Reasons for challenging tickets

funinabox

I have used your excellent advice several times now on receiving various tickets in unfair circumstances and made successful appeals. Today I have reread your Newbies advice but I can’t find advice about something which is nagging me.

I have recently received parking tickets from one of my children who has parked in a further education establishment car park and (stupidly) not paid for their parking. So my question is: these companies are clearly a disgrace with unfair practices and disproportionate charges but as my child really should have known better and does not have a valid excuse, do I still challenge?

I am loathe to pay the charges but equally I don’t any chance of them ending up with a potential court case/CCJ and sometimes in life you learn a lesson quicker the hard way 🙃

Many thanks in advance for your much valued help and apologies if you have addressed this many times before. 

Coupon-mad

The answer is, it depends if the signs were clear and depends who the PPC sis, was it F1rst Parking LLP?

D_P_Dance

Do you think that these charges should be more than council fines.  Does the PPC have a valid contract.  Are their signs OK, their paperwork?    In nearly every case you would be right to challenge.  Look how many get thrown out of court. 

funinabox

Coupon-mad said:

The answer is, it depends if the signs were clear and depends who the PPC sis, was it F1rst Parking LLP?

Thanks for the speedy reply. It is Total Parking Solutions.

D_P_Dance

Nine times out of ten these tickets are scams, so consider complaining to your MP, sometimes it can lead to cancellation.,

Parliament is well aware of the MO of these private parking companies, many of whom are former clampers. On 15th March 2019 a Bill was enacted to curb the excesses of these shysters. Codes of Practice are being drawn up, and hopefully this will become law shortly

Snakes_Belly

As other posters have commented much depends on how clear the signage is. Also make sure that all addresses are up to date on all related documents so post does not go astray.

A young relative of mine has just passed their test and bought a car. I fear that he will do something similar. 

Terms and conditions of parking should form part of the driving test. It would save young people being stung with these claims.
  

Coupon-mad

funinabox said:

Coupon-mad said:

The answer is, it depends if the signs were clear and depends who the PPC sis, was it F1rst Parking LLP?

Thanks for the speedy reply. It is Total Parking Solutions.

Not very litigious and IMHO I would wait and see. You can't just get a CCJ, as long as they have your correct address and you don't miss or ignore a claim form, if one ever materialises.

funinabox

D_P_Dance said:

Do you think that these charges should be more than council fines.  Does the PPC have a valid contract.  Are their signs OK, their paperwork?    In nearly every case you would be right to challenge.  Look how many get thrown out of court. 

How would I check out the contract? Unfortunately I don’t live in the area so can’t judge on signs and due to circumstances beyond our control at the moment my child isn’t currently able to go and take photos. Paperwork seems okay.
As for what I think about the charges I think £30 a ticket is bad enough but £60 is ridiculous! 

Snakes_Belly

How would I check out the contract? Unfortunately I don’t live in the area so can’t judge on signs and due to circumstances beyond our control at the moment my child isn’t currently able to go and take photos. Paperwork seems okay.
As for what I think about the charges I think £30 a ticket is bad enough but £60 is ridiculous! 

Where was it? 

Snakes_Belly

The college/university may be able to get the claim cancelled.    

funinabox

Snakes_Belly said:

As other posters have commented much depends on how clear the signage is. Also make sure that all addresses are up to date on all related documents so post does not go astray.

A young relative of mine has just passed their test and bought a car. I fear that he will do something similar. 

Terms and conditions of parking should form part of the driving test. It would save young people being stung with these claims.
  

Totally agree. I like to think I’d brought them up not to be tripped up by these things but the world seems against us particularly with Covid now thrown in for good measure!