Penalty ticket despite paying for parking

Michael_Sitoret

I recently parked in Acton London in a new shopping center. I got a letter saying I had to pay a fine despite paying for the car park stop. The Oak Acton Car Park machine printed out a payment ticket for me after recognition on my registration number, which was £3, and I left right away. After 10 days I got a ticket that I had to pay £100. It says on the notice that the amount for the stop is £4.50 and £3 is paid, and therefore a fine. I do not understand how it is possible that I had to get a penalty, despite the fact that the machine itself calculates the amount, and only after inserting the coins, it prints the ticket. I paid as much as the automatic plate recognition system told me to. On the back of the invoice it is written that I should additionally check if the amount is correct by calculating the amount by looking at the board on the wall. I guess I would have to have a calculator with me, but I didn't. To calculate the amount to the minute, guessing what time I entered. I want to appeal, but I am not sure what to refer to.  Please give me some tips.
Thanks in ad advance, Michael.

Coupon-mad

Hi Michael,

It is not a fine.

Just read the NEWBIES thread (see my signature for where to click back).  And then after reading it first, so you know how to appeal and who to complain to, then come back here and tell us which PPC?

Michael_Sitoret

Okay thanks, It's the TOA company, it seems to be a new company, didn't find in the newbies. I found the website (www.carflow.co.uk/appeals) on the penalty letter, I will appeal to them and get back with the results.

Coupon-mad

No idea what 'TOA' means but Carflow are not new.

They also sue people and we know they read this forum.  I also think they posted here.

We know they will reject the appeal so if you want it settled I'd offer £15 which has worked with Carflow before.

KeithP

OK, but what does 'TOA' stand for?

Michael_Sitoret

My appeal was rejected, it appears that Carflow(The Oak Acton car park) is the only company in the world to introduce a license plate recognition system only to send penalties, not for the machine to charge the driver. They tell you to count the time yourself

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“Terminals do not calculate tariff - press blue button on terminal to add additional time"

As such, motorists are explicitly informed that payment machines do not calculate tariff and that motorists must do this themselves.

Other signage clearly states:

“Tariff is calculated based on stay time. Please note your car park entry time to correctly calculate your tariff."
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Fruitcake

You should have received a PoPLA code with your rejection, so you should construct a draft appeal using all the points available to you from the third post of the NEWBIES sticky Announcement.
Post it here for checking before you submit it.

For how long was the car parked?
For how long was the car on site?

What happened when you complained to the landowner?

Coupon-mad

Michael_Sitoret said:

My appeal was rejected, it appears that Carflow(The Oak Acton car park) is the only company in the world to introduce a license plate recognition system only to send penalties, not for the machine to charge the driver. They tell you to count the time yourself

-------------------------------------------------

“Terminals do not calculate tariff - press blue button on terminal to add additional time"

As such, motorists are explicitly informed that payment machines do not calculate tariff and that motorists must do this themselves.

Other signage clearly states:

“Tariff is calculated based on stay time. Please note your car park entry time to correctly calculate your tariff."
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Exactly as predicted. Carflow will also win at POPLA and also they file their own court claims.

Hence why I suggested offering £15 to avoid that: did you try that?

Michael_Sitoret

My £15 offer was also declined. I am sorry that my wife had a good will, she paid for the car park, and yet she got a fine. A definite deliberate act that Carflow does, knowing that the customer can miscalculate the amount and immediately uses cameras to impose the penalty. It is a pity that they do not want to use the cameras to charge the fee in the payment machine, as in any other place the plate recognition system works. I hope that one day the owner of the building will notice what unfair practices this company uses.