Handwritten parking notice on windscreen - what can I do? 30 January 2016 at 11:55AM edited 30 November -1 at 1:00AM in Parking Tickets, Fines & Parking 5 replies 676 views

lorrieanna

So last night I went to get a takeaway that was in a row of shops with car parking spaces outside. Each car parking space has a 'Private Parking' sign on them. Now, as there were none of the takeaway's spaces free I parked outside the Vets instead (they closed at 6pm, I parked there at 6:45pm, not thinking I was inconveniencing anybody, and there were other cars who obviously thought and did the same).
The Vets has the 'Private Parking 24 Hours' signs but also has a big notice saying that by parking in these spaces you are entering in to a contract whereby you accept a parking charge of £200 per hour, which if not paid will have £1000 added to the charges because of court fees, and this is so that sick animals can get the treatment they need.
I returned to my car to find a handwritten notice on my windscreen which said:
"6:50pm Friday 29/1/16.
There is a £200.00/hour parking fee due. If you could come in tomorrow and pay it otherwise it will be £1200.00 through the courts. This will be followed up. The Vet"

I went in to the Vets this morning (didn't give them my name or any admission that it was my car) to discuss this. The owner did take down my registration number (not that I admitted to it being mine), and said that he would 'see me in court' after he fills in a V888 form and sends it to the DVLA to find out who I am. He gave me the story that in the past sick animals have had to be carried across the road to get to him. But I asked if that was the case last night, to which he said no. I also asked him if he put notices on all of the other cars parked in his spaces at the time, to which her said that there weren't other cars parked there at time.
So my question is: Am I likely to have to pay this fee if he does pursue it through the courts?
I can't see how a handwritten notice which doesn't even name my registration number on it can be enforceable. I know the notice on the wall (which I didn't see until after I pulled the notice from my windscreen) says it is a contract, but if I believed I wasn't causing an issue because the practice was closed, and if he has admitted to there being other spaces available for the non-existent sick animals requiring emergency treatment, is this really a reasonable claim?
Any advice anyone has would be really useful!
Needless to say I've learned my lesson and won't be parking outside the vets again!

Thank you!

pappa_golf

trespass? perhaps a £1 fee for trespass , don,t talk to the vets again




chill out

Guys_Dad

Do nothing for now. Keep the handwritten note. Wait for any follow up. There will almost certainly be none. If any follows, come back.

This has the same chance of succeeding as a "Trespassers will be shot" notice.

Dr._Shoe

Are they a member of any of the parking regulatory bodies? I'm not even sure if they can get your details from the DVLA.

If he said that there were no other cars parked there at the time then his argument that animal owners wouldn't have been able to park outside is invalid too.

pappa_golf

they can get details from the DVLA via a form V888 , however this info cannot be used in parking offences

beamerguy

lorrieanna wrote: »

The Vets has the 'Private Parking 24 Hours' signs but also has a big notice saying that by parking in these spaces you are entering in to a contract whereby you accept a parking charge of £200 per hour, which if not paid will have £1000 added to the charges because of court fees, and this is so that sick animals can get the treatment they need.
I returned to my car to find a handwritten notice on my windscreen which said:
"6:50pm Friday 29/1/16.
There is a £200.00/hour parking fee due. If you could come in tomorrow and pay it otherwise it will be £1200.00 through the courts. This will be followed up. The Vet"

!

The Vet is living in cloud cuckoo land

Form V888 is not a form to be used for parking.
It says
"The information you ask for should only be requested if it
is used in a fair and responsible way and for the purpose
for which it is requested."
£200 per hour and if it goes to court £1200 is not reasonable or responsible

Even though the space says "private", is he the landowner as its in a parade of shops. If he is not the landowner, does the landowner give him permission to extort money

Think he has been watching too much TV

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/436690/V888_200315.pdf