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No dashboard - ticket on seat

In March 2015 I parked in a private town car park as I had done for the last 5 years since I bought my car and put the ticket on the driver's seat as my car does not have a dashboard (it is a Citroen 2CV). As I had a valid ticket I did not even see the parking charge til the next day. I appealed but was turned down, "our operatives do not have time to search the vehicle for tickets" from where the photo of windscreen was taken the ticket must have been clearly visible but it is not on their photo. The notice in the car park states that "tickets should be displayed on the dashboard".
To cut a long story short after several phone calls from Armtrac and some pseudo-legal company, letters and emails, I have finally been threatened with the small claims court. I was told that "because your car does not have a dashboard it does not fit the criteria of the car park and you shouldn't have taken it in there" !!??!!
I am happy to defend my case in court but do you think I stand any chance?
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Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 178,355 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    because your car does not have a dashboard it does not fit the criteria of the car park and you shouldn't have taken it in there"

    What's your local court. I'd like to see this one if it gets there
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Johno100
    Johno100 Posts: 5,259 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Sally_B wrote: »
    I was told that "because your car does not have a dashboard it does not fit the criteria of the car park and you shouldn't have taken it in there" !!??!!

    I am happy to defend my case in court but do you think I stand any chance?

    Have you actually got that in an email/letter from Armtrac?

    One bit of information omitted from your opening post, have you still got the pay and display ticket that covers the period of parking in question?
  • Half_way
    Half_way Posts: 7,491 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Who's car park was this?
    And it only states that Tickets Should be displayed on the dashboard not MUST theres a world of difference between should and must
    From the Plain Language Commission:

    "The BPA has surely become one of the most socially dangerous organisations in the UK"
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Armtrac ???
    They are surely on the funny stuff ?

    What idiots, something a judge would blurt his coffee out.

    "because your car does not have a dashboard it does not fit the criteria of the car park and you shouldn't have taken it in there" !!??!!"Show me "the money honey" ... SHOW ME THE SIGN
  • fisherjim
    fisherjim Posts: 7,111 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    So if your ticket blows upside down would they say; it was windy you should not have parked on that day.

    Or if the ticket was illegible; the ink had run out on our ticket machine you should not have tried paying.

    Maybe the real answer is; don't park in any of our car parks as we are Muppets, idiots and scammers.

    No Armtrac it is your responsibility to provide equipment, items and conditions for parking management, not make up silly billy rules after the event to wriggle out of what you say you do:

    As Cornwall’s largest parking solutions company we offer a cost effective, [STRIKE]customer [/STRIKE]comedy focused parking control and management service
  • yotmon
    yotmon Posts: 485 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    And what guidelines do they have in place for motor cycle parking, or do they have to have a sidecar attached !

    I think that your usage of this car park for 5 years without hassle (they took your money) will be a very good defence point.
  • Unfortunately I do not have this in email/letter it was in a phone call. I also do not have the ticket as I did not see the penalty until the next day. However Armtrac state that once a penalty has been issued production of a valid ticket will not be accepted.
    I have photographed another ticket on the seat showing that it is clearly visible.
  • Coupon-mad
    Coupon-mad Posts: 153,177 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    However Armtrac state that once a penalty has been issued production of a valid ticket will not be accepted.
    Never mind what they say!
    PRIVATE 'PCN'? DON'T PAY BUT DON'T IGNORE IT (except N.Ireland).
    CLICK at the top or bottom of any page where it says:
    Home»Motoring»Parking Tickets Fines & Parking - read the NEWBIES THREAD
  • beamerguy
    beamerguy Posts: 17,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Sally_B wrote: »
    However Armtrac state that once a penalty has been issued production of a valid ticket will not be accepted.
    I have photographed another ticket on the seat showing that it is clearly visible.

    Armtrac are stating rubbish.

    Go and take some pictures of their signs, post them on here using a free photo site like photobucket
    Let us have a look
  • Fruitcake
    Fruitcake Posts: 59,467 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Yes, we need to see the pictures as I could certainly do with a laugh.

    As advised, upload them to a web hosting site such as tinypic or photobucket, but not in your real name or with any other personal photo's. Post the URL here but change http to hxxp and someone here will change it back to a live link.
    Also post a piccy of your dashboard viewed from outside and inside the car.

    Actually, you could have stuck the ticket to your speedometer with a bit of tape and said, there, it's on my dashboard just like your Ts and Cs say it should be displayed.

    This is one for the local and national press, as well as Mrs May and your local MP.

    Did you complain to the shop/retailer etcetera you were visiting about this?

    Never, ever 'phone a parking scammer as you always want proof of what has been said.
    I married my cousin. I had to...
    I don't have a sister. :D
    All my screwdrivers are cordless.
    "You're Safety Is My Primary Concern Dear" - Laks
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