Chance of success appealing a Council Train Station ticket when the app almost cost me my sanity?

Lyd00

I've appealed a council train station PCN and they're replied saying they're unable to cancel it.

The pay and display machine wasn't working/out of order so I re-downloaded the Ring Go app. I spent forever trying to sign in, it booted me off, asked me to verify a million times, booted me off again, on repeat, etc. This went on for a good 15 minutes making me think I was going to miss my train. I was finally by some miracle able to log in and clicked on 'previous session which stated "Weybridge train station" because that's the last time i'd used this app, a few months ago, in this very same (funnily enough) Weybridge train station Ring Go car park. So I selected same as last session and paid and off I went. I then come home from work to a yellow ticket on my window saying I haven't paid. It turns out there's an 'upper' cark park and one a bit 'lower' round the corner. It surely should not be on me to check that they haven't split the car park into 2 and given them new names? Why would it no longer be Weybridge train station? Apprarently now it's called (15576 Heath North (Elmbridge) and the one I selected is an incorrect location number of (77491 Weybridge Station (South West Trains). The car parks are literally on the same site. I made every effort to pay - (and I did pay!) and I absoloutley begrudge putting up with sh*tty service that doesn't work, both the machines and the app were not fit for purpose. The council's response is this:

 

Thank you for your correspondence received on 07/08/2024, regarding the above penalty charge notice.

 

I have read your appeal and have looked into the events that led to the penalty being issued. Regrettably I am not able to agree to cancel the penalty at this stage.

 

In explanation of my decision, when the officer observed your vehicle it was parked within an Elmbridge car park without a valid pay and display ticket, permit or active session was applied to the vehicle for this location and a penalty was issued. I sympathise with your comments stated in your appeal, however payment was made for an incorrect location number of (77491 Weybridge Station (South West Trains) instead of the correct location code of (15576 Heath North (Elmbridge). Therefore It is the motorist responsibility to ensure payment for the correct location code is made and checked before leaving the vehicle unattended. The location code can be found advertised on the side of the Pay and display machines.

 

Please see the contact details below in regards to your comments related to the RingGo App, which RingGo will be able to contact your directly: https://myringgo.co.uk/newenquiry?type=20

 

At this point this matter has been considered informally, however there are a further two levels of appeal available to you through the statutory appeals process.

 

If after 28 days from the date it is issued a penalty is not paid in accordance with the statutory process, we will send a Notice to Owner (NtO) letter to the vehicle's registered keeper. This is the start of the statutory appeals process. The NtO offers the registered keeper the option either to pay the penalty or to make a formal representation challenging it. To help us to consider the matter at that stage, we welcome any additional information you can provide in support your request for the penalty to be cancelled.

 

If following a formal representation we are still not able to agree to cancel the penalty you will be offered the option to either pay the penalty or to have the matter considered by the Traffic Penalty Tribunal, an independent body set up to consider parking appeals.

 

To avoid duplication and complication we will not normally consider a case again until we have sent out the Notice to Owner and a formal representation has been received.

 

I have extended the discount period for a further 14 days from the date of this letter to give you time to consider your options, either to pay the penalty or to challenge it further. If I receive payment of the penalty at the £25.00 reduced rate within this period the matter will be concluded. After the end of the 14-day period if payment has not been received the penalty will go up to the £50.00 undiscounted rate.

 

Yours sincerely

 

I'm just wondering if anyone has had success when it's a council run Ring Go. Or whether I just pay the £25 begrudgingly. 

BW

OP

Gr1pr

If this is council and not a private parking company PCN, try posting on the FTLA parking forum in the appropriate section there, with evidence 

And specifically mention who issued the actual PCN, the paperwork must have been sent by an entity , but I am surprised if it was a council because train operating companies are responsible for train stations, train stations use bylaws so I think that you parked in a council carpark near a train station ( not a Train station carpark. )

Coupon-mad

Just appeal it again because first stage appeal is a bit of a joke.  But get advice from FTLA.