Appealed before reading here oops

HelpPlease123

Hello!

Got a fine from Euro Car Parks. Parked in there for 20 mins and sat in my car following someone driving into me (was minor but needed somewhere to settle down). Didn't realise I was supposed to pay - dark and rainy, didn't notice signage with what had just happened.

So I got a letter through today. Already sent a message of appeal where I said I was the driver and told the honest story. Obviously hadn't had a look at these forums or I would've just ignored!

What can I do now? Will I have to pay because I admitted in the appeal to being the driver?

The_Deep

You should not pay a penny unless a County Court Judge tells you too, but imo that will not happen. Popla will probably reject your appeal, but a judge is likely to take a more pragmatic view, sit it out nd hope the judge recognises this PCN as the scam it is. In the meantime, complain t your MP.

It is the will of Parliament that these scammers be put out of business. Hopefully that will take place in the near future. The Bill has passed through the HOC without hitch, and goes to the Lords soon. In the meantime involve your MP, the poor dears are buckling under the weight of complaints about these scammers. Read this one which I wrote earlier

This is an entirely unregulated industry which is scamming the public with inflated claims for minor breaches of alleged contracts for alleged parking offences, aided and abetted by a handful of low-rent solicitors. Is has been suggested by an MP that some of these companies may have connections to organised crime.

Parking Eye, CPM, Smart, (especially Smart}, and others have already been named and shamed in the House of Commons as have Gladstones Solicitors, and BW Legal, (these two law firms take hundreds of these cases to court each week), hospital car parks and residential complex tickets have been especially mentioned. They lose most of them, and have been reported to the regulatory authority by an M.P. for unprofessional conduct

The problem has become so widespread that MPs have agreed to enact a Bill to regulate these scammers.

Sir Greg Knight's Private Members Bill to curb the excesses, and perhaps close down, some of these companies passed its Third Reading in late November, and, with a fair wind, will become Law next year.

All three readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 6-7 hours), and published in Hansard. MPs have an extremely low opinion of the industry. Many are complaining that they are becoming overwhelmed by complaints from members of the public. Add to their burden, complain in the most robust terms about the scammers.

Redx

its not a "fine" , its an invoice

ECP cannot "fine" anyone in the UK, they are not an authority and dont have the power

if you park on a P & D car park, you pay quickly, leave quickly or risk an invoice for up to £100

you can argue about technicalities like poor and indequate and unlit signage etc, you may win , you may not

but they have a fish on the hook with their tempting bait and they could pursue this to civil court and a judge could decide

its either fight or pay, your choice

HelpPlease123

Thanks for replies! What's the likelihood of it going to court? It sounds scary so feel like I would rather pay the £50 just so I don't worry about it - but then I know it's unfair and just reinforces their power! Tricky tricky

KeithP

HelpPlease123 wrote: »

Thanks for replies! What's the likelihood of it going to court?

Slim.

Other opinions are available.

HelpPlease123

KeithP wrote: »

Slim.

Other opinions are available.

What are my options?

nosferatu1001

OPINIONS not options
Slim chance of court. And court isnt scary. Its mostly dull.