Council penalty charge

bt42

My wife parked at the Sainsburys in Stafford at the end of October 21st), which, rather unusually, uses a car park operated by the council. As far as she can remember, she parked in an appropriate space and bought a ticket. However, being a wee while ago she hasn't kept the ticket or anything.

No yellow sticker was left on the windscreen, and the first notice we've had of any problem is when we got a letter demanding payment yesterday (5th Dec) of a penalty charge notice, apparently for not displaying a valid ticket.

In the absence of evidence to support our case, we fully expect that we'll have to pay the fine. However, as we've had no notice of the penalty to date, we've missed the discounted early payment rate- this is unfair in our eyes as we are effectively bring penalised by paying at a higher rate than we otherwise would- for factors beyond our control.

Do we have any grounds for appeal, or to request the early discounted rate, based on a procedural error?

Umkomaas

And it is definitely a council penalty charge?

If so, PePiPoo will be your best bet for council tickets. Here's your link:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?act=SF&s=&f=30

Have a read through some of the other threads there before you post your own to get the hang of what information they need from you in your opening post - but as a minimum you will need photos/scans of all correspondence you've received from the council (both sides, if appropriate).

PePiPoo has an excellent success record in dealing with council tickets.

HTH

Coupon-mad

bt42 wrote: »

My wife parked at the Sainsburys in Stafford at the end of October 21st), which, rather unusually, uses a car park operated by the council. As far as she can remember, she parked in an appropriate space and bought a ticket. However, being a wee while ago she hasn't kept the ticket or anything.

No yellow sticker was left on the windscreen, and the first notice we've had of any problem is when we got a letter demanding payment yesterday (5th Dec) of a penalty charge notice, apparently for not displaying a valid ticket.

In the absence of evidence to support our case, we fully expect that we'll have to pay the fine. However, as we've had no notice of the penalty to date, we've missed the discounted early payment rate- this is unfair in our eyes as we are effectively bring penalised by paying at a higher rate than we otherwise would- for factors beyond our control.

Do we have any grounds for appeal, or to request the early discounted rate, based on a procedural error?

Please show that PCN here and on pepipoo, sounds unusual. Some Councils can issue a postal 'reg 10 PCN' but I doubt it and it's too late for that. What you have described actually just sounds like the usual NTO (you haven't said what it is called).

When you log in on the Council's site using the PCN ref number, can you view pictures the CEO took? Any PCN shown on the windscreen?

WHEN SOMEONE GETS AN NTO THEY SHOULD NEVER JUST PAY - NO POINT AT ALL. IT'S A DEFINITE ONE TO APPEAL AS THERE'S NOTHING TO LOSE, THE SUM DOES NOT GO UP AS LONG AS YOU DON'T IGNORE IT, AND MOST PEOPLE WIN AT ADJUDICATION.

bt42

Can't seem to post attachments on here. Have scanned the letter and set up a thread on peppipoo (http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=95292)

The car park is definitely council run - I appreciate that this is unusual, but it is right in the town centre, and Sainsburys refund the cost of parking if you spend in store.

Thank you for the replies so far. We'll certainly have a go at challenging for procedural impropriety - but will have a think about how to best compose my response to the council