Parking fine

devonisheaven

I parked my car at Lands End airport while on a day trip to the isles of Scilly in Aug 2021.
I purchased a 24 hour car park ticket online £12. 
The company UK Car park management limited required I had an estimate time of arrival and departure at the carpark on my online application.
Unfortunately my return flight was delayed by 2 hours...no reason other than the flight was returned to Newquay Airport.
I returned to my car roughly 2hours after the estimated time I had put on my online departure time but well within the 24 hour ticket purchased.
I received 4- 5 letters in the following 6 months from the company but nothing in the last 12 months. I have now received a letter from Gladstone solicitors asking for £170 on behalf of their client. Also stating if I don't pay the fine then they have the right to commence with court proceedings.
As I purchased a 24 hour ticket and obviously didn't overstay that time, 
Would great appreciate any advice.

Coupon-mad

Ridiculous scam! Laughable.

Respond robustly to the eejits.

Here's a version I wrote for someone you can adapt because I think you too can cite the Consumer Rights Act about ambiguity (not that a 24 hour ticket is ambiguous!)
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/79838635#Comment_79838635

Obviously, in your case you are writing to (emailing) Gladstones, not the parking firm direct.  And your dispute is different in terms of facts but you can write that bit yourself.  Attach proof that you booked a 24 hour session.

DO NOT remove the more robust stuff at the end.  You could even add 'Put up or shut up'.

These scum firms deserve robust replies to put them back in their box.  I am perfectly serious about the tone of your reply not being overly polite.

It is NOT a fine.

You want a court claim, because that's where you win and they crawl back under their stone.

B789

Please re-read all the correspondence you have received and note how many times the word "fine" appears in it. I'll save you the bother... it's none because as CM points out above, it is not a "fine" but an invoice. The PPC are claiming that you are in debt to them and you are disputing that. It is simply a civil dispute over some contract terms that you have entered into with the PPC by purchasing a parking slot.

You are being scammed by the pond sludge that are PPCs. This is totally winnable as long as you follow the advice given to you on here by the regulars such as @Coupon-mad and other. Also, you must read, re-read and understand all the steps in this process that are given to you in the Newbies thread near the top of this forum.

B789

It may also be worthwhile pointing out that you should use the term "the driver parked..." or "the driver purchased...". No "I parked...". As this car park was probably on airport land, it is covered by bylaws and POFA does not apply. It is not relevant land and therefore liability cannot transfer from the driver to the keeper. They do not know who the driver is and they cannot just assume that because you are the keeper that you are also the driver. You must put them to strict proof that you were the driver and you are under no legal obligation to provide that proof to them.

Half_way

Is this car park the airports car park?

devonisheaven

Yes it's owned by the airport but run by UK car park management limited.