CPN for ticket that had blown onto the seat

BornWorrier

Hi, I have received a Parking Charge Notice from Vinci Park Services for failing to Display a ticket. I had purchased a ticket at 10.40 AM & paid £5.00 for 24 hours. I placed the ticket on the dashboard (the ticket had no sticky back) & left the car park to go shopping. On returning at approx 3.30 PM I noticed a CPN on the windscreen, it wasn't until I opened it that I realised that the ticket was not displayed. On opening the car door I noticed the ticket was on the drivers seat facing upwards, I can only guess that it had blown there when I closed the door. As I had the ticket I rang the number on the reverse of the notice & was told to appeal by email or letter. I don't want the car park services to think I hadn't paid for my stay, but would my appeal just fall on deaf ears. Can anyone help please? Thanks.

Lone_Ranger_2

I think any apeal would probably be a waste of time but hang on for more info from some of the peeps on here with loads more experience. They will help.

Stephen_Leak

Appealling is a waste of time. It will be rejected. They always are. Why should they allow them? What's in it for them?

The legal stuation is very simple.

1. All the car park owner can legally claim is damages for what they lost as a result of your unspeakable crime of shutting your car door and not checking the ticket. As you paid, that is exactly £0.00.

2. Asking for significantly more makes this a speculative invoice, which is legally unenforceable.

3. Only councils, police and Transport for London can impose legally enforceable fines or penalties. Private companies can't.

Ignore the any letters from the PPC, and then the ones from their debt collector and solicitor aliases. However, I warn you now that they will threaten you with all kinds of legal and financial unpleasantness.

But, eventually, they will realise that the're throwing good money after bad.

At least, with the ticket being on the seat, the collector probably didn't rock your car to make it fall off of the dashboard. They have been caught doing this, and with disabled badges. That sums up the kind of people they are.

give_them_FA

You are absolutely correct. Your appeal will fall on deaf ears and they will not be turning their hearing aid on.

This isn't about car park management, it's about scamming money off people, and allowing appeals loses them money.

So the "appeal" system is a total sham, don't waste your time with it.

Now you certainly paid, so you owe then ZERO. You say the ticket was face up on the driver's seat, so it was clearly visible, they chose not to see it so that they could try and charge you.

If you regard the whole operation as a money-grubbing scam you will have a clearer idea of how to deal with it.

What they have given you is a FAKE ticket that has no justification and is totally unenforceable by law. They will try to tell you different, but lying is their stock-in-trade, as I think you are gathering.

So you can either:

1. Photocopy the ticket, and send them the copy with a letter saying you owe nothing, and will treat as illegal harassment any demands for payment of monies not due; Do NOT say it is an appeal, just say their request for payment is denied; and send it to them in an envelope with no stamp.

2. Or, if you are not that bold (though boldness works, believe me) keep the ticket safe, then just ignore each and every piece of toilet paper you will receive from them and assorted cronies.

Remember bottom line: You owe them nothing and they have no right to "fine" you or claim anything from you.

They WILL go away because ultimately, there is nothing else they can do.

vax2002

Just save the ticket in your safe and go about your normal bussines, they can not effect your credit rating and all threats they make are usually empty and if and very unlikely if they do attempt to sue, take your ticket along to the court and dont enter any correspondence as to whether it was displayed or not.

peter_the_piper

Do check that Vinci are not subcontracting for the council, they do sometimes I think.

give_them_FA

Worth checking, though if the OP has correctly quoted it is a private ticket.

Who did it say you had to pay the money to, Bornworrier?

BornWorrier

Thank you for all your replies, they are a great help.

They are asking for payment to Vinci Park Services (UK) Ltd by cheque or card.

give_them_FA

OK, it isn't council, so our advice above applies. What way do you want to handle it? Hit back or ignore?

BornWorrier

I think I will send them a copy of my ticket - then they can see I parked with a valid ticket - with 19 hrs outstanding!!! & then its up to them.

Stephen_Leak

BornWorrier wrote: »

I think I will send them a copy of my ticket - then they can see I parked with a valid ticket - with 19 hrs outstanding!!! & then its up to them.

OK. I wish you luck.

For the record, I fortell that you will receive their usual standard appeal rejection letter.