Broken pay and display machines

Quentin

Yes. The annoying issue is that if you cannot buy a ticket because the machine is bust it doesn't stop them giving you one.

dan223

Yes, but there has yet to be a day that no machines have been working, so that would be there argument!

Quentin

If they were all bust, you'd still get a ticket!

dan223

It was only a matter of time, but today was the day that all machine in the car park were broken.

I phoned the council they said they are aware and that the car park won't be enforced today.

Amazingly when I got back to the car yesterday it seems that two machines have been replaced, but they are covered up, when on the phone they said that some been installed, but need engineers to come and set the up. So hopefully the mess will be sorted soon!

SevenOfNine

In our area we are supposed to buy a ticket from the closest machine only. If it is out of order there is a telephone number on EVERY machine to call and leave your car reg and the machine's number - then you can park there free (your call is logged). You are advised to try an assortment of coins - and DO NOT lie.

Any ticket issued to you would be cancelled. eg if the machine was fixed after you'd parked, making it look like you merely forgot to P&D.

If a machine 'eats' any of your money and does not register it in parking time on your P&D ticket, again, you must ring the number and report it. Machines are audited when emptied - if 'over' in relation to ticket sales you'll get your refund.

I still think they are one armed bandits though!

dan223

That seems a logical way to handle the problem, unfortunately my council doesn't work that way

londonTiger

a bit silly - lets be realistic if a carpark has 4-5 different pay and display machiens and you can use any one of them to buy your ticket. You can't walk away without paying just cos one was faulty. You're just tyring your luck - I certainly wouldn't just leave my car and walk off in that situation.

Maybe you saw a broken p&d and though whooppeeee! lucky day! I've got a [sort of] viable reason to avoid paying so I won't. Without bothering to check the other nearby p&d.

But dont cry when you get a ticket and the company sticks by it's guns and says you have to pay the fine.

But if all the machines in a car park are faulty then and only then can you park for free. I would take pictures of the machiens too in case you get a ticket so you have evidence to appeal with if yo do get a ticket - chances are a broken p&d will be logged and you wont need evidence. But I'd rather be safe than be sorry.

Quentin

londonTiger wrote: »

..... if all the machines in a car park are faulty then and only then can you park for free.......

Not in Manchester:

If a pay and display machine is not working either park elsewhere or use another pay and display machine within the same zone

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/200072/parking/328/restrictions/11

mttylad

If there was only 1 machine then you would have to walk to find it.

SevenOfNine

londonTiger wrote: »

a bit silly - lets be realistic if a carpark has 4-5 different pay and display machiens and you can use any one of them to buy your ticket. You can't walk away without paying just cos one was faulty. You're just tyring your luck - I certainly wouldn't just leave my car and walk off in that situation.

Maybe you saw a broken p&d and though whooppeeee! lucky day! I've got a [sort of] viable reason to avoid paying so I won't. Without bothering to check the other nearby p&d.

But dont cry when you get a ticket and the company sticks by it's guns and says you have to pay the fine.

But if all the machines in a car park are faulty then and only then can you park for free. I would take pictures of the machiens too in case you get a ticket so you have evidence to appeal with if yo do get a ticket - chances are a broken p&d will be logged and you wont need evidence. But I'd rather be safe than be sorry.

I did start by saying "in our area". And the reason I confidently put my comments was because I worked in Traffic & Transportation and dealt with our parking contractor, the recipients of tickets (& subsequent summonses), ticket appeals (though the rules on that have changed here now), etc.

No need to 'try my luck' at a faulty maching - I worked in the department of the Council who implimented 'the rules' (& the law), and ensured they were enforced correctly. Even did audits by parking illegally to check the contractors were enforcing in accordance with our regulations.

How I've said it is HERE, it is. I was merely telling OP that, though perhaps I could have actually written what I thought was obvious, "check the Council regulations in his area".