I buried my head now got LBC

Scared_bread87

Hi everyone, 

I got a parking fine from horizon in February 2024 and I ignored it. I buried my head. Not great with phone calls etc so just put it to the back of my mind. I've read the newbie thread and there was soo much I could have done to fight it.

The parking fines were a new thing fir this car park, it's been free since I moved here 10 years ago but they put up anpr cameras at the start of 2024 I think. You don't need a ticket to park it just has a maximum stay of 3 hours. I stayed over 3 hours.

I wasn't aware of the new system in place as I didn't use the car park for its intended purpose of visiting the supermarkets I used it to park for my hair appointment at the hairdressers on the adjacent street. My hair took nearly 4 hours. 

I genuinely did not know about the fine for over 3 hours as it was new and on entering the car park I turned right to go down to the very bottom of carpark so it was closer to my hairdresser so I didnt see any signage. You are supposed to turn left when you enter the car park as it is a one way system but it was quiet so I turned right as nothing was coming to get to the bottom quicker. Wrong I know but I wouldn't do it if I was parking for the shops as you have to go left to park near the shops. 

So yesterday I received a Letter Before Claim from Gladstone Solicitors and the fine has increased to £160. I'm currently in between jobs at the moment as left my previous employment and don't start new job until 1st May.my new job is a much lower salary than before and I will be down nearly 300 per month. Not a good career move but leaving my previous role was a must so I took first offer so I wasn't left unemployed.

I have read the letter to send about the PAP and asking if I am paying their VAT and that I dispute the fine etc but I don't know if this is relevant to my case. Can I be honest and say as I wasn't parking for the shops I didn't see any signage be cause I took an illegal driving move or am I just shooting myself in the foot even more?

Also for context this car park with amble spaces is for a very small asda, Iceland and greggs and the carpark is never full. The bottom section is never parked in either as further away from row of shops. It's like an L shape and everyone parks on the straight which is adjacent to shops.

If I can get any advice at all I would be very grateful. 

Thanks in advance x

Scared_bread87

this is the letter I have received from Gladstone Solicitors 

Gr1pr

Its not a fine,  its an invoice   ( do not mention the word FINE in any of your dealings in this case , magistrates issue fines,  but never in private parking cases  )

Horizon issued a pcn invoice for the alleged breach of the parking contract on that private property 

Email the LoC response template to Gladstones,  as you have already seen it in the newbies sticky thread in announcements 

Plan A is your best option here,  complaining about the PCN to the retail park management company or landlord or the actual landowner

Scared_bread87

Thank you for your reply. So I email the LOC response then basically start at the beginning where I should have started when I first got the letter in 2024?