Parking Permit Fine

question1

Hello people,

I've tried the search function, but can't seem to limited to just searching the relevant section and can't find what I'm looking for.

Really would appreciate some help with this. Last time I posted in here a few people got really upset that a question I asked had been posted before, so hope nobody gets offended or upset with this one.

Summary
I received 2 x parking tickets from the council for parking in a residents parking zone within 2 days, in the same space.

The space I had been parking in for the last 8 years, but has recently changed to a controlled zone.
The day it went live, I purchased the permit online via the council website.
The space I parked in is the closest to my flat.

After the first ticket, I challenged it right away via the online form and got an automated reply to say that a response typically takes 30 days and will be received via post.
2 days later I got another ticket for £30 in the same spot, so again I went online, filled in the form expecting it to be a mistake and assuming my details hadn't yet shown up on the system the warden was using.

Anyway, about 10 days later (and still parking in the same spot every day as assumed it was a system error), I get a rejection notice telling me that I don't have a permit for that zone.
On the rejection email it stated the zone I had paid for, which was RR and I had parked in a BR zone.

I checked the only 2 emails I had received from them at the time of paying for my permit, and nowhere on there does it mention which zone. So, I then went and checked all the parking signs near me and they are all for BR.
Emailed the council back with photos and explained all this. They told me that when I was on the website buying my permit, it would have shown the zone code.
Maybe it did, but I didn't write it down as I expected to have received either an email or something in the post with the details.
But with them, they only send out a receipt of payment and the resident parking permit number. Literally nothing else.

Since getting rejected again for that, I managed to find (not straightforward), the parking zones map on the website.
It turns out that I live on the border of the zone, so I need to park in the block across the road. To get there involves driving maybe half a mile around the block as its all one way systems.

So I went back to them and explained that it wasn't clear where I was supposed to park. I never received anything specifying where I can park.
And like most people, I would assume that I could park nearest to where I live. On that reply, I copied in my local MP's and one guy called me back and discuss this with me over the phone for 30+ minutes. On a Sunday afternoon!
Anyway, he emailed the lady in charge and copied me in stating pretty much what I had and that it wasn't made clear which zones I could park in and that it's counter-intuitive that I can't park where I had parked.
The response he got was pretty much the same. That it was my responsibility to look up which zone my permit related to and the map to show where.

He's advising me to follow the appeal process, which I have and keeps getting rejected.

I don't know what else to do now? I still have about 2 weeks to sort this out.

I would be more than willing to go to court and defend myself on this as I think any rational person can clearly see it was an honest mistake. And it makes no sense that I would pay out £86 for a permit, then park where I'm not allowed.

So now its a case of the council wanting to fine/tax/punish it's residents regardless of circumstances.
Ultimately I have paid for a permit to be allowed to park my one car in one space near my flat. This is what I had done, and by doing so I had not taken anyone elses space or cause grief or loss to anyone, yet I am being made to feel like I'm trying to cheat them out of money or breaking the law.

What can I do?

Coupon-mad

He's advising me to follow the appeal process, which I have and keeps getting rejected.

What, you've had the Notice to Owner in the post and have appealed that, and have appealed to an adjudicator too?

Those are the next stages with a Council PCN, you wait for the NTO for your second go. Then Adjudicator (a meeting, fairly informal) is your third go.

If you are not yet at NTO stage and as long as you own the car, await the NTO then post on pepipoo forum, where the Council PCN experts are:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=30

You cannot register & post with a Hotmail email and if you are not yet at NTO stage there is no point posting YET. Show them the NTO when it arrives, and pics of the signs.

question1

Thanks for your help!

Ok cool, I haven't yet had the NTO's. From the council, I've actually had nothing through the post. Just via email, although the auto-reply state a response will be given by post within 30 days.

Here is a copy of the last email (pdf letter) I received from them. 2 the same, one for each ticket 2 days apart in the same space.

