Paid the private parking ticket - is it too late to claim the money back?

xmaspixie_2

I'm cross with myself as it looks like what I thought was a legitimate parking ticket wasn't.

The story - I received a parking notice through the post to say I'd stayed too long in a free private car park attached to my local Co-Op store. They said they had photographic evidence. I called the Co-Op store and they had a 'script' to run through. This included something along the lines that there had been warning notices that the parking would change during the month of April with this becoming official in May. I didn't park there during April and can't remember seeing any obvious signs when I did park there in May. The letter I received from the parking company was threatening and basically I paid it as I didn't want to be landed with a higher fine by not paying. It sounds like I may have shot myself in the foot by paying but is there any chance that I can appeal or get my money back?

Also how come if these companies aren't legit, can they access my name and address from my reg plate?

HappyMJ

No chance. Can you cancel the cheque?

Anyone can pay the DVLA a couple of pounds to get the info from the DVLA for any reasonable purpose.

taffy056

The companies are legit - barely! But you can kiss goodbye to your money unless you try to sue them in the small claims, I wouldn't suggest that in your case I think. Just learn from it and never pay a private parking company again, their invoices are not enforceable in the normal sense unless they take you to court and win, that happens as often as a blue moon.

societys_child

The DVLA sell them your details (and make £millions per year doing it)

Appeals to PPCs are a waste of time. Their only income is made by sending "invoices" to motorists. You've more chance of winning this weeks lotto jackpot than getting a refund I'm afraid. Which PPC was it?

LincolnshireYokel

xmaspixie wrote: »

I'm cross with myself as it looks like what I thought was a legitimate parking ticket wasn't.

The story - I received a parking notice through the post to say I'd stayed too long in a free private car park attached to my local Co-Op store. They said they had photographic evidence. I called the Co-Op store and they had a 'script' to run through. This included something along the lines that there had been warning notices that the parking would change during the month of April with this becoming official in May. I didn't park there during April and can't remember seeing any obvious signs when I did park there in May. The letter I received from the parking company was threatening and basically I paid it as I didn't want to be landed with a higher fine by not paying. It sounds like I may have shot myself in the foot by paying but is there any chance that I can appeal or get my money back?

Also how come if these companies aren't legit, can they access my name and address from my reg plate?

Oh they are legitimate companies, but what they do is a type a Misrepresentation of Authority scam. They can do it because they con and misrepresent there legal ability to make you pay an invoice that is actually entirely unenforceable in law, and in fact they just lost a critical court case, and a Tax Tribunal ruling, that together has totally pulled the wheels of the PPC gravy train. It no different to me now sending you an invoice for £90 for typing this email to you.

The DVLC is complicit in this scam, because it will sell your private detailsto this scum for £2.50 a go, last year the DVLC made £3m from this, and in the last five years the DVLC has netted in a cool £22m from giving your information to these people, many of which are convicted thugs.

You MIGHT be able to get your money back, but you would have to take them to the Small Claims Court, and PPC's are notorious for ignoring court orders and then phoenixing when they court orders build up, thus neatly side stepping there legal obligations. So you have to sue the Co-op as well, if they own the land (which they probably do, the Co-Op is big on owning land), because they are vicariously liable for the actions of there agents, the parking company. The UTT ruling also means the PPC has no authority to try and recover money from you as they arent the landowner

taffy056

DVLC pmsl you are showing your age now Yokel :rotfl:

Coupon-mad

xmaspixie wrote: »

I'm cross with myself as it looks like what I thought was a legitimate parking ticket wasn't.

The story - I received a parking notice through the post to say I'd stayed too long in a free private car park attached to my local Co-Op store. They said they had photographic evidence. I called the Co-Op store and they had a 'script' to run through. This included something along the lines that there had been warning notices that the parking would change during the month of April with this becoming official in May. I didn't park there during April and can't remember seeing any obvious signs when I did park there in May. The letter I received from the parking company was threatening and basically I paid it as I didn't want to be landed with a higher fine by not paying. It sounds like I may have shot myself in the foot by paying but is there any chance that I can appeal or get my money back?

Also how come if these companies aren't legit, can they access my name and address from my reg plate?

They are real companies who issue a piece of paper that just stays within the law as it does not actually say the word penalty. They make it look like a real PCN and people like you fall for it every day. Just don't fall for it again.

The only thing you could do is complain in writing to the Co-op store manager for allowing a protection racket to fleece customers in the car park, and for allowing his/her staff to be complicit in the scam by reading out a prepared piece from the parking firm when you telephoned. Attach a copy of the threatening letter you got and ask if this is how they want their customers treated? Point out that many people have good reason to take longer to shop (such as disabled people who are allowed a 'reasonable adjustment', by law).

Tell the Manager that no private firm can issue a fine or penalty but the piece of paper you got impersonated one, and you were misled when you phoned up as well by a staff member who clearly thought it was a real fine. Say that they have let down the Co-op's reputation as a 'Caring, Sharing' retailer and how dare they feel they can issue fake fines to customers?

Tell the Co-op that the only thing that would now retain your custom in future would be if they refunded the offending fake ticket immediately as a goodwill gesture. If not then they won't see you or your family in store again. You will be telling people about this fake ticket.

And the reason the DVLA get involved? Money of course:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8907528/DVLA-wants-to-cash-in-on-private-parking-tickets.html

HTH

Mr_Thrifty

I would be glad you paid it because now you don't have to worry about it any more

But other people on here are more assertive and stick up for their rights!

But you need a lot of guts for that I think

bondy_lad

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

I would be glad you paid it because now you don't have to worry about it any more

But other people on here are more assertive and stick up for their rights!

But you need a lot of guts for that I think

what guts do you need to stand firm against a SCAM??

give_them_FA

Bit of a spineless answer Mr. Thrifty! The OP seems more worried about losing their money.

If you have the bottle to do it (and it doesn't take much, lol) then sue the Co-op and the parking company since the "invoice" was never a valid one. My guess is that the Co-op will pay it so they don't have to worry about it any more....

AlexisV

You'd have to sue the ticketers and landowner in county court ultimately.

By the sounds of it, I'd just get on with your life and try to forget that you've just fallen for a scam.