parking space too small for average car

parker7531

I tried to park legally in private pay and display car park. Spaces too small. If I park within the lines (6'10" apart) I can't get out of the car because I'm right up against the car in next space. If I go out the passenger door and another car does the same to fill the next space I won't be able to get back in my car. After much maneuvering I parked with my wheels over the line, payed and displayed and got a parking ticket on my return.

Appealed to POPLA who rejected the appeal on grounds that it states on a notice by the ticket machine that you will be fined if not parked within allocated bays. This is in small print, the big sign says CAR PARK so don't they need to provide spaces big enough for cars?

Mini type cars could fit but an average car doesn't. I later got more forms sent to me asking if I intended to contest the ticket in court but gave no date. By the time I got round to seeking advice I received another letter saying the matter had been through the court and I now have to pay the fine plus costs.

Can anyone help?

Stroma

Can you please answer these questions

1) who is the parking company?
2) you appealed to popla and lost?
3) you had a county court claim and ignored?
4) you now have a judgement?
5) when did you get that?

wiogs

I hope the sign didn't say you would be fined. That would be very naughty. And incorrect.

Iceweasel

Your post is very imprecise and unclear.

Did POPLA really say that there was a sign saying you would be FINED?

Who sent you the letter saying that the matter had been through the courts?

You must therefore have been advised of the court case - and ignored the court papers.

peter_the_piper

Deliberate ploy. Either they squeeze lots more cars in or they screw you , win win for them(they think)

Guys_Dad

They must be the richest PPC in the UK with 80% of cars having to straddle the lines !

Actually, I agree that many car parks have neither the width or length to cater for larger cars, but I don;t give them the chance to ticket me as I can always find some spaces that are a bit bigger.

thick_tom

i often find the parking spaces to be on the small side too.

Stroma

Can understand the car width/length debate considering the thread name etc, but the real issue is whether the OP has ignored a county court claim, and has now a judgement

peter_the_piper

Hopefully the OP will elaborate on this.

parker7531

Thanks for replies and sorry this has taken a while. The car park is the Stennack Car Park in St Ives, Cornwall.

The sign says "Tariff & rules applied in this car park" It's then got the prices and 7 rules listed.
"Rule 3 - vehicles must park between the white lines
Rule 7 - infringement of these rules will result in your vehicle being ticketed & you will be subjected to a fine."

The parking company is Armtrac Security Services

Popla appeal lost-size of space not considered.

Armtrac/popla who appear to be the same say "the marked bays within this car park are of a standard size and will accommodate most vehicles". This is the point I dispute. 6'10" is smaller than any other car park I've seen. Most are around 7.5 feet. Most cars are about 6 foot wide.

County court claim form sent to me dated 15/8/2013 asking if I intend to defend all or part of claim, issue counterclaim etc - I didn't fill in the form before getting a "judgment for claimant (in default) dated 24/9/2013 ordering me to pay £135 within one month

phoned the court and told it will cost me £80 to get a form asking the court to look at this again.

I think that's all the information asked for. Thanks again and please help.

peter_the_piper

Why on earth did you let it get this far and continue to ignore it.? If you had come here sooner you could have won at popla, failing this you could have got a winning defence from here or pepipoo.com
the decision is now uours fight or pay. Don't ignore this one as bailiffs ratchet up the costs enormously.