Dear Mr xxxx
Notice of Decline: Traffic Management Act 2004
Penalty Charge Notice: EA02149976
Date of Contravention: 25/05/2018 09:52
Location of Contravention: North Road (W5)
Nature of Contravention: 19w Parked in a residents' or shared use parking place or zone either displaying an invalid permit or voucher or pay and display ticket, or after the expiry of paid for time
Vehicle Registration Number: xxxx

NOTICE OF DECLINE OF CHALLENGE

Thank you for writing to us regarding the above Penalty Charge Notice.
As was explained in our previous letter, we have considered what you say but we have decided not to cancel your Penalty Charge Notice.

Your vehicle was parked in a resident's parking place, there is clear signs in place at the location to advise motorists of the restrictions.
You were given this Penalty Charge Notice for parking without clearly displaying valid documentation or having a valid virtual permit or payment transaction in place.

The place where you parked is not inside the area that your permit covers. It is always best to check the signs as they say which area you are in. Your permit is for Zone RR but you were parked in Zone GP.

We have noted the points raised in your letter. However, it is the driver!!!8217;s responsibility to be aware of any and all parking restrictions before choosing to park at a certain location and to ensure their vehicle is parked legally. As such a cancellation of this PCN is not warranted.

Please see below for more information about the appeals procedure.

You can still pay the penalty charge at the discounted rate of £30 as long as payment is received before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date that this Notice of Decline is served on you. If we do not receive payment before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with the date that this Notice of Decline is served on you then the full amount of £60 will become due.
If you want to pay, please see the How to pay section at the end of this letter. It is the date that payment arrives in our office that is considered relevant in relation to payment of the PCN. Please note that not all credit/debit cards are accepted.

Our Ref: EA02149976
13 June 2018

If the PCN remains unpaid after the end of the period of 28 days beginning with the date on which this Notice of Decline is served on you, we will send a Notice to Owner (NTO) to the registered keeper of the vehicle. A person on whom a Notice to Owner is served will be entitled to make formal representations to us against the penalty charge and may appeal to an adjudicator if those representations are rejected.
The formal representations must be made in the form and manner and within the time specified in the Notice to Owner.
It is not possible to appeal to an adjudicator without first making formal representations to us. Please do not make a further challenge as we reserve the right to disregard any further correspondence related to the notice before the NTO is served.

If you need any further information with regards to the PCN, please contact the Customer Services automated information line on 020 8825 6565. Alternatively you use the !!!8216;manage my Penalty Charge Notice online!!!8217; function available via !!!8216;parking!!!8217; at https://www.ealing.gov.uk.
How to Pay

!!!61623; Online at https://www.ealing.gov.uk and follow the links to pay online.
!!!61623; By phone 020 8825 6565 (24 hours) !!!8211; have your Penalty Charge Notice Number ready.
!!!61623; By post Please make your cheque or postal order payable to !!!8216;Ealing Council!!!8217;, write your Penalty Charge Number (see above) and vehicle registration number on the back, then send it to:
Ealing Council Parking Services, PO Box 46264, London W5 2UN.
!!!61623; In person at Ealing Council Customer Service Centre, Perceval House, 14-16 Uxbridge Road, Ealing London W5 2HL. Opening times are Monday !!!8211; Friday 9.00am-5.00pm (except on 2nd Wednesday of every month 10.00am-5.00pm). You can pay by cash, cheque, postal orders or card. Please note that the cash payment facilities in the Customer Service Centre are subject to change; please check before starting your journey.
Yours sincerely
S Nisbeth
For and on behalf of Ealing Parking Services

Quentin

You need to take this to pepipoo for best advice as already advised


This forum deals with private parking invoices rather than proper council tickets

waamo

This needs to be on Peppipo. Follow the link given above. They are the experts in council tickets. You will get far more help there.

question1

Thanks all. Just registered at Peppipo and will post up in there.

Coupon-mad

Yes but I told you already, no point yet...wait for the NTO, I said.

There is NO ACTION to take right now.