Gym Parking Charge Notice

kiko1988

Hi everyone

I have read several threads but I haven't seen one that fits my predicament so I apologise for creating a new thread.

My gym is across the road from an Asda and is council run. There were no parking spaces left in the car park I prefer to use so I parked on the grass where I have done 100 times.

I came back to find a parking charge notice from Smart (the ticket says Smart Parking Ltd and I read the comments about the use of Ltd). £60 or £30 within 2 weeks and says I was parked out of a marked bay.

I asked the workers at the gym and they said they were unsure as they thought the council pay Smart to go around the car parks but said they didn't know enough to advise me properly.

I have tried to do my reading to work it out without bothering you guys here but I'm a bit unsure as to whether this is enforceable.

Many thanks

bondy_lad

quite easy,, what does it say on the ? ticket,,PARKING charge notice or PENALTY charge notice,,,if it is PARKING,,ignore full stop.its a FAKE ,,only PENALTY is enforceable.please let us know what it says.

kiko1988

The yellow and black wrapper says parking charge notice, as does the ticket inside.

Does that mean I've learnt my lesson without making my wallet lighter?

I havent parked there since and doubt I would!

I've never seen a ticket there on any vehicle before

Guys_Dad

Just for information - I agree that you can ignore - where is the grass? Is it inside the "car parking area" or outside, i.e. before any Parking Notices?

Half_way

Its probably safe to ignore, but a few more details will help:
Next question, do the signs mention anything about smart parking, or do they say "Town and City Parking " with a bit of marker pen squigle next to it, and no mnetion anywhere of smart parking?

kiko1988

Thanks for your replies

The grass is within the car park, rather than there being spaces, there are areas where there is an outcrop of grass instead. I had parked on the end part of grass.

I am unsure about the signs but I will check when I go tomorrow, will that make a significant difference?

Guys_Dad

kiko1988 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies

The grass is within the car park, rather than there being spaces, there are areas where there is an outcrop of grass instead. I had parked on the end part of grass.

I am unsure about the signs but I will check when I go tomorrow, will that make a significant difference?

Not really, apart from compliance. I was just curious to know if the grass was outside the notices, in which case you were not parking inside their car park.

kiko1988

Sorry if I'm being dim, but my compliance or that of the company providing the tickets and their guidelines?

Should I be expecting nasty letters in due course?

Coupon-mad

It mean their questionable 'compliance' (or not) with their code of practice.

Here's my usual response to newbies, with links to show you the letter chain:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/59591913#Comment_59591913

Or appeal it and then appeal further, to POPLA (if in England or Wales), using legal challenge wording and stuff about any lack of BPA Code compliance - as discussed on lots of threads.

Half_way

The question about the signage is due to the fact that smart parking are a re-brand of Town and city parking, however if the signage doesnt mention smart parking then how can you forma contract between your and smart parking - having said that the contract is still un enforcable.
the signage should say something like Town and city parking, a trading name of smart parking, not town and city parking ( marker pen squigle)

kiko1988

I have taken a picture of the sign but I'm unsure how to upload?

It makes no reference to smart parking but does say about parking on grass verges. It says its town and city parking ltd. with the ldt scribbled out.

Unsure where I stand on this one!

All advice appreciated in this thread, thanks