Forgot to pay - called - what to do

anothpark

Hi all,

I normally pay my car park ticket by phone in the morning, but after a sleepless night due to a new arrival I totally forgot to pay. Realising my mistake I phoned the pay by phone number and the price was then half price.

However I figured I'd probably received a windscreen notice at this point. Again without thinking I actually phoned the operator and they confirmed I already had a ticket (I obviously had to give them the location and reg number for this) and there was no way to do a 'late pay' payment which some locations offer. As they record calls this is obviously an admission I was there.

I don't know what to do at the moment. Shall I pay for the half day and then when I eventually receive a PCN through the post point out I'd paid half a day and that the charge is excessive based on their loss?

I've managed to appeal charges successfully before but I feel so drained at this point in time I'm not sure I'll have the energy to do it. Plus I'm already concerned I've given the game away.

Any advice appreciated.

thanks

Carthesis

No point paying for the half-day, as you'll only end up even further out of pocket, as that won't get them to cancel the charge.

Ideally, you should have paid the full price for the day, but if it on't allow you to do that you're a bit hampered.

anothpark

Yeah it won't allow me to do that unfortunately. That's why I thought if I paid for half the day I could use the excessive charge in my appeal and point out I tried to rectify my mistake. But unfortunately that goes against the normal advice for these appeals I believe as that would be an admission I was there

Carthesis

The fact is it wouldn't matter, because they'd still try and have you for not paying the full and correct amount.

Technically, you could write to them and offer to pay the full correct amount to show you were being reasonable. Have you already paid for the half-day over the phone? If so, offering to pay the full "day rate" means a net gain for the operator, which would stand you in good stead.

Forgive the question, but in this case it does make a difference:

You refer obliquely to "a new arrival", which I assume you mean a new child? If so, are you a mummy or a daddy?

If you are a mummy, then you qualify as a "protected characteristic" under the Equality Act, and would be able to point this out to the parking trolls when offering to pay the correct day rate which you obviously totally inadvertently forgot to pay. Combined with your offer to pay the normal day rate to rectify the mistake, you can't then be seen as anything *BUT* reasonable should it ever see court.

Sadly, daddies don't enjoy the same protected status (somewhat ironically!) under the Equalities Act!

Coupon-mad

anothpark wrote: »

Yeah it won't allow me to do that unfortunately. That's why I thought if I paid for half the day I could use the excessive charge in my appeal and point out I tried to rectify my mistake. But unfortunately that goes against the normal advice for these appeals I believe as that would be an admission I was there

Rectifying a mistake doesn't help at appeal stage. You've already admitted you were there by phoning them though.

I've managed to appeal charges successfully before but I feel so drained at this point in time I'm not sure I'll have the energy to do it. Plus I'm already concerned I've given the game away.

Ignore them then - which PPC?

anothpark

Hi, daddy I'm afraid so no rights there!

It's Indigo through ConnectCashless Parking. Finally saw the actual penalty notice for £100 on my windscreen. Absolute con and a joke these companies. Having just renewed my rail ticket as well which is obscene for the service we receive and then having to use their joke car parks.

I feel more refreshed now so pondering waiting for the NTK to see how well it abides by POFA 2012 and appealing then and hoping the fact I admitted I was there other the phone doesn't hold against me! So annoyed at myself a) for forgetting and then b) not thinking when I phoned them about it!

Fruitcake

Was this a railway car park? If so, Byelaws may apply. This is very important as if this is the case, only the train operating company can issue court papers, and only for trespass, and only for six months from the date of the alleged event.
If Byelaws apply, you need to play ping-pong and drag this out for six months.

Did you reveal who was driving, or just that you were present?

anothpark

I think I said "I parked my car" so obviously implied I'm driving. I didn't give my name, just the reg number. Though I think my wife is actually the registered keeper.

It was a railway car park so I guess the bye-laws would apply?

Coupon-mad

anothpark wrote: »

I think I said "I parked my car" so obviously implied I'm driving. I didn't give my name, just the reg number. Though I think my wife is actually the registered keeper.

It was a railway car park so I guess the bye-laws would apply?

Yes and guess what? The byelaws only say that the owner can be liable (and they only know the driver)! hahaha!

anothpark

Do you think it's worth also complaining to the train company in this instance (like it's recommended people complain to shops) I'd literally just renewed an annual season ticket which isn't a small amount of money so I could argue with them that the charge is massively excessive and they clearly haven't lost out that much

Fruitcake

anothpark wrote: »

Do you think it's worth also complaining to the train company in this instance (like it's recommended people complain to shops) I'd literally just renewed an annual season ticket which isn't a small amount of money so I could argue with them that the charge is massively excessive and they clearly haven't lost out that much

Since the train company is the only one who can take you to court, I would just drag this out with Indigo for six months until it is statute barred.