Is it worth appealing by POPLA?

Wman

Hi everyone,

I received a fine from euro car parks for parking in a toby carvery while I was playing football. I have been doing this for months and never got any fines as I never even realised you even had to pay to park there. They must have just installed a ANPR camera there or something.

Anyway, I appealed it with the standard letter I found on here which they rejected.

Now I'm wondering whether to even bother with a POPLA appeal. I just didn't realise it was a paid car park and never noticed the sign, so don't really have any excuses.

They have said if POPLA appeal is rejected then the full fee has to be paid rather than £85. I don't want to have to pay even more.

Any advice would be appreciated - if they are likely to reject me I will just pay the £85 and get it over with. The last letter I received was 2 weeks ago, and I think it is 28 days I have to reply.

I have attached the most recent letter I have received which includes two timestamped photos of my car entering and leaving the carpark. (i have redacted all information which could be traceable).

edit: it appears as a new user I cannot post images as they are links. Sorry everyone.

Thank you all in advance!

The_Deep

I received a fine from euro car parks for parking in a toby carvery while I was playing football.

No, you received an invoice for the damage they suffered when you deprived a genuine diner of a parking space. Whether they are entitled to that money depends on a judge.

If you do pay, bear in mind that nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so also consider complaining to your MP.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, and on 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, an independent appeals service will be set up, and access to the DVLA's date base more rigorously policed, persistent offenders denied access to the DVLA database and unable to operate.

Hopefully life will become impossible for the worst of these scammers, but until this is done you should still complain to your MP, citing the new legislation.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted

Just as the clampers were finally closed down, so hopefully will many of these Private Parking Companies.

Quentin

Throughout here you are advised never to reveal who was driving

You need to edit your post to remove details of who was driving

The ppcs monitor this forum and can use posts in your thread against you in Court

No-one here will advise you to pay!

MistyZ

Any connection between the footy and the Carvery? Do you all traipse in there afterwards? If so, could be that Toby Carvery rather like the footballers .... I'm wondering whether a landowner complaint is worth a shot ...

Wman

UPDATE

Hi All, thank you for your replies:

I did ring Toby Carvery directly, and asked to speak to the manager - I let him know that I was a customer and that it was a genuine mistake and he said he would tell the parking fine company to waive the charge - so happy days!