Parking Advice - Help Please

localboy

I have today received a Parking Eye fine and would like your advice please.

I have a Blue Badge and was parked in an appropriate bay and was on the understanding that I had 3 hours. I know it is private land and rules can vary from the Public Highways, but I was a genuine customer in the Range, my friend and I, both pensioners, had a look around the store and then went upstairs into the caf! and had a drink and a snack.

According to their records and camera shots of my entering and exiting the car park, I was in there for 2 hours 35 minutes, and they are claiming the maximum stay is 2 hours.

What advice would you give me please? I am really upset by this fine, it is my 1st in 48 years of driving!

Hot_Bring

You need to read this thread - https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

As well as that please bear in mind the following :

1. Blue Badges have no legal authority on private land regardless of what a Private Parking Company ( PPC ) says.

2. Under their own association rules ( the BPA ) Parking Eye can't issue a charge to someone holding a Blue Badge.

ezerscrooge

That's one of the big problems with lazy parking enforcement - ANPR cameras are indiscrininate and take no account of disabled users and their additional needs.

Firstly, get in touch with the The Range as they do have the power to cancel these. Also do a strongly worded letter to their Head Office to convey the level of your worry and disgust at their parking enforcement (you might even get some shopping vouchers by way of an apology). Mention their non-compliance with the Equality Act 2010 in both cases.

Also put together a soft appeal to ParkingEye - and include a copy of your Blue Badge and receipts. Remind ParkingEye that the BPA code states -

"16.5 If your landowner provides a concession that allows parking for disabled people, if a vehicle displays a valid Blue Badge you must not issue it with parking charge notices."

If they refuse to cancel the charge after that, then come back and you'll get help with your POPLA appeal - which you will win.

ezerscrooge

And please don't be upset - it is not a fine and your outstanding driving record will not be blemished by this.

Their charge is just an attempt to squeeze money from you and can be easily defeated.

Coupon-mad

localboy wrote: »

I have today received a Parking Eye fine and would like your advice please.

I have a Blue Badge and was parked in an appropriate bay and was on the understanding that I had 3 hours. I know it is private land and rules can vary from the Public Highways, but I was a genuine customer in the Range, my friend and I, both pensioners, had a look around the store and then went upstairs into the caf! and had a drink and a snack.

According to their records and camera shots of my entering and exiting the car park, I was in there for 2 hours 35 minutes, and they are claiming the maximum stay is 2 hours.

What advice would you give me please? I am really upset by this fine, it is my 1st in 48 years of driving!

Relax!! You won't be paying a penny and have NOT been fined!

So easy to appeal, just do it online on the PE website (shown on the PCN) once you have read the linked thread in the post above by Hot Bring which tells you how to word it from the registered keeper, NOT saying who was driving (and just say 'a passenger' or 'the driver' was disabled and here's a picture of their Blue badge which proves they have a right to longer to shop. Also their charge is 'not a genuine pre-estimate of loss').

If they reject then make sure you DO NOT use that short appeal as your POPLA appeal, you will need the usual winning words in 'How to win at POPLA' in post #3 of the NEWBIES thread you must read first.

localboy

Thank you everyone for your invaluable advice. I today visited the said store and asked to speak to the manager. I explained to her what had happened, I unfortunately couldn't find my receipts nor my neighbours, from purchases we made on that day, but the manager asked what items I had bought and she went off to check her records. She came back and said that was fine, she would arrange for the charge to be cancelled, and in future for me to tell a staff member when I'm here with my blue badge.
So I am really relieved, but I couldn't have done it without your replies and wonderful, sound advice, so thank you so much again :-) x

Umkomaas

Good result LB. Glad it worked out for you. But do keep an eye out for a 'communication breakdown' as sometimes these manager cancellations don't get acted upon, resulting in a reminder from the PPC or a Debt Collector.

Come back if things don't go to plan.

Coupon-mad

localboy wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your invaluable advice. I today visited the said store and asked to speak to the manager. I explained to her what had happened, I unfortunately couldn't find my receipts nor my neighbours, from purchases we made on that day, but the manager asked what items I had bought and she went off to check her records. She came back and said that was fine, she would arrange for the charge to be cancelled, and in future for me to tell a staff member when I'm here with my blue badge.
So I am really relieved, but I couldn't have done it without your replies and wonderful, sound advice, so thank you so much again :-) x

That is good news! And unusual - the Range actually being helpful about a PE fake PCN!!

bod1467

Have you had anything in writing from The Range about this cancellation? As said above, until you have something in writing (either from The Range or the PPC) then it's not dead yet.

localboy

I don't have anything in writing from The Range. Would you suggest phoning PE and telling them that I've been in touch with the Range?

Coupon-mad

We would NEVER suggest phoning a PPC, especially not PE. Much better to use their online portal for appeals and just send a stark statement 'the Range have cancelled this charge - please confirm you have taken their instructions.'