UKPC Parking Charge for not parking within the marked bay

Jonah76

Hi everyone,

Please can I get some advice for the above. I am currently within the 14 days allowed before the reduced charge expires.

I really don't want to pay this (obviously) because although I was marked across two bays this was a little after 5pm when the shops were due to close and the car park was dark.

It was one of those retails car parks where the lights are kind of 50 ft in the air and the parking sign (which I looked at after I got the ticket) was underneath but not lit up itself so you could not tell what sign it was. The light kind of cat light in such a way the lamppost but left a dark shadow immediately beneath it and around the lamppost if you understand my meaning.

I have read other posts that say defend immediately but by-and-large errors have been caused my the ticketing people. I can't deny I was parked across two bays but I don't believe the signage was adequate and it was at the end of the day when there were plenty of free parking paces because people had gone home.

I would REALLY appreciate some guidance here as I understand the some part of the law has changed in 2013 but I don't know what that change is and whether this effects me in these circumstances.

Cheers in advance :beer:

bod1467

Start here - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

Then come back once you've followed the advice.

Jonah76

Cheers - that was helpful.

This is the Company car so will need to get to sending an appeal letter or further info letter as detailed in other threads.

Vomityspice

I spanked UKPC recently on exactly the same issue. (See https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63562126#Comment_63562126)

Happy to send you a copy of my Popla appeal letter if you DM me an email address to send it to.

Don't worry, you will win and these cockwombles will be £27+ vat poorer.

Coupon-mad

Jonah76 wrote: »

Cheers - that was helpful.

This is the Company car so will need to get to sending an appeal letter or further info letter as detailed in other threads.

So glad that my sticky thread has helped a company car driver to realise straight away that they have to appeal early! It's all downhill after that!

:T

Vomityspice wrote: »

Don't worry, you will win and these cockwombles will be £27+ vat poorer.

Nice word, Vomityspice! :rotfl:

Jonah76

Vomityspice wrote: »

cockwombles

I actually did Laugh Out Loud for that one...

I looked at UKPC website last night at my 'photo' wasn't on there to review. It has been 2 days but how long does it normally take them to get it up there if at all?

Coupon-mad

Up to a week perhaps, they have to be careful seeing as they used to have a bit of trouble with pictures...read here and the links from Stroma!

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63702586#Comment_63702586

They also have an 'interesting' random list of 2009 small claims cases (we say, not theirs because UKPC don't do court) on their website:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4814487

4consumerrights

UKPC really are a joke as a company - they freely admit on their website that:
"they make all their money from the issuing of parking charges and offer their services free to the landowner, who receive a 10% rebate of all car parking charges collected"
http://www.ukparkingcontrol.com/faq

They also very kindly inform everyone via their website how they form their contracts with the landowner: Under process part:
"A no-obligation proposal is sent to landowner
A signed contract is then returned. "
Afterwards...
"A site survey then follows.
Signs and terms are then determined"

So terms and signage details are UKPC's own and not agreed in any contract before signature.

Yes - they do have trouble with their pictures - even the ones to support their alleged contravention of parking terms assuming a contract was even formed as their signage is even more suspect - 7 foot high on posts in difficult to see areas of car park and often not having signs at car park entrances as well!

I submitted their own photographic evidence to support a case I assisted off-forum. The photographs did not prove anything due to the angle and distance taken coupled with no mandatory sign at car park entrance or signs near disabled bay and breach of the equality act - I'm going to enoy reading the Assessors decision when hearing takes place.

Jonah76

OK - I have drafted my initial letter/email & wondered if someone wouldn't mind having a read. It's pretty similar to the ones posted but I wonder if I need to be more detailed about the fact that it was night and the signage was not illuminated.

Any input would be great before I email it.

Jonah76

Well I sent it via email on Friday and have the confirmation of receipt stating they will come back to me within 35 days. Naturally, I am expecting my challenge to be denied at this stage but am well prepared for the appeal proper once that comes through. If I were them I would just quit now as they will get there pound of flesh from others who will just cough up.

Scrootum

4consumerrights wrote: »

UKPC really are a joke as a company - they freely admit on their website that:
"they make all their money from the issuing of parking charges and offer their services free to the landowner, who receive a 10% rebate of all car parking charges collected"


.

As a bit of a newbie here, why is that a bad thing?
I would have thought it was better than upping the parking fees for everyone.
I am probably missing something though.