Smart Parking the cowboys

kjh50

It was early in the lockdown and I made my usual trip to the local outdoor Market. I used a car park close to it which I regularly use with no trouble. Park up ,go to pay but the machine was not working there was no time displayed and my coins were rejected. It was a very old machine been there for years but it had always worked. It would produce a ticket which you had to display on your windscreen. I took a picture on my phone. There was nowhere else to pay. There was only 2 other cars there, that's not surprising as its was lockdown there were not many people around. Did the same the next week the machine did not work , no out of order notice was present. Then I got my first parking fine letter. Appealed the ticket , told them about the machine,  they said my account was not true the machine was working. Went back to the car park the old machine was not there , the car  park had been revamped with a new machine and new signage. Got a second parking fine letter.  By this time I had caught on to their operating scams. Didn't appeal it , they would lie again. 
What they had done was install new surveillance cameras when there was no working machine. Do you think they knew that? This is my hypothesis. They knew revenue would be down , the car park was virtually empty both times. Install tv cameras , take pictures of all cars and then fine the drivers using their tried and tested intimidation program. Their threatening letters , use  of debt collectors and now the respectable CS Law threatening court action. I hope they do , they haven't seen the other pictures I have obtained showing the installation of the new machine and signage and the date they were taken. Looking forward to going to court.!! 

Half_way

It would be greatly appreciated if you could split that big block of text up into paragraphs so it can easily be read.

Glancing through it, it would appear there is a great chance of you shooting yourself in the foot over this and getting into an avoidable mess.

 Its also important to understand that these are not fines, but likewise why you must not ignore them.

So please re-format that wall of text, read the newbies thread, its here if you cant find it https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou#latest  and then come back here

Half_way

It would be greatly appreciated if you could split that big block of text up into paragraphs so it can easily be read.

Glancing through it, it would appear there is a great chance of you shooting yourself in the foot over this and getting into an avoidable mess.

 Its also important to understand that these are not fines, but likewise why you must not ignore them.

So please re-format that wall of text, read the newbies thread, its here if you cant find it https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822/newbies-private-parking-ticket-old-or-new-read-these-faqs-first-thankyou#latest  and then come back here

Fruitcake

They are not fines.

The advice to ignore a PCN has not been given here since the law changed in 2012. 

What happened when you complained to the landowner

If CST are acting as debt collectors then they can safely be ignored.

If you get a real LBC/LoC or a real court claim then follow the guide to court written by bargepole that you will find in the second post of the NEWBIES.

Get pics of the site and signage in readiness. Not so Smart do like to take people to court.