Parking Rule ... did you know ? Save money avoiding illegal fines !

Fruitcake

The Blue Badge scheme does not apply on private land, so if you park in a non-council car park you may need to pay even if you have a blue badge. Always check what the terms and conditions are on the signage.
You won't (can't) get a fine for breaching the terms and conditions on signs on private land, but you are very likely to get a parking charge notice and could be taken to court if you don't pay it. The current rate for private parking charges is about 100 000 court cases per year, and about 9 million private parking charges issued per year, mostly at around £70 to £100 a pop.

The private parking industry is unregulated. To say that parking conditions cannot be enforced if signs aren't visible to a disabled motorist is misleading. Private parking companies do not have to follow their trade association's code of practice because it is only for guidance. It is not mandatory. There are no rules other than what the parking company makes up. Note the use of the word, "should" in the BPA's code of practice, and the absence of the word "must". 

A legless war veteran recently lost in court to a private parking company for overstaying. His wheelchair could be seen in the back of the car, and his prosthetic limbs could be seen on the seat next to him whilst he had a nap, but the parking attendant issued a £100 charge notice for not displaying a blue badge (even though the BB wasn't applicable in a private car park). In any case, his blue badge had expired and there was a delay in issuing a new one, so he he couldn't have displayed it anyway even if it had been a lawful requirement. Despite all this, the judge sided with the parking company because the signs stated a BB must be displayed, which he failed to do.
I believe he is appealing the decision as this was a clear breach of the Equality Act 2010

A handful or parking companies will cancel a charge at the initial appeal stage. Most won't because they won't make any money otherwise. An increasing number of parking companies issue court claims to people who have breached their unregulated parking terms.

British Parking Association members offer a second stage appeals service called PoPLA. On average they allow just under 50% of appeals. They are not independent because they are funded by the parking companies. Earlier this year a number of their assessors had to be retrained because they couldn't count to fourteen.
The OP was lucky they fell into the 50% bracket of appeals that are allowed.

International Parking Community members offer a second stage appeals service called the IAS. On average they allow 17% of appeals. They are not independent because they are funded by the parking companies.

MPs in open parliament called these private parking companies rogues, scammers, and bloodsuckers. They deliberately set out to entrap motorists.

If you receive an unfair parking charge for whatever reason as a result of parking on private land, do not pay, do not ignore it, do not reveal the driver's identity (because a keeper has protections in law that a driver does not), and should visit the Motoring, Parking Ticket sub-forum to get the best help available.

Parking Tickets, Fines & Parking — MoneySavingExpert Forum

cantcope

MalMonroe said:

cantcope said:

MalMonroe said:

I really don't think blue badge holders should have to pay anything to park anywhere but it's good to know this - also PCNs from private companies should be challenged anyway. I've had three in the past and fought them all successfully. (There's a separate thread though for this . . .)

why do you think this? a blue badge is for closer access, not free parking... there is no reason why a disabled person cant afford to pay for the carpark the same as everyone else has to.

I think it's mainly because I have a disabled relative and they really struggle to actually just survive. So personal experience, really (although not my own) - and when you struggle on benefits and are disabled too, I just think perhaps we could be kind and give disabled people a break? I'd hate to be in her shoes (well, she only has one leg so shoe, I guess). 

Lots of people think as you do and I think it's really sad. So we can't give people concessions when they are fiercely independent (as is my relative) but would welcome some help. I don't think they should pay, no, I really don't. And I don't think the rest of us should, either to be honest.

Most people think as I do. Impaired mobility doesn't automatically mean financially struggling and personally I think that's a horrible stereotype. Yes lots do struggle, but so do lots of abled people. 
Free parking should be for everyone or nobody not just people with a blue badge. 
I am disabled, I have a motability car and a blue badge. I also have a really well paid job.
I also realise how fortunate I am and that lots of others aren't but don't feel a blue badge should come with free parking too. That's not what it's designed for.

hb2

I live on the south coast of England and we have to pay to park in all car-parks, including those run by the LA. It used to be free for those who were exempt from vehicle tax because of high rate mobility payments; now that tax discs don't have to be displayed that can't be checked easily, so there is now a scheme whereby one can send in the evidence and pay for a permit. 

MalMonroe

unforeseen said:

I don't think they should pay, no, I really don't. And I don't think the rest of us should, either to be honest.

I think we should all be given free food and accommodation as well but that is as divorced from reality as much as your idea of free parking for all. 

Ever heard about tongue-in-cheek comments?  No, I really don't think we should have to pay to park in places like hospitals for a start. Especially when the car parks at hospitals in my city aren't even owned by the NHS (which doesn't profit at all) but by greedy landowners. 

If you've ever read any of the threads/comments by people who have been ripped off by private parking companies too, you may find that you agree with some of them. 

