Parking Chare Notice- Parking Eye- Cardiff

grumble_100

Hi, hope someone can help. I know there appear to be lots of threads on this but I am so confused about what best to do.

My wife has had a parking charge notice from Parking Eye for exceeeding the 3 hour limit inCardiff by a few minutes. She is a member of DW Fitness gym that she was using at the time. They have a facility where you can enter your reg number which will mean you will be exempt from the charge. However, she didn't use it on this occassion as she wrongly assumed she would be well under the limit. Havin spent 2 hours in the gym she went to Starbucks and got carried away chatting.
The parking amount is £100, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.
Not quite sure whether to ignore or appeal. If we appeal, I believe we lose the option of the reduced payment?
Also, I have read on the appeals website, and MSE, that appeals will only work for linited circumstances and will NOT include mitigation (ie forgot to enter reg number in machine).
My wife WILL panic if we receive threatening letters, especially as some have had county court notices.She is tempted to pay the £60 to avoid the stress.
Is it worth contacting DW Fitness to see if they can do anything. Is it worth appealing even though she appears to have no grounds that fit the criteria?
Any advice gratefully received.

Stroma

As you've basically identified yourself on a public forum (see my signature) you should either pay or appeal, ignore is out of the question IMO . If you appeal you need to do it within a certain timeframe, but before we go into that, can you confirm whether you've had the letter within 14 days of the ticket on the car ?

I will reply further once you've decided what you want to do, and provided the info on the letter. If you decide to pay by the way you'd be mad.

Coupon-mad

Don't pay them!

First port of call is into the Gym to see if they will cancel it as she didn't realise she was going to overstay that day and would have been exempt as she's a member of the gym. Take the fake PCN in and speak to the Manager and do NOT take 'no' or 'appeal to the parking company' for an answer. At the very least get a signed note from the Gym Manager confirming she's a member and would have been exempt from charges - so no loss has been suffered.

I would be angry about this little protection racket, personally. If they refuse to cancel the fake PCN for a paid-up regular member, tell the Gym it's NOT ON and they will lose business by taking this attitude.

''If we appeal, I believe we lose the option of the reduced payment?''

Of course but that's a bribe and you WILL NOT BE PAYING anyway will you?

Here's my usual response to newbies, with links to show you the letter chain, please read and see this for what it is (a scam):

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/...3#post59591913

My recommendation is to complain first at the gym. If no joy, appeal it saying she's a gym member (enclosing the note you NEED the Manager to write), and then appeal further, to POPLA (if in England or Wales), with help from here on that wording so it will likely WIN. Don't do the POPLA appeal alone as it needs certain wording IMHO.

grumble_100

Thanks Guys, I've tried to annonymise my post a bit more ( I already changed my username). The ticket has been received within 14 days. She is going to gym tomorrow so she'll try to speak with the manager.

I was also wondering whether appealing was worthwhile as it says that mitigation will not be considered.

Coupon-mad

Appealing is worthwhile as you won't be appealing on mitigating circumstances. There's more.

grumble_100

Thanks, i'm tryingto be confident but what of those people who have received county court letters??

Stroma

grumble_100 wrote: »

Thanks, i'm tryingto be confident but what of those people who have received county court letters??

They are being defended by the guys over on www.pepipoo.com , we work with them and many posters here post there as well.

I think your only option is to appeal, and when rejected go to popla. Don't ignore this as its likely parking eye who employs people to come here and get information from posters have clocked you.

They will no doubt be paying close attention to what we are saying to you, and they will be expecting your appeal, and will be trying to be difficult and obstructive in giving you a popla verification code, when they reject it.

grumble_100

Guys, thanks for your help. I am pleased to say that the Gym managed to cancel the "fine". Didn't think it would be that easy

Cheers

Stroma

Excellent stuff make sure you get that in writing though if you can. Let us know if you encounter any problems