Parking charge help!

Fudgebox

Hi all. I have been reading the threads on this board but unfortunately i am still unsure as to what to do.

I got a parking ticket from TPS at a warehouse clearance car park. It said 30 minutes free parking and I was back 5 minute late. The ticket was stuck to my window and the following box ticked which said I had no valid car park ticket on show or my ticket had expired. Now I didn't have a ticket as it said free parking.

I have 14 days to pay the discounted rate of £50 or it is £90. I am truly shocked at the cost. My family are telling me to pay asap but having researched parking charges I am unsure as to what I should do.

I know this will not matter one bit but I am really anxious about this so want to clarify where I stand. Many thanks.

Iamthestig2

Don't pay :-). Read my thread :-) just got a charge cancelled thanks to help from some v knowledgable folk on here :-). It's a bit complicated, but if you read my thread I think it will help you :-)

Umkomaas

Have a look at this new thread from today where the OP is at a similar starting point to you. It runs you through an outline of the process. Take it from there, get back to us if you're unclear about anything.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63545697#Comment_63545697

Guys_Dad

Can I just say that if TPS are in the British Parking Association, they will be in bother for not giving you more than 5 minutes grace.

You need to wait for the Notice to Keeper through the post before contacting them.

Come back when you get it for more help.

Fudgebox

Thank you for the replies.

I have read that link and it was very helpful. One thing that is bothering me is that I have no receipt from that day as I didn't purchase anything. I often go in, wonder round and then leave if I don't find anything I need or sometimes even talk myself out of buying things I have picked up.

Do I have a leg to stand on? the time on my ticket says from 10.15 to 10.50 which is 5 minutes outside of the free time. I am gutted.

Fudgebox

Oh and yes TPS are in the BPA. I have read their code of conduct but I found it all overwhelming.

Stroma

Why gutted ? You should appeal to TPS once you've had the notice to keeper within days 29-56 of the parking event. Once you got appeal on not seeing the signs so no contract, and not leaving a sufficient grace period to leave car park.

When they reject you can with our help go to popla (if England or Wales) to get this cancelled, we win 100% of the time.

Can you tell us by the way are you the registered keeper?

Fudgebox

Am I allowed to say if I am the RK? I don't want to give away too much information.

I am gutted because i have never had a ticket or been in trouble for anything. I get quite anxious and this is playing on my mind.

With regards to signage, I didn't notice the signs. I did return later in the day to have a look at them and realised they have changed recently as the car park is now pay and display when it never used to be. However they have used the same colour and font so the sign looks the same.

I have read the BPAs code for signage but like i said previously, I find it all overwhelming and hard to get my head around.

Umkomaas

If you are the RK the PPC will write to you as they will get your details from DVLA, so no problem with saying you are the RK.

What you mustn't divulge is who the driver might or might not have been - despite what the PPC may tell you there is no obligation whatsoever to do so.

It's all a bit overwhelming at first (I know, it was for me) but by reading more, things will start to slot into place. You've got a bit of time before the NtK arrives to do this.

We will be here to reassure you and help you to help yourself, but we're thin on the ground and the forum is hectic at present, and virtually every newbie wants more from us than we can deliver equitably. But we're always here, so don't panic.

Coupon-mad

Fudgebox wrote: »

Am I allowed to say if I am the RK? I don't want to give away too much information.

I am gutted because i have never had a ticket or been in trouble for anything. I get quite anxious and this is playing on my mind.

With regards to signage, I didn't notice the signs. I did return later in the day to have a look at them and realised they have changed recently as the car park is now pay and display when it never used to be. However they have used the same colour and font so the sign looks the same.

I have read the BPAs code for signage but like i said previously, I find it all overwhelming and hard to get my head around.

It's easy and if you haven't got a postal letter from TPS yet you just keep the windscreen ticket, complain to the Store Manager (EVEN IF ONLY BROWSING!!). Threads every single day tell people what to do:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63547395#Comment_63547395

Come on it's only a 2 stage postal appeal but ONLY when you get the Notice to Keeper. Not exactly overwhelming, and not a fine either. Just a scam.

Fudgebox

Thanks for the reply.

Can I write to the store manager before the NtK arrives? Or should I wait?

Also, should I take some photos of the signs? I just remembered that when I parked up, the two cars beside me were still there when I got back and were not ticketted like my car, however I didn't think to take a photo at the time. They also had no pay and display ticket on display. How can they single me out?