Wrong Registration, Napier Parking Fine

mistrymistry123

Hello All, 

Hope everyone is well. 

I spent 56 minutes in Wilen Lake, Milton Keynes car park.

The car parking charge is 50p for up to 30 mins and £1 for up to 1 hour. 

I entered my registration incorrectly, a zero instead of letter O. 

The machine said to pay for 30 mins(50p) I paid for 30 minutes and left.

I received a parking fine from napier for £100.

I disputed this via their forms explaining I paid, and they emailed me saying I entered the wrong registration. They offered me a reduced fee for £30.

Should be noted that technically I underpaid my stay as it should have been £1 not 50p due to my mistake. (This was a genuine mistake as I recently bought the car). I am aware that the BPA says you cannot be penalised for minor registration errors but it does not mention if those minor errors cause a reduced payment you cannot be fined. 

Do they have a leg to stand on? 
Shouls I pay this £30?
I don't want any hassle of court proceedings, but at the same time, the principle of this annoys me as it was a genuine error and I paid what the machine told me. 


Many thanks for your help. 

Fruitcake

It is not a fine.

The IPC has told it's members that having typo-proof payment machines is a moral duty.
The technology to prevent the VRM of a vehicle not in the car park at the time has been around for years, but installing them would cause the PPC's revenue to fall, so they are reluctant to install them.

The International Parking Community (IPC) on Twitter: "@_TheIPC's mantra is that no motorist should be marginalised - or humiliated! (See news article below) @_TheIPC's award nominated "Get Your Reg Right" campaign urges the manufacture of #typoproof #parking payment systems as a moral duty. #mondaythoughts https://t.co/izGqyc1wO0 https://t.co/ztH9lbYpX2" / Twitter

The O and 0 on a VRM are physically identical. When the new mandatory code of practice is introduced next year, this sort of thing will (should) not result in a PCN being issued.

What happened when you complained to the landowner? That is always Plan A.
You should also complain to your MP.
MPs across all parties have called these companies rogues, scammers, and bloodsuckers.

I can't advise you whether you should pay an unregulated company or not. I wouldn't but everyone's personal circumstances are different. 

I would make an IAS appeal to the IPC's kangaroo court, stating that the operator failed to follow the IPC's requirements to install typo-proof pay machines, and I would go to court if needed, but again, I've been on this forum for many years so I have a fairly good idea how the process works.