Private car park unacceptable parking ticket

bambi3543

Had a Health appointment  27/11/2024  & parked my car in Smart Street Car Park, PERTH Scotland along with 7 or 8 other customers all intending to park there as well     

Attempted to pay car park fee at both available payment ticket machines but NEITHER MACHINE WORKED. 

NO ATTENDANT ON DUTY

One  lady tried phoning Smart Parking Office to tell them about the problem but got no answer
 
I waited  in hope that an Attendant would appear until I had to leave to keep my appointment but immediately it was over I returned back to the car park 

On reaching the car park I was told by others there that neither Ticket Machines was working and and No Attendant  available around so I drove off. 

Got the following notice a few days later stating that  = "The fine of £60 pounds if I pay immediately or £100 if I delay payment.  

This was unacceptable as I had parked in that Car Park with the full intention of paying the car parking fee requested. 

 Surely it can't be right that I am to be fined because the Car Park Ticket machines are NOT in working order –

My 'case' has now been passed on to Debt Recovery Plus who have now "advised me" my fine is now £170  either pay now or take my chance with a court case .  

They have labelled my case as "intent not to pay as evidence shows a clear intent not to pay" - I have written to them saying that I did try to pay BUT COULDN'T and even on returning fully expected to pay but the Ticket Machines were still not working - THEY ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH . 

I am in my eighth decade, registered disabled, with a Blue Badge in my car window. - never had a ticket in all my driving years and certainly never been inside a court. 

Although upset at this distressing incident I still don't think I am at fault . I have offered to pay the £2:40 parking charge but balk against £170 fine .  

Any help will be very gratefully accepted  

ChirpyChicken

Ignore Debt recovery plus their letters are automated 

kryten3000

Relax, you're in Scotland.  There's no keeper liability and Smart won't try court for a single charge.

Coupon-mad

bambi3543 said:

Had a Health appointment  27/11/2024  & parked my car in Smart Street Car Park, PERTH Scotland along with 7 or 8 other customers all intending to park there as well     

Attempted to pay car park fee at both available payment ticket machines but NEITHER MACHINE WORKED. 

NO ATTENDANT ON DUTY

One  lady tried phoning Smart Parking Office to tell them about the problem but got no answer
 
I waited  in hope that an Attendant would appear until I had to leave to keep my appointment but immediately it was over I returned back to the car park 

On reaching the car park I was told by others there that neither Ticket Machines was working and and No Attendant  available around so I drove off. 

Got the following notice a few days later stating that  = "The fine of £60 pounds if I pay immediately or £100 if I delay payment.  

This was unacceptable as I had parked in that Car Park with the full intention of paying the car parking fee requested. 

 Surely it can't be right that I am to be fined because the Car Park Ticket machines are NOT in working order –

My 'case' has now been passed on to Debt Recovery Plus who have now "advised me" my fine is now £170  either pay now or take my chance with a court case .  

They have labelled my case as "intent not to pay as evidence shows a clear intent not to pay" - I have written to them saying that I did try to pay BUT COULDN'T and even on returning fully expected to pay but the Ticket Machines were still not working - THEY ARE JUST NOT INTERESTED IN THE TRUTH . 

I am in my eighth decade, registered disabled, with a Blue Badge in my car window. - never had a ticket in all my driving years and certainly never been inside a court. 

Although upset at this distressing incident I still don't think I am at fault . I have offered to pay the £2:40 parking charge but balk against £170 fine .  

Any help will be very gratefully accepted  

You can safely ignore Smart and DR Plus.
Nothing happens in Scotland.

But as you are vulnerable (elderly and disabled) please go and see your constituency MP and ask them to write a complaint to the BPA and to the landowner of the site, supporting your case and demanding that they cancel the charge.

bambi3543

My sincere thanks to those members who took time to respond to my plea for help with my problem.  The sense of relief I felt when reading your comments is beyond description.
I will contact my MP for help adding that I feel these companies need further investigation. 
Thank you all for giving me my peace of mind back 

oldernonethewiser

Did the letter actually use the word "fine"?

"Got the following notice a few days later stating that  = "The fine of £60 pounds if I pay immediately or £100 if I delay payment."

Coupon-mad

bambi3543 said:

My sincere thanks to those members who took time to respond to my plea for help with my problem.  The sense of relief I felt when reading your comments is beyond description.
I will contact my MP for help adding that I feel these companies need further investigation. 

Yep! Rogue industry.

They are about to be Government regulated, and I'm on the Code of Practice committee fighting for real change when it comes. Scotland is included in the changes.

bambi3543

Slow to respond to your last input, busy weekend,  .  I have read about changes that are being installed  but being on the Code of Practice committee where you are in position to bring about honest change by reigning in some of these rouge traders has to be a great feeling.  Won't be easy as I am sure they will fight any change that they feel will reduce the power they hold over Joe Public    Best of luck with your new venture. 
I have decided to rope my MP in and to have him write write a complaint to the BPA and to the landowner of the site, supporting my case and demanding that they cancel the charge. might make them less callous when dealing with the White Haired brigade/  One can hope - thanks again for all your help - so generously given - deeply appreciated  

Nellymoser

Ask your MP to support this Early Day Motion tabled on 23/1/2025. Supported by 33 MPs but only 2 from Scotland.
https://edm.parliament.uk/early-day-motion/63049/independent-parking-regulator

Would you please sign the petition linked in the post below, and ecourage family, friends to do the same. 🙏

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81195013/#Comment_81195013