Overstay at B&Q (Civil Enforcement Ltd) - own fault - can I just fess up and pay a smaller amount?

Cloudane

Wishful thinking probably 

I thought it was 3 hours free parking (in fact it used to be, going by Google Street View) but didn't read the signs which say 2 hours.  In any case I was there for about 3 hours 5 minutes so was hoping to be within a grace period, looked at the sign and saw 2 hours. D'oh. 

Fair enough I mean, I've taken advantage of their free parking quite a lot (B&Q have had my custom, if not literally every time I've used it) so it's not the usual "unfair charge" kind of case. It was probably only a matter of time until I got a pretty much guaranteed ping for it (they do have ANPR)

But obviously I'd rather call them and just be honest "look I messed up and overstayed, can I pay you for it" and pay a reasonable amount if they're a reasonable company willing to take honesty into account rather than sit and wait for them to contact the DVLA and put a £100 charge in the post.  Anyone tried this?

I have tried to call but it's weekend so could only leave a message.  Just curious if anyone knows while I wait since it'll be at least Tuesday before they call back.  

kryten3000

Don't even think about contacting Civil Enforcement. They don't care about any mitigation or honesty, they will want your £100 (reduced to £60).

It's worth trying to find out when three hours became two, if it was recently then where were the additional signs to alert drivers to the material change of parking terms?

You could approach B&Q management or the landowner in the first instance (Plan A).

Cloudane

Too late I already left them a voicemail but oh well!

Most likely £60 down the drain.  I've been scammed for worse.  Not sure I want the stress of a fight and increasing amounts, threatening letters about going to court etc.

B&Q probably wouldn't be sympathetic as I didn't go in. I could go and buy something small but the time on the receipt wouldn't match the time of the parking....  

Car1980

Show us the sign first. They're often insufficient to form a valid contract.

Coupon-mad

Why? You aren't PAYING surely!

Just ask B&Q to cancel it when it arrives.

Ralph-y

"B&Q probably wouldn't be sympathetic as I didn't go in."   ..... oh but what about that very expensive patio stuff you where considering 

Cloudane

I'll ask B&Q when it arrives, but suspect the answer will be "it's nothing to do with us, it's a privately managed car park" etc at best.  

Maybe with it being a Pride event I parked up for, I could play the "do you support it or not" card 

Don't think I want to appeal directly and lose the discount, and I mean... Just ignoring it and all the escalating letters just means getting taken to court and paying a lot more, from what I heard. 

HHarry

Cloudane said:

I'll ask B&Q when it arrives, but suspect the answer will be "it's nothing to do with us, it's a privately managed car park" etc at best.  

Maybe with it being a Pride event I parked up for, I could play the "do you support it or not" card 

Don't think I want to appeal directly and lose the discount, and I mean... Just ignoring it and all the escalating letters just means getting taken to court and paying a lot more, from what I heard. 

 I suspect that very few people who follow the advice in the Parking tickets section of the forum end up paying a lot more, even if it goes to court.

 If you don’t want any stress, or to do any work, pay the £60.  Otherwise follow the advice of the forum.