What happens if I ignore smart parking ticket?

Tristanito

Hi, we just had a similar story, we parked our car in Fistral Beach in Newquay during a recent trip to Cornwall. My 3 year old daughter was sick in the car so I went to get a bottle of water whilst she and my wife remained in the car. We left the car park within 12 mins and we are now facing a £60 fine from Smart Parking which will go up to £100 if we don't pay by next week. I've already appealed with Smart Parking but the appeal was rejected on the basis that no matter how long we stayed there we should have bought a ticket. I did explain that it was an emergency situation and that in 12 mins we obviously weren't there for the beach but it doesn't make a difference to them. They provided us with a POPLA code but my question is is it worth challenging this given that I've already told them that I was the driver (unfortunately I read the Newbies thread too late and gave them that information...). Thank you very much for your help.

Quentin

You must start your own thread if you want advice above that in the newbies FAQ thread

Hijacking and resurrection like this just causes confusion

Tristanito

Ah sorry, I created a new thread.

hello007007

Tristanito wrote: »

Hi, we just had a similar story, we parked our car in Fistral Beach in Newquay during a recent trip to Cornwall. My 3 year old daughter was sick in the car so I went to get a bottle of water whilst she and my wife remained in the car. We left the car park within 12 mins and we are now facing a £60 fine from Smart Parking which will go up to £100 if we don't pay by next week. I've already appealed with Smart Parking but the appeal was rejected on the basis that no matter how long we stayed there we should have bought a ticket. I did explain that it was an emergency situation and that in 12 mins we obviously weren't there for the beach but it doesn't make a difference to them. They provided us with a POPLA code but my question is is it worth challenging this given that I've already told them that I was the driver (unfortunately I read the Newbies thread too late and gave them that information...). Thank you very much for your help.

Update - they have refused to give us a POPLA code. They gave us the run around by telling us to write to this email address or that one. I have asked them outright for a POPLA code but they say I asked after the 30 day limit (which is not the case - I contacted them via resolver and email (to appeal) but 30 days passed by the time I filled the online form - I didn't fill the online form first as I want proof of my correspondences/request etc..)

I would use the POPLA code and there's a template on how to write the appeal letter somewhere on Moneysavingexpert.com. I now have to keep all my correspondences for a few years, just in case they take me to court.

As I didnt pay up, I was send a lot of letters from debt recovery company on Smart Parking behalf. I wont deny they were scary but I just ignored them and now they have stopped.

nosferatu1001

State you are making a reasonable request to resolve this issue using their ATAs standard ADR.
The 28 day limit is purely an internal clock, and has no relation to any legal regualtion and is not a maximum as proscribed by their ATA

As such you make one last request to resolve this via ADR, that is open for 14 days. After this point,you will consider the matter closed. It would be unreasonable to refuse this request.

demi55

I have a court date Smart Parking issued me with a court summons and its going ahead in October 2017. Citizens Advice Bureau liaised with Smart Parking Ltd's solicitors SCS Law at Canary Wharf London E14 but they wouldn't cancel. I parked in Matalan's Leytonstone store car park, displaying a valid Blue Disabled Badge and was no more than 35 minutes. SCS Law have been sent letter and copy of Blue Badge and even though I am disabled they are going ahead with county court appearance and paying for a Palantypist for speech-to-text operator as I am deaf and need to know what is being said. I have physical disabilities too.

The ticket was issued or charge was issued in November 2016. I was shocked but couldn't call around to find out what I had done wrong and don't live near the store but since then have found out that any blue badge holders are required to first go into the store and register their blue badge, as if walking wasn't hard enough.

Matalan stated that even when customers did register they still got PCN's issued and caused havoc with Matalan who have now ended their contract with Smart Parking Ltd as endless customers avoiding the car park hence causing retail sales to drop and numerous headaches for store staff trying to resolve endless rogue PCN's with customers

However Matalan still use the policy of requiring Blue Badge Holders to go into the store, queue up at customer services and register if using a Disabled bay. I'm devastated, scared but cannot pay the charges, which are now close to £300 as I couldn't pay so they took it further and issued a court summons which also now carries court fees and solcitors fees.

