UKPC - fine for leaving car park

CatkinCUFC

Hi,

Have read through a few of the posts on here and understand that it may be possible to appeal a parking fine received from UKPC.

My partner and I parked in a retail park to go to one of the shops. While walking to the store we saw another shop over the road that we fancied a look at and popped in there. Walked back to the intended store we originally wanted to use and went in there and bought some stuff. Got back to the car and we had a ticket!

The thing is, we have a receipt from a store at that retail park which is timed at 18 mins after the parking ticket. I also looked at the photos they have and none of them show us leaving the site (they just show a parked car!).

I would welcome the thoughts of learned folks on here about this.

1) should we just lie and say we never left the site? Can they actually even prove this!? Would they have photos that are not displayed on the site (ie of us leaving the site). I'd rather pay 60 quid (as angry as I am) than get in trouble;

2) if we admit to ukpc that we left the site presumably there is zero chance of an appeal being successful. However, there doesn't appear to have been any loss to the site owner!? Surely the contract is therefore unfair (ie the intention of that provision is to stop people parking there and using the railway station, not to punish proper customers!?

I would welcome any thoughts on this.

Even if unsuccessful I may actually appeal to the good nature of the retailer, as I feel I am being punished for using their store!

Stroma

There is no loss to anyone, I presume this is a free car park and you are allowed to park for a few hours. So you have a receipt keep that safe you'll need it later.

So how did you get a ticket? Did they post it to you within 14 days , or did you get a ticket on the car ? If the latter wait until they send you the notice to keeper, which must arrive between day 29 & 56 after the parking event.

Once it's with you we can help you with a letter to the first stage appeal, then the second stage called popla, which is independent of the parking company.

CatkinCUFC

Stroma wrote: »

There is no loss to anyone, I presume this is a free car park and you are allowed to park for a few hours. So you have a receipt keep that safe you'll need it later.

So how did you get a ticket? Did they post it to you within 14 days , or did you get a ticket on the car ? If the latter wait until they send you the notice to keeper, which must arrive between day 29 & 56 after the parking event.

Once it's with you we can help you with a letter to the first stage appeal, then the second stage called popla, which is independent of the parking company.

Thanks for the response.

Have kept the receipt, will make sure I don't lose it! They left the ticket on the windscreen. It's a free car park with a two hour slot so the whole thing feels like I have been scammed!

Happy to wait and not do anything, but if I do that the fine goes up to 100 quid so isn't that a problem? (Assume that's a stupid question but thought I would ask......).

Stroma

It is a scam! But you haven't been scammed as you are not paying this ridiculous unlawful penalty charge . Wait until you get the notice to keeper then come back. I do suggest that you look around and learn about private parking, and popla.

Here are a couple of websites that will further your knowledge

https://www.pepipoo.com
http://parking-prankster.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.parkingcowboys.co.uk/

Kite2010

It's a scam, well known. The "leaving car-park" scam.

It's not a fine, and easily to defend with POPLA.

Coupon-mad

You are not going to be in any trouble with this! But you should get UKPC into trouble by complaining to the retailer where you spent your money, ask for the Manager and do not let it drop. Try to get it cancelled by the Store right now (and if no joy you can win the appeal anyway with our help, when you get the first letter).

Read a few threads on the forum, it will open your eyes to the whole scam!

bazster

CatkinCUFC wrote: »

Happy to wait and not do anything, but if I do that the fine goes up to 100 quid so isn't that a problem? (Assume that's a stupid question but thought I would ask......).

If you wait and follow the advice here the "fine" (it's not a fine BTW) will most likely reduce to £0.00.

Incidentally, anyone who claims damages arising from breach of contract is required by law to "mitigate" their loss i.e. they should take whatever steps they can to minimise the amount of their loss. Leaving aside for a moment the fact that no-one actually lost anything by you leaving the site, someone watched you leave and didn't warn you not to. Failure to mitigate losses.

Stroma

This is always worth a read, whilst not binding on the lower courts it does highlight the fact that the judge knew contract law
http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=16231

prowla

1. It is not a fine; it is a request to pay an invoice for a contract which you did not agree to and which is not legally enforcable.

2. You are not legally obliged to pay it.

3. The maximum liability is the cost of the parking (which was either free or you already paid).

4. Complain to the store that you bought something from - they have directly or indirectly contracted the parking enforcement company. Companies can't simultaneously bemoan the loss of custom whilst putting in place measures to drive customers away.

Orrin

CatkinCUFC wrote: »

1) should we just lie and say we never left the site? Can they actually even prove this!? Would they have photos that are not displayed on the site (ie of us leaving the site). I'd rather pay 60 quid (as angry as I am) than get in trouble

The advice given already is sound but just to comment on this specific point; no you should definitely not lie about leaving the site.

prowla

Orrin wrote: »

The advice given already is sound but just to comment on this specific point; no you should definitely not lie about leaving the site.

You don't have to account yourselves to them at all - they are not in authority over you.