Parking Penalty Merseyrail

jayeddo

Hi everyone, any help would be appreciated. I parked my car for 4 weeks while I went on holiday to Spain to celebrate me and my wife's anniversary. I parked my car at a local railway carpark for customers. I purchased a return ticket to the airport. I was under the impression this was perfectly ok. Due to the signage saying 'stress free park and ride  'use the train not the car'.  Also upon a quick inspection of the car park there was no signs to say parking overnight was not allowed, just plenty of signs saying parking for customers only. I was a customer who  booked a return ticket from my local station to the airport. I return from my holiday to three tickets on my car. citing breach of Merseyrail Byelaws, section 14 overnight parking. Warning signs are displayed within the carpark. (no there isn't). I have emailed them to say I'm sorry I have misinterpreted your carpark use would it be possible to pay the three £30 discounted fines rather than the three £60 for not paying within 14 days.

Do I have a leg to stand on? Feel very exploited as the signage promotes using the railway instead of driving and nothing about overnight parking? 

Thanks for the replies in advance.

Half_way

do not under any circumstances name or attempt to name the driver.

Never use terms like I parked, I drove etc

this is even more important with railway cases/by laws in play

jayeddo

Already have, am i screwed? I said I parked there but felt misled by your signage.  

Half_way

get some photos of the car park if you can, including any signs.

 was / is this a free car park

jayeddo said:

Already have, am i screwed? I said I parked there but felt misled by your signage.  

not entirely screwed but by admitting the driver you have made things a little harder.

 you could also try a railway forum - this one specialises in railway issues, including by-laws https://www.railforums.co.uk/forums/disputes-prosecutions.152/

Unicorn51

Your not alone.

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/man-comes-back-night-out-21647835

jayeddo

Went back to check the car park, upon second inspection there is ONE small sign at the entrance stating overnight parking is not allowed! The street is dark and the sign could be easily missed. Other than that the other signs within the car park just state customer parking only. If you accidentally miss the awkward to see tiny sign upon entering you don't get any other warning regarding the violation. Really feel mislead by it being a free carpark for customer use, I was using their trains if I would of known I would of parked elsewhere for sure.

Coupon-mad

Can you show us what the penalty or parking charge notice looks like?  Sounds like a 'penalty' under byelaws which you can time out if you get past 6 months.

jayeddo

Coupon-mad said:

Can you show us what the penalty or parking charge notice looks like?  Sounds like a 'penalty' under byelaws which you can time out if you get past 6 months.

Car Park Penalty

Penalty Parking Cost £60

Penalty Reduces to £30 if paid before 08/11/21

Can you explain the process of the time out? Thank you for the help.

D_P_Dance

Some info here, more on google

https://businessdebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/penalty-charge-notices-ew/, 

jayeddo

D_P_Dance said:

Some info here, more on google

https://businessdebtline.org/fact-sheet-library/penalty-charge-notices-ew/, 

Thanks very informative read. After reading I'm unsure on my best approach to handle it. right now my discounted period has expired mainly due to me being abroad so no way of me knowing I was ticketed! So the penalty charge now stands at £180 for the three tickets.  

Fruitcake

Use whatever appeal service is available without revealing the driver's identity.

Explain that the keeper was away therefore the penalty notices were not properly served, and the keeper was enable to pay the reduced rate, which is unfair.

Take photos of the tiny sign in daylight and in the dark without flash from a driver's perspective to show that it could not have been seen, therefore the Ts and Cs were an unfair contract term as  defined by the CRA 2015.

If there is a complaints procedure, use that. Contact the CEO of Merseyrail to complain about the unfair signage making the car park an entrapment zone.

Use any and all delaying tactics to get this past 6 months.