay. You should of found another bay instead.

Remember this old saying: "Two wrongs, don't make a right". Sadly in the world of parking people are only too quick tp blame their parking wrong on another motorist. As for expenses, there is no provision for this unless it goes to an adjudication. Only then can expenses be awarded and that is in the very rare circumstances that the adjudicator considers the council to have acted vexatiously.

You did it, do you really honestly think the council have any duty to pay money to you based upon your immorality? - Sheesh, it's people like you who drive up my car insurance premiums with your compensation culture.

BoGoF

My option 5 would be get a life and get over it..... but each to their own