Amount of parking charge slashed; but not removed.

Palaceman8

As a newbie, I would be very grateful for some advice on how to proceed. I did try searching for a similar case, but I found the Newbies FAQs a bit hard to follow.

My wife is disabled. We visited the Valley Retail Park in Purley Way, parked in a Disabled bay, and put my wife’s Blue Badge on the windscreen. Unfortunately, when we closed the car door, the vibration (I’m assuming this is what caused it) made the Blue Badge slip off the windscreen onto the passenger seat, where it lay still fully open with the details; that’s where it was when we returned to the car. But by that time we had received a parking ticket for parking in a Disabled Bay.

I’m not blaming the parking attendant, because it was a dark night and he presumably only looks at the windscreen. But I wrote to UKPC explaining what had happened, and that the badge was fully on display. I also sent evidence of the Blue Badge. In response they said their view was:
“that the parking charge has been correctly issued so it will not be waived. However…… if payment is received by us within thirty-five days of the date of this letter, we will accept the sum of £15 in full settlement of the parking charge as a gesture of goodwill.”

They went on to explain the appeals process to POPLA, and quoted a verification code. They also went on to warn that if I did appeal:
“you will lose the right to pay the discounted rate of £15, and should POPLA reject your appeal you will be required to pay the full amount of £100”

I really don’t know what to do now. I’m very miffed that they concluded “the parking charge has been correctly issued” without any explanation as to how they reached that conclusion, and I would like to force them to state their reasons for reaching such a conclusion. So part of me, as a matter of principle, wants to write back to UKPC to demand a more detailed reply (although I don’t know where to write to). On the other hand, I am aware that the charge has been reduced to only £15, and I am not sure how much hard work would be required to get this removed altogether. My wife and I are both pensioners, and can’t really afford to lose £100, if you think POPLA might find against us.

So should I challenge the £15 (which on principle I think is very unfair) or given the relatively small sum, should I just pay up? Can I say in advance how grateful I would be for some guidance
Ian

waamo

How much is your time and effort worth? If £15 to make it go away is easy for you then I wouldn't criticise you.

A POPLA appeal is never 100% guaranteed but with time and effort you are highly likely to win.

It's your call really. What I would say though is if they were so sure of winning would they reduce it to £15?

Ralph-y

have a watch of our MP's debating 'scams (Hansard) to give you an idea as to how unfair this all is ...


[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41

Have you complained to the retail park ?

Ralph:cool:
[/FONT]

System

+1 to waamo's suggestion. A day in court would cost you more than that.

They do progress to court for those that refuse the £15 so for peace of mind.

beamerguy

Yes, just what waamo says

"What I would say though is if they were so sure of winning would they reduce it to £15?"


UKPC are simple scammers.

They are just trying to suck the last buck from you

I would reject their silly offer and demand it is cancelled.
I mean, they may like to explain to a judge why they have
devalued their fake claim by so much because UKPC
don't do a "gesture of good will" .... they are scammers.

Demand it is cancelled.

UKPC are such a stupid company

fisherjim

As said above it's up to you, UKPC target easy money, and of course their muppet could have seen your badge had he looked for it, but that does not make them money.

They know that targeting disable badge holders is bad, and bad publicity but occasionally give these "good will" gestures where they are on a sticky wicket or the landowner won't allow them to take it any further than threatening letters.

But it is up to you, fight it with all the time and effort, or pay their admin costs for their [STRIKE]tame incentivised muppets greed[/STRIKE] mistake!

The_Deep

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of contracts for alleged parking offences. [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Parking Eye, Smart and a smaller company have already been named and shamed, as has Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Lega;, (who take hundreds of these cases to court, and nearly always lose), who have also been reported to the regulatory authority. [/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]The problem has become so rampant that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers. Watch the video of the Second Reading in the HofC recently.[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]and complain in the most robust terms to your MP. With a fair wind most of these companies may well be put out of business by Christmas.[/FONT]

Palaceman8

I can't thank people enough for taking the time and trouble to make all these helpful replies.

What I'd like to do - at least as a first step - is to write back to UKPC to say that I cannot make a decision on whether to appeal or not until they give a clear explanation for the basis of turning down my challenge, given that their only rationale is that the "parking charge was correctly issued" without explaining how that can be when the Blue Badge was open and on display on the seat. If they refuse to answer that question, so that I can make reasoned decision as to whether to appeal or not, I would argue they are effectively forcing me into an appeal. I presume that wouldn't go down well with POPLA.

However, I am not clear as to how I can go about writing back to UKPC. The email which sent the decision was from a "No Reply" address. Does anyone have an email address for them to which I can write back?

waamo

If you send that to them you lose the £15 offer.

If you want to appeal go to the top of this forum and look for a thread that tells Newbies to read it first.

In that thread are templates to use. I would caution against going off piste with appeal letters.

Ralph-y

"is to write back to UKPC to say that I cannot make a decision on whether to appeal or not until they give a clear explanation for the basis of turning down my challenge,"

have you watched the MP's video link that was posted a few posts ago?

if so you will realise that any thing you right to to them is pointless

they will make more stuff up .... they are 'cowboys' 'scammers' 'rouges' (Hansard)

they only want your £££ they do not do reason .. in any way or form...

good luck what ever you decide

Ralph:cool:

fisherjim

Palaceman8 wrote: »

I can't thank people enough for taking the time and trouble to make all these helpful replies.

What I'd like to do - at least as a first step - is to write back to UKPC to say that I cannot make a decision on whether to appeal or not until they give a clear explanation for the basis of turning down my challenge, given that their only rationale is that the "parking charge was correctly issued" without explaining how that can be when the Blue Badge was open and on display on the seat. If they refuse to answer that question, so that I can make reasoned decision as to whether to appeal or not, I would argue they are effectively forcing me into an appeal. I presume that wouldn't go down well with POPLA.

However, I am not clear as to how I can go about writing back to UKPC. The email which sent the decision was from a "No Reply" address. Does anyone have an email address for them to which I can write back?

They would simply say that you broke the terms and conditions that are clearly displayed in the car park, to clearly display a current disabled badge on the dash of the car, now pay up.

But you are wasting your time now, you either pay up or go on to the POPLA stage.