Parking Eye - full reg entered but only first 4 digits on ticket

bosarahj

We've appealed a parking charge notice from Parking Eye and today have received a response stating our appeal has been rejected on the grounds that the incorrect registration was entered and that as a gesture of goodwill the fine has been reduced to £20 for 14 days. We got no response to our first appeal notice so this is a response to the second (which had the exact same information/attachments).

The thing is, the correct (full) registration was entered but only the first part of the registration printed on the ticket. We checked with Holiday Inn who own the car park who confirmed that it should be fine and that we should retain the ticket just in case, which we did.

We can't see that there is a way to respond to the appeal letter and I understand the next step would be to complain to POPLA. In your experience, should we just pay the £20 (which seems totally unfair as we paid and didn't overstay!) or should we continue the fight. If the latter, what can we expect or any tips on ensuring a successful appeal?

onlyfoolsandparking

Oh it definitely is unfair borderline scam to be blunt BUT you have got to ask yourself what value do you put on your time?


Nobody here will advise you to pay me included but again it depends how much you value your time, in other words scumpanies like Parking Lie are beatable but it often takes a multitude of time and effort to beat them, this can include playing letter Ping-Pong, getting and ignoring a plethora of scumbag debt begging letters and potentially culminating in a genuine County Court claim form which you MUST defend.


Some may argue that because Parking Lie have offered you 'their' very generous discount they KNOW they are in the wrong and odds are stacked against them in Court but as is common knowledge these parking scammers are not interested in fairness and will go to Court just because they can.


Others will be along (more experienced regulars) to give better advice than me but ultimately the decision will be yours in the end.

The_Deep

As a gesture of goodwill, tell them to F.O.A.D. Many judges regard these wrong VRN claims as a trifle, and the law does not concern itself with trifles,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_minimis

PE are aware that the technology exists to eliminate these arrores, but choose not to engage it in order to frighten the sheeple into paying, it is one huge scam, pay them not one penny unless a judge so orders. The likelihood of that is, imo, remote.

The fact that they are willing to accept £20 indicates that they know their claim is weak.

The whole industry is a scam, relying on threats of court, and the public's ignorance of the Law, A bill is currently before parliament which will regulate the scammers, many of whom are ex-clampers.

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 Second Reading in the Lords this month, and, with a fair wind, will l become Law later this year..

All five readings are available to watch on the internet, (some 7-8 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.

Typing_Grandma

I have the same problem as bosarahj. In an Amersham car park last October I entered full, correct reg plate details and noticed on the printed ticket that only last three digits were showing. Didn't think anything of it... not much I could have done about it anyway. Displayed the ticket correctly, shopped and returned to car well within time limit. Ten days later I received a PCN from Parking Eye. I have been corresponding ever since; to Parking Eye, to POPLA, to BPA and to my MP. Parking Eye just said that I had inputted the incorrect details - not true. If push comes to shove, I value the opportunity to put my case before a judge; I entered correct details, I paid, I displayed my ticket; I left in good time... what case is there to answer? Perhaps their machines are not fit for purpose? I am satisfied to hear that there are others who have had the same problem, thought it was just me!

The_Slithy_Tove

bosarahj wrote: »

We checked with Holiday Inn who own the car park who confirmed that it should be fine and that we should retain the ticket just in case, which we did.

Oh, how generous of them - not. Holiday Inn's attitude to their customers getting tickets from PE is pretty shoddy. Go back to them, and INSIST that they INSTRUCT ParkingEye to cancel the ticket. Don't take any BS from them if they claim it's nothing to do with them. They have already told you "it should be fine", but it won't be "fine" until you get a notice of cancellation from PE in writing.

The fact that they are offering to settle for £20 shows that they know they are on shaky ground.

Fruitcake

If the hotel chain own the car park then you should be making forceful complaints to the hotel manager/CEO. The payment machine is obviously faulty and if parking lie are employed by the hotel, Holiday Inn are jointly liable.

Personally I would go for a PoPLA appeal, but it's your £20 quid. If this was a Nigerian scammer asking for your money, would you pay it?

Is it possible to return to the hotel and take a video of the faulty system whilst typing in a VRN? I have seen a problem at a hospital where the cuff of my jacket caused the touch screen to input something different to what I was typing. Hovering over the screen but not actually touching it also caused problems.

Also, complain to your MP about this unregulated scam.