Parking Ticket-Fine-Or Scam??

JackH2019

Hi, I would really appreciate some help with this as I do not know what to do next. I have lived in the UK for 5yrs now and have never come across any of this - it is all new to me.


I have read the Newbie Sticky but have found nothing similar to mine. I will try to keep as clear as possible. This all only came to my attention for the FIRST time when I received an email last week.

• I received an email out of the blue last week from a private parking company confirming receipt of my APPEAL (My FIRST contact from this company)
• I had visited a shopping complex (mall) in early June
• Having found a space, I went to pay & display machine and purchased a ticket
• Having placed the ticket on my dash, (where it could be seen through my windscreen), I walked towards a stairwell to the shops. Before I got to the stairwell, a car park employee walking towards me, saw me leave the area and told me that I was parked in a private area and would be fined if I left my car there.
• I immediately moved my car, still confused that there would be private parking areas in such a car park. ( I absolutely believed that such car parks were for customers of the complex only)
• I have visited the website of the company, viewed the photo’s of my car. It would seem that the photo’s were taken from an overhead camera in the few minutes before the attendant approached me. (One photo shows the ticket on my windscreen, in another it is not there).

Having read online, I see there is a wealth of information on this, and how much of a scourge/con that it is and I am unsure if I should contact them, or ignore them? Where do I stand?


Other points to note are –

• I had to turn into that area – there is NO prominent signage on that turning to warn drivers- I have returned and taken photo’s.
• There is an undersized sign in a dark area- just before the near-side post on the right-hand turn into this area, easily missed when driving.
• There is NO signage on the far-side post of this right-hand turn, which would be most prominent place for a sign to be placed.
• Upon my return, I see small approx. 8 inch square signs high on the back walls.
• I reversed into the parking space as I usually do. These signs are far too high for one to see through the rear-view mirror of a saloon/hatchback.
• There was NO parking fine notice placed on my car. (Are they not required to place a notice on my car?)
• I HAVE NOT made any such appeal as referred to in the email I received
• Their appeal period is 35 days, approximately the period of time it has taken them to contact me by email
• Is it safe to assume that the email is Not a scam, as their website has photo’s of my car?
• It seems most obvious to me that this was done by someone reviewing the footage remotely, rather that the local employees, as the employee I met was nothing but helpful.

I am a full-time single parent, who works full-time. I have a young teenage son who is diagnosed ADHD. I am recovering from a recent minor stroke (TIA). I really could do without the additional hassle, stress and financial cost of this, things are hard enough as it is.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

twhitehousescat

how have they got your email address , have you actually made an appeal ?

which parking company?

waamo

Which ppc is it?

JackH2019

Hi, I have no idea how they have got my email address. That is why I was suspicious of the email.

waamo

That's one question answered now which ppc is it?

JackH2019

I was reluctant to include that as I am sure that they monitor this site?

Le_Kirk

They do that so they can determine if the poster was the driver but then tries to rely on appealing as keeper. Since you appear to have stated (several times) that you were the driver, I doubt it would matter if you inform forum members of the PPC. If you are intending to appeal or otherwise deal with this as keeper, edit your posts to only show actions by DRIVER and KEEPER.

twhitehousescat

ok the info you want is

the parking co are not a member of an ata , distroy email and emigrate

is that a good enough answer

JackH2019

Ok, thanks for the clarification. It was UKPC. I suppose my main enquiry is - have they got me bang to rights, or, have they behaved inappropriately in this?

twhitehousescat

the first question should be , how have UKPC got your email address

even 118 118 cant do that

is the car registered in your name at your address or is it elsewhere , is it a lease /hire car

edit: there was a scam last year , fake emails asking people to log onto fake site

check where email came from and also check if links are genuine

JackH2019

Yes, that is bugging me too. I did move last year but the car is registered in my name at my address. I'm not in a position to check if anything went to my old address, but I'll need to explore that.


It is not a hire/lease car.


I'll re-check the site and come back with anything I that I find.


I'm going to have to 'park' ( pardon the pun! for now as I am at work, and need to get some done. Thanks for your help on this so far.