Wrong vehicle reg: Am I obliged to pay?

bishbashdosh

Hi,

First MSE post so please be gentle with me

I found a ticket on my car when I returned late one evening last week. I had bought a ticket, but over the phone rather than using the onsite meter as I didn't have the change. Unfortunately, I was running for the train and then typically, couldn't get a signal until I got to London 25 mins later so there was a delay in paying. In the meantime, their meter man had spotted my mistake and ticketed it. Fair cop, and usually I'd accept that it was my fault and cough up.

The thing is - I've just reread the ticket and it's got the wrong registration number on it. Not just by a character or two, but the whole reg. It does however have the right vehicle make and colour. Blue VW - so not exactly rare.

I'm inclined not to pay it, not least because it's money I can't afford and because I paid for parking that day. There were no other vehicles around by the time I got back to the car and I know it wasn't either of the cars next to me when I arrived in the morning. (I have a quirk which means I can recall phone numbers, vehicle registrations etc pretty much at will). I've checked the Vehicle Enquiry link via the directgov website and that registration doesn't match to VW as a marque so I don't think anyone else is likely to be penalised as a result.

I take it that PPS can't come after me after the event if they've made a mistake? Or have I missed something?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

BBD

ManxRed

Who issued the ticket? Who are PPS?

bishbashdosh

Sorry - PPS are Premier Parking Solutions Ltd. They seem to manage the parking for a hotel near the station. It's usually a couple of quid cheaper than the 'official' station car park. There's a meter, but they also accept payment over the phone.

Thanks
BBD

trisontana

Private parking company. You have paid them what they owe, so they can't come after you for anything else.

The_Slithy_Tove

So not an official station car park, i.e. not covered by Railway Byelaws. You are safe to ignore them on a number of fronts.
1. With the wrong reg on the ticket, they'll never find out who you are, and so there's no point in telling them
2. Their charge is unenforceable anyway - you paid, so they have no losses
3. PPS are no threat whatsoever.

Alias_Omega

They will run that registration through the DVLA at a cost, then send the registered keeper of that vehicle hassle.

If that reg is not yours, your not going to be receiving any junk mail.

bishbashdosh

Alias_Omega wrote: »

They will run that registration through the DVLA at a cost, then send the registered keeper of that vehicle hassle.

Yes, I thought of that and that's why I checked on the Vehicle Enquiry link on directgov. Basically, you give them the vehicle reg and make and can receive limited vehicle information in return. If the make doesn't match the reg, it displays a 'this vehicle can't be found' error message. That's what's happened when I tried to establish if this other reg was for a VW. I haven't gone through all the makes to determine which it actually is

To me, that would indicate that it's not a VW and that DVLA will inform PPS accordingly... or that the owner will, if PPS pursue him/her. I don't want to pay, but I don't want the other owner to be penalised either. Sounds like PPS won't have a case anyway though :j

Many thanks!
BBD

trisontana

Nobody has "to pay" or be penalized. Don't forget this is a private parking ticket which is unenforceable.

taffy056

They will look at the photo they have taken then alter their scam ticket to match yours, a council can't do that but scammers can and do. What you've got is an illegal penalty that a private company can't give, just ignore these jokers

mickaveli2001

Ignore it... they can't fine you, and they sure as hell can't take you to court demanding an amount although if it were me, I'd want to take them to court in an attempt to get money from them due to the "stress" and "emotion" of it all

Coupon-mad

bishbashdosh wrote: »

Yes, I thought of that and that's why I checked on the Vehicle Enquiry link on directgov. Basically, you give them the vehicle reg and make and can receive limited vehicle information in return. If the make doesn't match the reg, it displays a 'this vehicle can't be found' error message. That's what's happened when I tried to establish if this other reg was for a VW. I haven't gone through all the makes to determine which it actually is

To me, that would indicate that it's not a VW and that DVLA will inform PPS accordingly... or that the owner will, if PPS pursue him/her. I don't want to pay, but I don't want the other owner to be penalised either. Sounds like PPS won't have a case anyway though :j

Many thanks!

BBD

You do seem to have over-analysed this. I am worried about your first post where you said ''fair cop, and usually I'd accept that it was my fault and cough up.''

Point being this wasn't a fine = it was a scam fake PCN from a private company.

Private Parking ticket = ignore it (or sometimes we suggest to appeal for a bit of fun and to cost a BPA member a POPLA appeal fee - but NOT in your case as they got the car reg wrong. Don't contact them).

Only ever take seriously a parking ticket from a real authority like Council or Police, or rarely if a Train Operator issues their own penalty notices. This is not one of those, not a real penalty at all so please don't think about paying one ever. If unsure why this is a scam then read any other current thread on this forum except Council ticket cases - the advice about this con is everywhere on this forum.