So yes they do take you to court and I'm dreading it after nearly 11 months of trying to appeal PCN. TBH its seriously affected my mental well being and even though car is my lifeline I ave isolated myself as all attention has gone to this and attending Citizens Advice Bureau as I needed some support and advice.

I have found a link for how many tickets are issued and how many have been taken to court in 2017 seems only one other person so far has been taken to court and looks like I will be No 2 in October. Just thinking about this where I have no solicitor nor can I afford one and communication will be very difficult plus I am not legally trained but have to attend or CCJ which I do not want. If I lose I have been cutting back on essentials and have been for months totally depressed about it and I am getting anxiety attacks about what the outcome will be.

I'm over 60 so this is to me quite malicious when they know I have nothing to fight them with in court and no legal defence. Onwards and upwards I try to remain positive and think of justice for all.

Fruitcake

demi, you were advised to start your own thread back in April if you wanted help with your case, but you never did.

CAB are known to be useless as far as PCNs are concerned so you may seriously want to consider getting help from the experts here, but you don't have much time and may already have shot yourself in the foot if you have followed CAB's advice.

If you do want MSE help, you must start your own thread.

Coupon-mad

demi55 wrote: »

I have a court date Smart Parking issued me with a court summons and its going ahead in October 2017. Citizens Advice Bureau liaised with Smart Parking Ltd's solicitors SCS Law at Canary Wharf London E14 but they wouldn't cancel. I parked in Matalan's Leytonstone store car park, displaying a valid Blue Disabled Badge and was no more than 35 minutes. SCS Law have been sent letter and copy of Blue Badge and even though I am disabled they are going ahead with county court appearance and paying for a Palantypist for speech-to-text operator as I am deaf and need to know what is being said. I have physical disabilities too.

The ticket was issued or charge was issued in November 2016. I was shocked but couldn't call around to find out what I had done wrong and don't live near the store but since then have found out that any blue badge holders are required to first go into the store and register their blue badge, as if walking wasn't hard enough.

Matalan stated that even when customers did register they still got PCN's issued and caused havoc with Matalan who have now ended their contract with Smart Parking Ltd as endless customers avoiding the car park hence causing retail sales to drop and numerous headaches for store staff trying to resolve endless rogue PCN's with customers

However Matalan still use the policy of requiring Blue Badge Holders to go into the store, queue up at customer services and register if using a Disabled bay. I'm devastated, scared but cannot pay the charges, which are now close to £300 as I couldn't pay so they took it further and issued a court summons which also now carries court fees and solcitors fees.

So yes they do take you to court and I'm dreading it after nearly 11 months of trying to appeal PCN. TBH its seriously affected my mental well being and even though car is my lifeline I ave isolated myself as all attention has gone to this and attending Citizens Advice Bureau as I needed some support and advice.

I have found a link for how many tickets are issued and how many have been taken to court in 2017 seems only one other person so far has been taken to court and looks like I will be No 2 in October. Just thinking about this where I have no solicitor nor can I afford one and communication will be very difficult plus I am not legally trained but have to attend or CCJ which I do not want. If I lose I have been cutting back on essentials and have been for months totally depressed about it and I am getting anxiety attacks about what the outcome will be.

I'm over 60 so this is to me quite malicious when they know I have nothing to fight them with in court and no legal defence. Onwards and upwards I try to remain positive and think of justice for all.

Please, please start a new thread. Please. Your case is shocking and we want to rescue you.

We want to help you. Which court? And have you submitted your evidence and Witness Statement yet?

The CAB are worse than useless and I dread to think what they told you to put in defence.

KeithP

Kara_Friel wrote: »

Hi my name is Kara.

<snip the rest>

Hello Kara, it's probably best that you delete your post, for a number of reasons:
1) it appears that your username is your real name, thus making it easy for the PPC to relate your post to a particular incident.
2) you have stated who the driver is, thus making it much easier for the PPC to to get a court case to stick, should it get that far.
3) you really shouldn't post about your incident on someone else's thread, as that can only lead to complications and misunderstandings.

So,
1) delete your post
2) sign up to Mse again with a more anonymous username
3) start your own thread, if necessary
4) never give any clue about who the driver might be - use terms like 'the driver', 'the keeper'. Never I or me.

Kara_Friel

Sorry if I was annoying, just needed reassurance thanks for replying.