Parking Fine - Entered last 3 digits Only

chuggers

Hi

Hope someone can help or guide me.

I received a PCN from Britannia Parking for £100.

I had overlooked the instructions at the pay machine and only entered the last 3 digits of my vehicle reg. The PCN says contravention 'Failed to make a Valid payment.'

How can a payment be INVALID? A payment is a payment, they've had my money and I have a ticket to prove this with part of my Reg on.

So I appealed, sent a copy of my ticket showing payment but as I mentioned only displaying the last 3 digits.

They have not completely quashed the fine but have made a reduction to £20 only.

I still feel that I shouldn't have to pay this as they are not out of pocket by any means.

Should I appeal further to POPLA or accept this reduced fine.

Thank you for any help.

Coupon-mad

It's not a fine. It's a scam invoice but whether you pay £20 to make it go away has to be your decision. Some people do, when it's £15 - £20.

The point about the wrong digits will not win it at POPLA but that is not to say that this won't be won by using our POPLA templates from post #3 of the NEWBIES thread. And if you lose at POPLA, then you can still win in court (see how Britannia crashed and burned at Southampton on Monday - read CEC16's thread).

Beating a PPC in court is fun, and there is no risk of huge costs or a CCJ as long as you don't ignore any court letters or deadlines.

Maybe you will win it at POPLA though, up to you how far you wish to take it but if you go ahead to POPLA stage then you are in it for the long run because only someone truly stupid and gullible would then pay the sum of £100, to avoid winning in court!

chuggers

Thanks for the advice.
I will read up on CEC16's thread.

The_Deep

The point about the wrong digits will not win it at POPLA

But it is very like to win in court, many judges regard such claims as trifles

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

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]It is not a fine, it is an invoice from an ex- clamper for damages for the harm they allege they suffered when you did what you did. We call it a scam. Pay them not one penny unless a judge so orders it.[/FONT]

[FONT=Times New Roman, serif]Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP after the election, it can cause the scammer extra costs and work.

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers, 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.

[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2019/8/contents/enacted[/FONT][FONT=Times New Roman, serif]

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