Parking charge notice using ANPR but paid correct amount on ticket

Finneganae

Evening all, 
Today we received a parking charge notice from a private company, but a BPA approved operator to say that we overstayed in a car park. 

The parking entrance is controlled by a camera (although not obvious - I would need another visit to ascertain whether there is appropriate signage) and showed us leaving 2 minutes after a 2 hour slot. 

The thing is we entered the car park, found a space then went to get a parking ticket and paid for 2 hours.  We set our timings based around the 2 hours put on the ticket, not when we entered the car park.  On the basis of our ticket, we actually left the car park 4 minutes before our time was up.  In addition, the ticket machine wouldn't accept our card to begin with which delayed us getting our ticket in the first place. 

I'm struggling to see how they can issue us with a fine given, as per the fee we paid on our ticket, we left the car park on time.  Nowhere did it state, or at least it wasn't made obvious to us, that your parking period starts from the moment you enter the car park.  Frustratingly, we have mislaid the ticket (didn't actually think to keep it as we didn't think we had been late) but we have a record of the payment on our bank statement.  I have also read the code of practice from BPA which states that they must give a grace period of 10 minutes after the 'parking event' finishes which would mean we were within this period, if I am correct? 

Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.  We have photographic evidence of the parking meter not working at first and evidence of payment for the ticket.  Hoping there is enough evidence to overturn....

Thanks all

ampersand

Lesson the First:
It’s not a fine!
It's a scam invoice, which you'll easily dispatch if - instead of trying to convince us - you thoroughly read the Newbies advice at least twice and see how all the other identikit bounty demands are consistently disposed of.
#
Help will be here, but read the Newbies advice first. 

KeithP

Who is the Parking Company?
Where exactly is this car park?

fisherjim

In addition, the ticket machine wouldn't accept our card to begin with which delayed us getting our ticket in the first place. 

ANPR is not fit for purpose and herein I suspect lies the problem all part of the scam what did the land owner say when you complained?

KeithP has asked you two important questions also which would help if answered.

Half_way

fisherjim said:

In addition, the ticket machine wouldn't accept our card to begin with which delayed us getting our ticket in the first place. 

ANPR is not fit for purpose and herein I suspect lies the problem all part of the scam what did the land owner say when you complained?

KeithP has asked you two important questions also which would help if answered.

I was going  to ask the same quetions, as they are important, for the avoidance of doubt:

Who is the Parking Company?
Where exactly is this car park?

I would also add that i do not agree with the statement "Scam invoice" as this can give the false impression that it can be ignored.

Please dont ignore it or bin it, unllike real scams these companies can pursue these invoices and while they can be seen off its easier to get rid of them at the earliest opportunity , so again:

 

Who is the Parking Company?
Where exactly is this car park?

Finneganae

Thanks for your comments.  The parking company is called Nexus Group.  They are a BPA approved member.  The car park is a pub car park in Rowberrow, Somerset. If you use the pub, you can validate your parking.  Frustratingly, we didn't do this as we wrongly assumed we were within the 2 hour period and wouldn't need it anyway - how wrong we were!  

Can you ask the parking company for proof of our payment?  Turns out my husband ended up paying cash as the machine wouldn't accept our card (I didn't realise this when I wrote the message).  I'm concerned that it will now be our word against theirs.  We have a picture of the screen which kept asking him to tap the card again.  Wish we had held onto that ticket.  Not feeling quite so confident now! 
 

Half_way

Were any of the ocupants of the vehicle customers of the pub?

Coupon-mad

Finneganae said:

Thanks for your comments.  The parking company is called Nexus Group.  They are a BPA approved member.  The car park is a pub car park in Rowberrow, Somerset. If you use the pub, you can validate your parking.  Frustratingly, we didn't do this as we wrongly assumed we were within the 2 hour period and wouldn't need it anyway - how wrong we were!  

Can you ask the parking company for proof of our payment?  Turns out my husband ended up paying cash as the machine wouldn't accept our card (I didn't realise this when I wrote the message).  I'm concerned that it will now be our word against theirs.  We have a picture of the screen which kept asking him to tap the card again.  Wish we had held onto that ticket.  Not feeling quite so confident now! 
 

Clearly, once you have read the NEWBIES thread you will know that the registered keeper will appeal and will say none of the above.

CP Plus or Highview?  Group Nexus are both.

NON-POFA?  You'll know what I mean from the Newbies thread which explains all this.