You're obviously someone who goes along to get along and never questions anything. But we aren't all like that. I don't think disabled people should have to pay to park. That's my reality.

Spoonie_Turtle

I think part of the point is that many disabled people don't have a choice. They don't have a choice to go by bus so have to drive*, they don't have a choice to park in the cheaper car park further away, and they need what would otherwise be the premium spaces and shouldn't have to pay premium prices. They also don't often have much of a choice about how long they need to park either; they're not well enough to whizz round a shop to get in and out under the free on-street parking time limit, or the first hour of a paid car park (for example).

(*Those who have to use the bus because they don't have the choice of walking also fall under this principle with bus passes giving free travel.)

I think all these factors combined make it fair to have some form of concession when it comes to paid parking. Different concessions are appropriate for different situations. (Whether current concessions are all appropriate for their circumstances is going even more off-topic!)

unforeseen

MalMonroe said:

unforeseen said:

I don't think they should pay, no, I really don't. And I don't think the rest of us should, either to be honest.

I think we should all be given free food and accommodation as well but that is as divorced from reality as much as your idea of free parking for all. 

Ever heard about tongue-in-cheek comments?  No, I really don't think we should have to pay to park in places like hospitals for a start. Especially when the car parks at hospitals in my city aren't even owned by the NHS (which doesn't profit at all) but by greedy landowners. 

If you've ever read any of the threads/comments by people who have been ripped off by private parking companies too, you may find that you agree with some of them. 

You're obviously someone who goes along to get along and never questions anything. But we aren't all like that. I don't think disabled people should have to pay to park. That's my reality.

Oh dear me. Assumptions make for incorrect responses. 

unforeseen

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I think part of the point is that many disabled people don't have a choice. They don't have a choice to go by bus so have to drive*, they don't have a choice to park in the cheaper car park further away, and they need what would otherwise be the premium spaces and shouldn't have to pay premium prices. They also don't often have much of a choice about how long they need to park either; they're not well enough to whizz round a shop to get in and out under the free on-street parking time limit, or the first hour of a paid car park (for example).

(*Those who have to use the bus because they don't have the choice of walking also fall under this principle with bus passes giving free travel.)

I think all these factors combined make it fair to have some form of concession when it comes to paid parking. Different concessions are appropriate for different situations. (Whether current concessions are all appropriate for their circumstances is going even more off-topic!)

And a lot, if not all, of the points you raise could, and do, also apply to a lot of people that do not qualify for blue badges. 

Spoonie_Turtle

unforeseen said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I think part of the point is that many disabled people don't have a choice. They don't have a choice to go by bus so have to drive*, they don't have a choice to park in the cheaper car park further away, and they need what would otherwise be the premium spaces and shouldn't have to pay premium prices. They also don't often have much of a choice about how long they need to park either; they're not well enough to whizz round a shop to get in and out under the free on-street parking time limit, or the first hour of a paid car park (for example).

(*Those who have to use the bus because they don't have the choice of walking also fall under this principle with bus passes giving free travel.)

I think all these factors combined make it fair to have some form of concession when it comes to paid parking. Different concessions are appropriate for different situations. (Whether current concessions are all appropriate for their circumstances is going even more off-topic!)

And a lot, if not all, of the points you raise could, and do, also apply to a lot of people that do not qualify for blue badges. 

No disagreement here - it's not a perfect system, but I still feel that some people getting the concessions who need them is better than nobody getting the concession at all.

cantcope

Spoonie_Turtle said:

unforeseen said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I think part of the point is that many disabled people don't have a choice. They don't have a choice to go by bus so have to drive*, they don't have a choice to park in the cheaper car park further away, and they need what would otherwise be the premium spaces and shouldn't have to pay premium prices. They also don't often have much of a choice about how long they need to park either; they're not well enough to whizz round a shop to get in and out under the free on-street parking time limit, or the first hour of a paid car park (for example).

(*Those who have to use the bus because they don't have the choice of walking also fall under this principle with bus passes giving free travel.)

I think all these factors combined make it fair to have some form of concession when it comes to paid parking. Different concessions are appropriate for different situations. (Whether current concessions are all appropriate for their circumstances is going even more off-topic!)

And a lot, if not all, of the points you raise could, and do, also apply to a lot of people that do not qualify for blue badges. 

No disagreement here - it's not a perfect system, but I still feel that some people getting the concessions who need them is better than nobody getting the concession at all.

i agree with all points raised. However, lots of people (not all) would also be in receipt of a mobility benefit payment which is designed to cover extra costs. So a taxi door to door if you cant drive or get a bus. 

thepurplepixie

I don't agree with free parking at hospitals.  My local hospital is a short walk from a railway station and before they brought in charges it was full of commuters all day.  A free car park with no spaces was no use to me.