Merseyrail Penalty Parking Ticket - pay or not?

BlondeLocks

I had a friend who had a parking ticket 1 year ago from the same Merseyfail station at Bache (Chester), for the same reasons - but never paid and was never pursued. I was parked outside a bay.

For the Byelaw boffins amongst you. I cannot obviously upload a link but the ticket says the following:
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Merseyrail Penalty parking Ticket
date of offence/vehicle reg/make/model/station/time etc
................
Reason for issue:
1)parked outside a bay
2) Obstruction (my ticket was timed at 19:15pm and i got back to the car 19:45 and there was 2 cars in the carpark - i was hardly an obstruction).
.........................
important notice - unless the amount owing is paid in full by 19/12/12 failure to pay by the above date may result in the vehicle keepers details being req from dvla and could result in legal proceedings being brought against you. If you wish to dispute your liability to pay a parking penalty, a statement giving an explanation must be made in writing merseyrail electics etc etc.
..............
photographic evidenced has been produced with this penalty notice.
................
PENALTY FOR NON PAYMENT:
Byelaw 14. ...."quotes byelaw" (max pen £1000)
.....................
what to do now (reverse of ticket)
................
forward payment of £60 (or £30 if in 14 days) to Merseyrail electrics.

.................

Was my friend just lucky, or is there a chance i can skip paying the ticket too?. I was clearly outside of a bay, but id rather not pay if i can get away with it. Im already miffed at Miseryrails incompetence at train reliability - lining their pockets i wholeheartedly begrudge doing!

thanks all

Coupon-mad

I would say that I have NOT heard of Merseyrail taking these to Magistrates Court but if they start then they have to bring the case within 6 months.

So if your friend's case is anything to go by, you will not need to pay.

However, if it was a real Penalty Notice from Merseyrail themselves, then there is a danger they could try to follow this up. Northern Rail have enforced a few that we have seen on pepipoo forums, so it's not beyond the realms of possibility. I think it would be worth posting a new topic here for more advice:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=60


HTH, I think I would ignore it in your shoes but it depends on your attitude to risk!

esmerobbo

I haven't heard of Merseyrail taking a parking ticket to court but they are keen on taking others to Mags court, even a few feet on seat cases!

Its up to you but the choice is £30 and relax or a possible summons to court.