Entered the wrong location for a car park, have appealed now facing £170 fine

slol

Hello folks,  I received a penalty notice when I inadvertently missed a digit from a parking location. I couldn't understand why because my payment was taken at the time and I'd had confirmation I had paid.  I see there was supposed to be a Code of Practice introduced to help us hapless consumers who make a mistake when entering information digitally.  I seem to have exhausted all the avenues and feel really cheesed off. Any suggestions please

Coupon-mad

1. Read the NEWBIES thread.  It tells you what to do and explains every stage. DO NOT PAY.

2.  Complain to the landowner.

3.  Read this, which is re the new CoP:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6463361/dluhc-private-parking-code-government-launches-call-for-evidence-discussion-thread/p1

4.  Please please (please) do this and give the Government your evidence and tell them how receiving extortionate 3 figure demands feels:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6471857/please-reply-to-question-4-of-the-governments-call-for-evidence-re-the-level-of-parking-charges

It's one email. One question. Change the law...

KeithP

Which parking company?
Which parking location?

slol

Thank you coupon mad I will read the links. I have written to my MP as the Code of Practice seems good, but is on hold.  Keith P the parking company is the National Parking Control Group. The location was Southgate, Chichester.

slol

Crikey, this is a minefield isnt it. I have appealed and now have a notice of debt recovery of £170.  I am thinking about going all the way with this but can you advise if my defence (that the parking company suffered no loss) would be sufficient. No wonder so many people just pay...

KeithP

A notice of debt recovery? From who?

The fourth post of the NEWBIES thread explains exactly how to deal with debt collector's letters, but to summarise that post - ignore them.

slol

Thanks Keith, I'll go to that thread and find it. From a company called DCBL.  On the current consultation, there doesnt seem to be reference to the Code of Practice where it talked about genuine errors, eg, entering wrong number plate/location - is that likely to be watered down? The companies must be making a fortune. 

Coupon-mad

None of those clauses are likely to change.

"can you advise if my defence (that the parking company suffered no loss) would be sufficient."

No that's categorically NOT EVER what you put in a parking defence.

slol

I am not sure I have a defence then - their point is that I breached their terms by not entering details correctly

KeithP

slol said:

I am not sure I have a defence then - their point is that I breached their terms by not entering details correctly

What about the defence that you entered the information correctly, but you have no control over what their machine did with that information?

slol

I entered the wrong location but they took payment and I had a confirmation text re payment received/times okay. I therefore had no way of knowing I had made an error - would that be reasonable?