Parking Charge dilema - to pay or not to pay

babski

Hooray! I have now found out how to post a new thread, so hope this is the correct way to do it.
I hope someone can give me some advice. I have a parking charge from a motorway service station car park where I left my car and went with my friend in their car to visit another friend. It was only when I returned 6 hours later that we both noticed the sign of 2 hours free parking. I have two days left to send the lower rate fine of £60 and then it goes up to £100, so I really am unsure whether I should ignore the charge altogether, pay up the £60 or appeal to the parking company and hope to get away with it on the grounds of it being a disproportionate amount of charge, and that the sign was not at eye level on entry to the car park. I have heard from several people that they just ignored their similar charge but I think that was over a year ago and I am getting the idea that things might have changed since then with the parking companies becoming more agressive about taking people to court. What do you think I should do?

The_Deep

Do not ignore, read the stickies and follow the advice.

Herzlos

Never pay, always appeal, using the standard points.

Whilst what you did was excessive, I'm sure that had the signs been properly visible you wouldn't have done it. Makes you wonder why the signage is so terrible, eh?

The_Deep

But is the signage as bad as that, I have always thought it adequate, surely it has to meet with DfT guidelines. .

bod1467

The_Deep wrote: »

surely it has to meet with DfT guidelines. .

On private land? I know MSAs link to the motorway network but most are still privately-owned.

Herzlos

The_Deep wrote: »

But is the signage as bad as that, I have always thought it adequate, surely it has to meet with DfT guidelines. .

The signage is nowhere near the DfT guidelines, it's been pretty much unreadable in every MSA I've ever used, beyond maybe the first line.

Because lets face it, if the signage complied with DfT guidelines, there'd be virtually no issues with people inadvertantly overstaying.

babski

I have been to-ing and fro-ing in my mind for days now and tomorrow is my last day to pay, and I actually am leaning towards just paying up and putting it down to experience. No, I wouldn't have parked there if I had seen the signs, but it had never occurred to me that you only had limited time. My husband has driven me back there to check the signage and they are there, which is why I am waivering, but I just didn't see them and was too intent on meeting my friend and the nice day ahead. Therefore, I guess it is my fault and why I am waivering. If I appeal, it sounds as if I could lose and end up paying £100 instead, which I really don't want to happen.
I'll let you know my decision.
I have read everything on MSE and trawled the internet so I think I have probably read enough to give me a fair idea of what I need to do if I appeal. But I do not know what or where the 'stickies' are, can you advise?
Thank you for your help.

Iceweasel

Here is the 'sticky' you need to read:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

The stickies are the 4 important permanent (sticky) threads at the top of the forum page. Most forums/fora have them.

Please do not pay a penny.

Just follow the advice in the sticky.

If you appeal using the suggested templates you will WIN.

If you do decide to roll over and pay these robbers, then please let me have your address so that I too can send you a speculative invoice demanding £100 (reduced to £60 if you pay within 14 days of course) as a punitive charge for using too many letter 'o's in your posts.

But seriously - do you really think that £60 is a fair and just charge for failing to see a stupid sign which incidentally does not comply with MSA signage regs?

Herzlos

If you appeal it properly using the guidelines in the newbies thread (i.e. on points of law - the poor signage means there's no contract, they don't have the authority to issue you the charge, they haven't complied with POFA so the keeper isn't liable and so on), you will not have to pay anything.

Why should they make a huge profit from you not seeing the signs (which they don't want you to see)?

You should also complain to the motorway service area about this invoice and ask them to cancel it.

Guys_Dad

Herzlos wrote: »

Because lets face it, if the signage complied with DfT guidelines, there'd be virtually no issues with people inadvertantly overstaying.

Speed limit signs are compliant but people still speed.

babski

OK, you've convinced me. I am going to appeal and will let you know how I get on. Thank you all so much for your help and support with this.
Here goes .....