Parking notice at work...Please help!

em_z

I was an hour late back to my car when leaving work today. I work at a University in the North West and we have to pay to park and also display a permit. I overstayed by 55 mins and recieved a 'Civil Parking Notice' from 'Car Parking Partnership'.

The advice is to ignore this notice, however, I was in the wrong and overstayed. I wouldn't mind paying the charge if the rate wasn't so extortionate (£35 if payed in 2 weeks or £70).

My questions are:
how likely are they to persue the issue? (i.e. will I get follow up letters? if so how many?)
how likely is it that they'll take me to court? (it says on the back of the ticket that they'll sue)
will this affect my employment in any way? (the signs in the car park state that I am entering into a contrsct with the university rather than the parking company)

I know I overstayed, but this was an accident, and the charge appears very unreasonable to me (it's only £2.50 to park for the day).

I would really appreciate some advice as I don't want to line the pockets of these companies, but am worried about not paying! Many thanks.

BASFORDLAD

You having nothing to fear from this outfit

Dont pay them and ignore them, no it wont affect your employment.

SodG24

They can only take you to court ( which is highly unlikely ) for their losses. Let's give the PPC / Uni the benefit of the doubt and say a day is 8 hours. That means it's just over 31p an hour. So you owe them 31p.

You could offer to pay that in full and final settlement but in reality you'd be much better off ignoring them.

andy13

What does your employer say about not paying the PPC?
Can the UNI revoke your parking permit?

Stephen_Leak

We are seeing more cases of university parking.

Why were you in the wrong for working late? Does the university have to get the PPC's permission for people to work late?

em_z

Just read up on the University's T&Cs, and it does say that my parking permit will be revoked until payment to the private company is made Didn't know the private company and the Uni shared info.

It also says that the car park will be patrolled on behalf of the University by specialist car park operators - so not Uni security staff themselves.

I guess I'll have to pay it in order to keep my parking permit, I'm just annoyed at the unreasonable cost!

timbo58

So what if they revoke your parking permit?
It just means you'll get a 'speculative invoice' every time you park -no more enforceable than a pigeon charging you for shi**ing on your car roof.

bondy_lad

you really cannot be serious, i think i will pay it???? its a SCAM,no way will they revoke your permit if you wise them up about these cowboys,keep your money.

The_Slithy_Tove

em_z wrote: »

I guess I'll have to pay it in order to keep my parking permit, I'm just annoyed at the unreasonable cost!

Before you do anything so rash, do take it up with the Student Union. They may need a bit of "education" to understand about these charges, and their dubious legality. There must be someone in the law department who could rip the whole thing to shreds.

EDIT: Ah, you work at the Uni, so not a student (so SU approach no good)? Still, if you have contacts in the law dept...

andy13

Have you appealed to the UNI about the ticket? They may well cancel the invoice.

em_z

Thanks for all the useful replies so far.

Work told me that all queries and appeals have to go directly via the parking companies. I'm not too worried about the empty threats but it's the permit issue that's bothering me.

If the uni do revoke it, then it costs a fortune to park. I have a key card that lets me in, so couldn't just keep parking there regardless.