Unreasonable £50 fine for parking in centre! Cowboys?

Nei_2

Hi People,

Wow, this site has definitely inspired me, well done you all! Its great to see there are people out there who understand how to get out of these hideous traps private firms put out to catch innocent abiding individuals!

I recently visited our local shopping centre, which houses banks and shop etc. Now I had 2 appointments with my banks and did some shopping. Now 4 hours flew by, I understand this seems a lot but when waiting in the banks on a busy day and the long queues, I ended up driving out 15 minutes over the limit.

Now, this parking fine is by a private company who enforce this rule as they wanted to prevent people who would usually park here and not visit the centre (they say).

I contacted them and stated I have proof (bank statements printed out) which indicate I was at the centre, but no one seems to listen.

How should I go about this without ending up paying the extra £25 if not paid soon?

Thanks in advance!

tripled

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1363571

Second one down (PPC).

esmerobbo

Read the thread linked to above, then ignore them and save the £50 and the £25!

taffy056

They are a private parking company, so their invoice (not fine) is not enforceable! They won't go anywhere near a court, they would have to explain their loss of £50 for 15 minutes in a free car park, £3.33 a minute! It's just not going to happen at all.

AlexisV

Ignore the parking company clowns, but let the owners of the shopping centre know and tell them your thoughts in no uncertain terms.

UKCPS got thrown off a site run by Savills and sh*t themselves recently when the landowner was dragged in in another case recently.

Nei_2

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your replies.

I have tried to post the scans of the letter received, but it does not allow me as I haven't got many post etc - does anyone know a way around this

Sure, however my worry is if I ignore it, they will just harass me to take extra money?

I have done some extra research and have noted people have ended up paying and the parking company released a rule recently, if you can provide a receipt to prove you were at the shopping centre, then provide it and we will cancel the fine. I have been prepared to show my bank statement printouts (which show the date and time etc) which they are just ignoring?!

I was even prepared for them to ask for CCTV footage to assure I was at the centre - which again ignored

Look forward to hearing from you all - appreciate it duly.

esmerobbo

Nei wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Thank you for all your replies.

I have tried to post the scans of the letter received, but it does not allow me as I haven't got many post etc - does anyone know a way around this

Sure, however my worry is if I ignore it, they will just harass me to take extra money?

I have done some extra research and have noted people have ended up paying and the parking company released a rule recently, if you can provide a receipt to prove you were at the shopping centre, then provide it and we will cancel the fine. I have been prepared to show my bank statement printouts (which show the date and time etc) which they are just ignoring?!

I was even prepared for them to ask for CCTV footage to assure I was at the centre - which again ignored

Look forward to hearing from you all - appreciate it duly.

They wont accept anything or allow any appeal, the reason they ask for these things is two fold to get your details and to save their DVLA fee for obtaining your details.
They can threaten to add £1,000,000 to the charge it wont make it any more relevant. Stop taking them seriously and simply ignore them!

Nei_2

Thanks

However, on the letter it also states:

Having checked your details with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) you were the registered owner/keeper at time of parking. In accordance with the Terms and Conditions clearly and prominently displayed and agreed to when your vehicle parked on our clients property the payment of £75 is required within 28 days from this notice.

So surely they have already obtained details from DVLA?

Sorry, I am not trying to criticise someone - just asking some questions to prepare me if they do try to harass me etc - hope you understand

AltheHibby

Hi Nei,
You were the registered keeper, so what? Only the driver can make a contract and even then any claim can only be for the actual amount lost, not £75. Best thing to do is give the letters to your hamster for bedding. At least that way the paper won't be wasted!

AlexisV

You're taking it all far too seriously. There is no 'appeals process', there is no 'fine'. They just churn out computer generated junk mail and hope a certain percentage of people will fall for it all and think their speculative invoice is legally enforceable. It's a con trick.

societys_child

Nei wrote: »

Thanks

However, on the letter it also states:

It states petty much the same as all the other scam invoices

So surely they have already obtained details from DVLA?

Is this a problem for you? it cost 'em £2.50. It doesnt somehow magically make the invoice more official

Sorry, I am not trying to criticise someone - just asking some questions to prepare me if they do try to harass me etc - hope you understand

So what's the question . . . ?

You're making the mistake of believing your case is somehow different to all the others - it's not - just ignore them.