Oxford City Council mistyped registration

yllop1101

I received a ticket following a visit to a council owned park and ride service. I had bought a ticket (which didn't need to be displayed), however returned to my car to see a PCN on the windscreen.

The reason for the ticket is 'causing a vehicle to be parked without making valid payment for such parking'.

I had paid for my ticket, and I do have proof of this. The proof showed a mistyped number plate, e.g. if my number plate is 'P10 YOL' it was typed 'PP10 YOL'.

I was just going to send the following letter:


Dear XXXX

I was disappointed to see that upon returning to my car on the 16th of August 2017, I had received a car parking ticket. I remembered paying for my ticket that morning, in cash, and retrieved the receipt of this from my purse (see attached).

As you will see from the copy, a typing error was made and there was no intention to deprive you of revenue.

I remembered entering the number plate in the morning, and I always count the beeps that the machine makes so I know I’ve pressed the button properly. When I returned to the car park the next day (see 2nd ticket as proof of my return) I entered my registration a few times on the same machine, and the ‘Y’ key stuck, not triggering an extra beep.

I therefore believe that the typo on the ticket that resulted in me incurring this fine, is not my fault and is in fact a result of an error of your machine.

I kindly ask that you waive the fine in light of this, and I shall endeavour to double check my ticket in the future.

If you wish to attempt to enforce the fine, I would like proof from a certified engineer, that the machine has been checked, specifically the keyboard, and you are sure that the keyboard is fully functioning. I would also like a POPLA code, as it is my intention to appeal the ticket, as you suffered no loss of revenue

I would lastly like to ask you to see this from my perspective and imagine the shoe was on the other foot. If your employer issued me a ticket and had mistyped the number plate on the PCN, and I highlighted this, would this invalidate the PCN? I know from forums, and friends’ experiences that this isn’t the case, and a ticket with the correct number plate is reissued, stating that the typo doesn’t invalidate the ticket. Therefore, I do not see how MY typo invalidates my ticket.

Yours Sincerely,
XXXX


Please can you advise whether to send the letter as typed above, or whether to use a different approach. It is SO frustrating, and I find the sticky thread quite hard to understand, so am unclear on the best route.

All help appreciated!!

Redx

my advice is the same as I gave in this other council matters thread

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5695944

Coupon-mad

I had paid for my ticket, and I do have proof of this. The proof showed a mistyped number plate, e.g. if my number plate is 'P10 YOL' it was typed 'PP10 YOL'.

Sounds like you can win this on appeal but it might take 2 or 3 stages. Pepipoo forum will help you.

I find the sticky thread quite hard to understand,

It's for private parking tickets only - yours is a Council Penalty, so the sticky thread is not for you (this time).

Easy enough to appeal a Council PCN, and win (you should do, in the end) but pepipoo are the experts.

yllop1101

Thanks both, have posted on pepipoo.
No wonder I couldn't make sense of the sticky thread!
I'll post back the outcome if it's helpful.

mistercesq

I know the machines you are talking about and I am convinced they are designed to catch you out. The letters appear to be in a random order on the machine and also they don't recognise if you make a mistake like put in a 0 instead of a O.

yllop1101

The letters are in alphabetical order as opposed to a normal keyboard, who knows why, as who has learnt to type on an alphabetical keyboard?!

Incase it helps anyone, my reply to them was as follows (this was after advice to not be angry or accusatory in the first instance):


Dear Oxford City Council,

I was disappointed and confused to see that upon returning to my car on the 16th of August 2017, I had received a car parking ticket, stating that I had parked without making valid payment.

I immediately retrieved the receipt that I had put in my purse that morning, to see that my registration number was wrong, with 'PP10 HOL' instead of 'P10 HOL'. It was never my intention to deprive you of revenue, and I didn't spot the typo as I was rushing for the bus that was waiting, holding my handbag, gym bag and lunch bag, with my purse open trying to get the right change for the bus.

I am not sure how the typo occurred as I am usually careful to count the beeps as I press each button, so I wonder if the Y button was a bit sticky.

Nonetheless, I paid for the parking in good faith, and made an honest mistake. As you will see, I live in XXXX and travel to Oxford at least 2 days a week as I am currently involved in research with the University. The long drive often leaves me a little bit stressed, and rushed too.

I apologise for my error, and will endeavour to check my tickets in the future. I ask that you kindly, on this occasion and in light of it being my first 'offence', cancel the charge. I think this would demonstrate action in line with Government Fairness Guidance, as it is not in the public interest that you pursue honest individuals for a mere typing error, made whilst using one of your machines.

As a slight aside, I would hope to see in the future use of machines that make the most of technologies capabilities, where the ANPR cameras are linked to the parking machines, so only correct number plates can be entered and therefore invalid tickets cannot be purchased. These machines are in use in other car parks and make for a user friendly approach, eliminating the possibility of typos.

I hope this letter has been received in the good natured way it is intended, and I shall await your reply.

With best wishes,
NAME.

I received a reply within 24 hours, saying they will cancel my ticket on this occasion, and to be more careful in future as they may not cancel it again. I consider my wrist slapped!!