POPLA Appeal Refused

-sarah-_2

A few months ago my 4 month old daughter and I met a friend for lunch. The car we parked next to (left hand side) was parked with its wheels half an inch away from the bay markings this left me no alternative but to park my car with the wheels slightly over the bay markings to my right. I did this because my daughters car seat is on the left hand passenger seat, I need to open the door fully in order to take out the car seat and fit it to my pram,if I would have parked within the markings my daughter would have been stuck in the car. The car park offers no mother and baby spaces.

On my return to my car I had been given a parking fine - £35 immediately or £70 after so many days.

I appealed to POPLA. I detailed the above and sent a picture of the car parked to my left to show how the parking of that car made it impossible or me to park within the markings - they declined my appeal and are asking for £70 within 14 days.

Can you advise me what to do next ? I don't want to give in and pay the fine as I feel I had no alternative. I am upset that POPLA have refused my appeal due to the circumstances and thought they would of given other factors some consideration. They are being very black and white, basically their attitude is - I parked over the markings, pay the fine.

I would be grateful of any advice x

albaredz

It is unfortunate that you appealed to POPLA by yourself before coming to here or Pepipoo; the posters' advice would have won the appeal for you. POPLA are more interested in the legalities and regulations between PPCs, the BPA, the landowners, stuff like that rather than mitigating circumstances - at least that is the impression I have got.

However, hope is not lost, remotely. The appeal does not mean you are legally obliged to pay the invoice, it just means more annoying threat mail from the PPC and the affair will be a bit more drawn out.

If they send you court papers, then come back here. There's still so many hoops the PPC has to jump through before you are in any real danger of having to fork out your cash.

Stroma

Popla decisions are not binding on you, the only way the parking company can force payment is by trying their hand at the small claims. As you have learned popla does not do mitigation.

You should have come here first, if you do get a claim don't make the same mistake, we can help you with that. Who were the parking company ?

Umkomaas

OP - can you please confirm that you appealed to the car parking company first, they refused your initial appeal to them, they then issued you with a 10-digit POPLA verification code and, using this, you sent your appeal to POPLA?

The reason I am asking you to confirm is that sometimes people mix up POPLA appeal with the parking company apeal, and as you've not made mention of any initial appeal to the parking company, just wanted to make absolutely sure of who you appealed to. Sorry if I've misinterpreted this.

peter_the_piper

Second Unkomass, the OP reads that the poster appealed to the ppc thinking it was POPLA.

Buzby

As if POPLA would say 'pay £70 within 14 days' ! They would only approve or deny the appeal. I think the advice of ignoring has to come back, as the additional confusion is leading more folk to incriminate themselves and paint themselves into a corner.

-sarah-_2

Yes I appealed to the parking company first, then I went to POPLA,,waste of time !

-sarah-_2

I had a 10 digit code and made my appeal on the POPLA website, wish I would of come here first, but hey you learn from your mistakes ! I will ignore the 14 day demand to pay £70. Is it worth me writing to them again ? Is the no higher governing body ? Thank you

waamo

Which parking company is it?

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

It was only a waste of time because you didn't come here.

Can you post up the decision pls. You should hve appealed on stuff like lack of contract etc which would hve been a winner

bazster

-sarah- wrote: »

Yes I appealed to the parking company first, then I went to POPLA,,waste of time !

It's certainly a waste of time if you don't do it right.