Parking Fine when car at Mechanics?!!

Biliskn3r

Hi all, firstly thank you to all those who contribute to this forum. I was here 2 years ago researching ParkingEye's evil practices and POPLA options and I'm glad to say that due to the volunteer work of all participants on here, the fine by PE was cancelled (the Starbucks receipts definitely helped IMO, and also the grace period rule, I was 3 minutes "over"). Sincere thanks.

Today I got another fine, this time by the Council. Apparently my car was in a "restricted zone" at 2.30pm. Thing is, I dropped my car at Halfords at 7.30am and parked where they told me to park (outside their reception desk car spot, which wasn't hard because I was on the only/first car there). This was mid-November 2018. Today, almost 6 weeks later, I get my local council letter to say the fine was not paid. So two things:

1. My car was obviously moved, and then got a ticket wherever it was moved to
2. Halfords removed the ticket from my windscreen when they got a fine resulting in a letter through the post (I picked up the car at 6pm with no issue)

Anyone else experience this? I've called Halfords and the "manager is not in today". Apparently he will sort it out on Monday. Just curious to see if anyone has gone through the official council website to appeal and been successful. A parking ticket of £70 on top of the £750 car service sort of leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.

I also feel like I need to say your parking-private-companies in UK is out of control. I thought Sydney/Melbourne Australia was bad, but UK is on a totally different (worse) level!!! Fight this all the way, it can definitely be better (EG: less corrupt and less about thieving money off unsuspecting motorists). Unbelievable.

Thanks again
D

Le_Kirk

If it is a council ticket, you would be advised to take this to Pepipoo as they are used to dealing with council tickets whereas this forum majors on PPC's

elsien

I'd be wanting Halfords to pay it if you're sure the ticket isn't from where you originally parked it. Plus querying why they then decided not to tell you about the ticket.

Biliskn3r

Thanks for the advice all. Just a quick note here to say they finally resolved the issue last Friday (how many weeks has it been?), after about 1 and a half to 2 hours on the phone (the many phones calls added up).

The "Finance department" even had the audacity to say they'll pay half the fine, £35 because we left it in an area which was restricted but acknowledge there isn't any parking in the block. Ok... Well... if there's no parking then what do you want us to do? Find another mechanic? We might just do that, thanks for the tip. And what's £70 after paying them x10 more for the service?

Anyway, after 2 phone calls and exchange of Emails, Finance finally caved and will pay the £70. Don't let that break the Company will you. SMH Halfords, SMH.

The_Deep

after about 1 and a half to 2 hours on the phone (the many phones calls added up).

Why do people try to deal with these matters on the telephone? No wonder they get themselves in a mess. Always start a paper trail, judges love them.

Coupon-mad

I can never recommend Halfords Autocentre (known as Halfrauds online, I see).

Me and my DD had a run in with them before Christmas. They tried to overcharge her, no doubt saw her as an easy target as she is a young driver and looks about 18 even though she isn't.

We went storming in; women on a mission...

She didn't pay the 'made up overcharge' (they gave two different stories for it) and we won, never to return!