Possible Cost Liability for Contesting Parking Invoice in Court

innocentcustomer

Hello everyone,

Like many in this group I have found myself being issued with an invoice by a private parking company. The basis for this is that I overstayed in a garage grounds as I was queuing to use the facilities, specifically a car wash. I have bank statements that show this.

I think I have a pretty good case but I’m preparing for the worst case i.e. that I lose. The question I have is around possible liability of costs in that event. I have read conflicting statements on the possible upper limits of what I might be charged and whether they could also claim for expenses and high solicitor fees et cetera. 

The original ticket was £100. What are the feasible upper limits that I could be paying out if I were to lose this case?

many thanks!

IC

Umkomaas

Based on the limited detail, a loss in court for a single ticket is around £212, which includes the original £100 PCN. 

Which parking firm?
Do you have a court claim?
If so, which solicitors are involved?

innocentcustomer

Umkomaas said:

Based on the limited detail, a loss in court for a single ticket is around £212, which includes the original £100 PCN. 

Which parking firm?
Do you have a court claim?
If so, which solicitors are involved?

Thank you for your reply,

This was Euro Car Parks. 

Apologies I should’ve been clearer and I only found this forum after I’d appealed.

brief history; I was issued with the invoice back in August. I contested it through Euro Car Parks own website but failed to upload my bank statements. I must’ve missed the instructions in the form contacted them to supply these, but that appear was rejected on that basis. 

I then received an offer to pay £20 to cancel the fine. 

I appealed through POPLA and they rejected this also. 

Now I have received a letter from debt recovery plus giving me three options;
1) pay in full
2) payment plan
3) do nothing which they then claim puts an “intent not to pay” added to the case. 

I am adamant here as they didn’t put any signage to notify customers of a keypad within the premises that can be used to extend the stay, but also I wasn’t parking. I was queueing. 

They have since added that sign, but I would still argue it isn’t clear. 

I am prepared to go all the way if that is the maximum cost - I had read they could charge for solicitors fees and I didn’t want to end up racking up thousands. 

IC

fisherjim

It's a small claims court you won't rack up thousands.

What did the garage owner say when you told them a bona fide customer is being harassed by their contractor for nothing?

No one pays the muppets at Euro they are just scammers trying it on, the garage should not expect their customers to be penalised when they are having the good fortune of customers queueing to use their business, bad signage is of course a good defence, you do realise it's in the interests of a greedy parking company that the signage is poor it's the way they increase scam revenue!

Coupon-mad

The NEWBIES FAQS thread already tells you it's typically £212 and a complete no-brainer to defend. doesn't it?  What do I need to add to make the message there clearer?

innocentcustomer

fisherjim said:

It's a small claims court you won't rack up thousands.

What did the garage owner say when you told them a bona fide customer is being harassed by their contractor for nothing?

No one pays the muppets at Euro they are just scammers trying it on, the garage should not expect their customers to be penalised when they are having the good fortune of customers queueing to use their business, bad signage is of course a good defence, you do realise it's in the interests of a greedy parking company that the signage is poor it's the way they increase scam revenue!

I’m going to walk down there tomorrow and have a chat with the manager. I see there is a draft letter that I could send which I will look at doing as well.

innocentcustomer

Coupon-mad said:

The NEWBIES FAQS thread already tells you it's typically £212 and a complete no-brainer to defend. doesn't it?  What do I need to add to make the message there clearer?

I didn’t see that figure but there is a lot of info there so I’m still working my way through all of it. I guess I’m just as guilty as all the others posting without reading everything thoroughly

Umkomaas

I am prepared to go all the way if that is the maximum cost - I had read they could charge for solicitors fees and I didn’t want to end up racking up thousands. 

It also includes their solicitor costs, but they are capped at £50 in the small claims court.