Saba Parking Fine - Help

GHNHS1979

Help...please... (I know in the great scheme of things this might not seem the worst, but this is seriously making me panic). 

I parked my car in a parking area at Southeastern Railway car park controlled by Saba Parking. 

No yellow lines, not across any bays or obstructing anyone or cross hatchlings etc etc. But what I only now know to be not in a bay... albeit ... the sign only refers to blocking bays, parking across bays, more than one bay, on yellow lines of which there are areas with lines... etc etc. 

This is not one of those areas, it genuinely causes no grief at all. Having parked there for years, paid ticket, no issue. All of a sudden with what I’m guessing new ticket enforcement officer, or identified a way to take advantage. 

Get a ticket, genuinely don’t know why... so, reply online asking why and photographic evidence. 

They say they’ll get back to me within 14 days, 22 days later reply saying my appeal is rejected... I reply saying I haven’t appealed yet, I was merely asking why I’d been issued a ticket and proof of contravention. I submit with this a full appeal including photographs etc etc...
This is ignored for a further 10 days, I’m chasing it and eventually them cut and paste original email of rejection. 

I’ve said, now three times, that I haven’t had a chance to appeal, no one has reviewed it properly, could someone please review it as it’s obvious a mistake has been made. I get a reply saying they are governed by codes of practice of the British Parking Associations. 

I’ve read through it.....and, it says they Must review all information provided to them (they haven’t) and record all Actions taken to resolve matter (taken none) other than to refuse to even read the appeal having now been sent to them numerous times... in each email I’ve said how simple it would be they could just scroll to the bottom of each email and read the appeal that it’s reasonable to do so, and to deliberately ignore it and delay matters purposefully is malpractice. I’m ignored and then told that they (or he, Dan Nolan for anyone else reference) will not communicate with me any further and a debt collector has now been notified. 

I am freaking out. I can’t explain how much this is seriously stressing me out. I know what I’m right in terms of the parking.... it doesn’t contravene the conditions; no, it’s not a bay, but the sign makes no reference to parking areas only bays. Everywhere else that’s not appropriate to park has yellow lines, there’s three areas that are uncontrolled. Equally, the way I’ve been handled regarding the appeal, or rather not been given the opportunity to appeal is just underhand and dishonest..... but this is actually scaring me I’m going to have bailiffs turn up at my house and I just don’t have the £170.... and no doubt rising costs .... to pay it... 
Im going to be emailing and calling the debt collectors to show I’m not hiding anything and happy to discuss it..... but this is just wrong. 

Please, any advice or help is really needed. 

Umkomaas

1. Is the letter you've received headed 'Parking Charge Notice' or 'Penalty Charge Notice' (please check, don't guess)?

2. What was the date of your parking event?

but this is actually scaring me I’m going to have bailiffs turn up at my house and I just don’t have the £170

Impossible unless this has been to court, the Judge has awarded costs against you and you've failed to pay by the deadline. Get this out of your head, it won't happen. 

Im going to be emailing and calling the debt collectors to show I’m not hiding anything and happy to discuss it..... 

You'll do nothing of the sort, unless you want a torrent of abuse and threat from an aggressive jerk, the only thing he'll be concerned about you hiding is your chequebook. Just don't go there, instead, please read the NEWBIES FAQ sticky, fourth post, to get the full lowdown on debt collectors. 

STOP PANICKING!

Half_way

have you identified the driver?
have you used terms such as I parked, he parked, she parked, my friend parked or anything else like that?

Fruitcake

If the answers to all of Half-way's questions are No, then edit your post before you do anything else to remove information about what.
Only ever refer to The Driver and The Keeper who are two different people. The Keeper has protections in law that The Driver does not. This is especially important where byelaws apply.

It is quite obvious that you have yet to read the sticky thread for NEWBIES than asks you to read it before you start a new thread.

Once you have worked out whether you have blabbed about the driver's identity and amended your first post if necessary, then start reading the NEWBIES. You will need several brews and a plate of biscuits, and need to take notes. Pick out the bits that are relevant as there will be a lot that doesn't apply.

D_P_Dance

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs and work, and in some cases, cancellation.

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.

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.