PCN issued although parking was paid for

Aussie1984

Hey,

I'm not sure if this has been posted before but I couldn't find anything similar from looking at a few threads. If it has I'm happy to be pointed in the right direction.

On 08/03/2024 my wife parked at The Riverside, Legion Hall, High Wycombe. She selected two hours for the parking time and paid the appropriate £1.80 in line with their fees through ringo. We have the receipt for £1.80.

Today I've received a PCN as the registered keeper and in their line for the offence they state that the car was parked after 6pm.

Looking at their fees they have hourly type parking up until 6pm, and then an overnight charge from 6pm until 7am that costs £1.50 or £2 if done through ringo.

Looking more closely at the ringo receipt it does state the charge is for 29 minutes of parking as my wife parked just after 17:30. However 30 minutes parking should be charged at just 50p instead of £1.80.

There also seems to be no option if selecting a total parking time that will take you past 6pm to just pay the time until 6pm and then a flat £2 on top.

My question is, if they have a policy of only allowing you to park until 6pm before applying a flat rate, is it legal they can charge for parking for longer. 2 hours was paid for at 17:30. If they were only providing parking until 18:00 then shouldn't they have only charged for the 30 minutes of parking. Seems a bit twisted that you can select 2 hours of parking, and pay that amount, but they only have to provide parking for much less.

I did submit an appeal but they've said they can take up to 35 days to respond, and as I only have 14 in which to pay the reduced cost of the charge notice I'd rather just pay if ultimately they can do what they have done. I've never seen this at any other car park and clearly won't be parking there again as it seems a bit of a scam.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks.

KeithP

Hello and welcome.

Which parking company? UK Parking Control Ltd?

Aussie1984

KeithP said:

Hello and welcome.

Which parking company? UK Parking Control Ltd?

Yes, thanks. It's UKPC.

Fruitcake

Plan A is always a complaint from the keeper to the landowner and the keeper's MP.

Plan B is to appeal, which you have already done. Did you give away the driver's identity in your appeal.

Plan C is an appeal to PoPLA.

Get photos of the site and signage and/or search Google Streetview to see if there are any useful images there. UKPC signs are always inadequate and incapable of forming a contract with the motorist.

The private parking industry is unregulated so they can do whatever they like. They aren't referred to as rogues, scammers, bloodsuckers, and cowboys by our MPs for no reason.

If it gets as far as court, then you will need to look at case law such as Thornton v Shoe Lane, Lord Denning's red hand rule, and cases about what happens to overpayments, although that's something to take up with Ringo and the landowner.

Nobody here will ever suggest that you should pay, not even the 14 day Mug's discount.

Aussie1984

Fruitcake said:

Plan A is always a complaint from the keeper to the landowner and the keeper's MP.

Plan B is to appeal, which you have already done. Did you give away the driver's identity in your appeal.

Plan C is an appeal to PoPLA.

Get photos of the site and signage and/or search Google Streetview to see if there are any useful images there. UKPC signs are always inadequate and incapable of forming a contract with the motorist.

The private parking industry is unregulated so they can do whatever they like. They aren't referred to as rogues, scammers, bloodsuckers, and cowboys by our MPs for no reason.

If it gets as far as court, then you will need to look at case law such as Thornton v Shoe Lane, Lord Denning's red hand rule, and cases about what happens to overpayments, although that's something to take up with Ringo and the landowner.

Nobody here will ever suggest that you should pay, not even the 14 day Mug's discount.

Thanks for the response.

No, I didn't give away anyones identity in the appeal. I just stated the facts of payment for two hours of time.

Heading down that way later so will look at the signage.

I guess they rely on the fact most people just don't want to deal with the headache.

I'll consider a complaint to the landowner and local MP.

Fruitcake

Your MP, although you can ask them to contact the MP where the alleged event occurred to warn them why you won't be spending money in their constituency any more.

Coupon-mad

I did submit an appeal but they've said they can take up to 35 days to respond, and as I only have 14 in which to pay the reduced cost of the charge notice I'd rather just pay 

No you wouldn't!  One if the very first Q&A in the NEWBIES thread says:

Q - ''My PCN says the 'fine' will go up after 14 days, so why are you suggesting I wait before appealing?''

A - FORGET THE '14 DAYS JITTERS'. THE 'DISCOUNT' IS A BRIBE NOT TO APPEAL.

Just get the landowners to cancel it. Easy.  Their name & contact no. will be on the entrance plinth.

Aussie1984

Thanks for the advice everyone. Will have a wander down there tonight and check what the signage is etc

Coupon-mad

Aussie1984 said:

Thanks for the advice everyone. Will have a wander down there tonight and check what the signage is etc

And who the site agent is at the entrance.