Parking app didn't work

Janeyb50

Hello, first time posting here, hoping for some advice.  My daughter received a fine letter that she had parked in EuroCarPark in a carpark with an Automatic number plate recognition.  At the time she parked she tried to use the app and although she got a code it wouldn't accept it.  We live in NI and at that time due to Covid lockdown there was no restriction to park on the street or council run carparks.  As the app wouldn't take her code she assumed the private carpark was the same - no charging during lockdown.  She has written to Euro car park but they haven't accepted her reason.  I know she can take the route of POPLA, but she feels it could be a risk because if they turn her down she will have to then pay £100 whereas now she has to pay £60.   What would you advise.  Many thanks

KeithP

I hope your daughter didn't divulge the driver's identity.

The NEWBIES thread is the best resource around. You'll find it in one of the first five threads on the screen where you found the New Thread button earlier.

Amongst all the other good stuff in there you will see...



So please don't try PoPLA.

Fruitcake

I hope nobody blabbed about the driver's identity. Oh gawd, please tell me the scammers don't know who that was!

It is not a fine.

In NI, a driver can be held liable for a private PCN, but a keeper cannot.
There is no keeper liability in NI, but if the scammers know who was driving then they can be pursued.

The advice for motorists in NI is to ignore PCNs since that ensures the scammers never find out who was driving.

As far as I am aware, only a driver can use PoPLA in NI.

zhonguonuren

Hi OP.  Can you check if the sign said
If you cannot pay, do not park.

Janeyb50

When she wrote to Euro Park, she said she attempted to pay but didn't actually say she was the driver - how does she stand there? Will they assume she is the driver. Can they not pursue it

Coupon-mad

Nothing at all will happen except some laughable letters.  See the 4th post of the NEWBIES thread for her preview! 

It's ECP and it's in NI!    You could not get a more benign combination. The two together means she is perfectly safe but in future, NEVER appeal as driver to a private parking firm. 

And always, very simply, complain to the retailer who can cancel it in 5 minutes flat. Please no asking if it's too late...and for goodness sake no paying it!

D_P_Dance

It is not a fine, it is an invoice from an ex-clamper to compensate them for the alleged harm they suffered when you did what you did. We call it a scam. Pay them not a penny unless a judge so orders it.

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP., it can cause the scammer extra costs, 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 later this year,

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

Janeyb50

Thank you for all the advice