Ce service fine after appeal

pippypoppy

Hi I recently parked at a ce service car park. I payed for parking and entered my reg but it didn’t issue a ticket. I assumed I didn’t need one with it wanting my registration. Since then I had a fine come through with a picture of my car entering and leaving the car park. I appealed it by saying I entered my reg and put in the money and asked them to check their cctv. I also tried to find a parking attendant to ask. But they have come back with the following response. 

We refer to your recent correspondence.

We have carefully reviewed your appeal and/or evidence provided, taking into consideration all the points you have raised in relation to this Parking Charge Notice.

On this occasion, your appeal has been unsuccessful for the following reason:

We have no record of a payment made for the above vehicle registration on the day in question.

Our payment machines have a full audit trail and every transaction is carefully recorded. We have investigated your claim and confirm that on the date in question, no payment was made into the machine with your registration number.

It is the responsibility of the driver to ensure they adhere to the parking terms..

It is therefore our position that the Parking Charge was validly issued because of the above detailed breach of the terms and conditions set out on signs in the car park. You have now reached the end of our internal appeals procedure. 

I have read the newbie forum to parking fines but I am unsure what to do with this because they are saying I didn’t pay for parking. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

If I don’t pay will they send bailiffs? 

Thanks 

pippypoppy

I should say I also asked them to check the amount of money they had in that machine as it will have extra in. 

Gr1pr

Its not a fine,  its an invoice,  a parking charge notice 

No, the bailiffs won't be coming,  nobody will be coming,  urban myth

They are not saying that you didn't pay for parking  !

They are saying that no payment was recorded against your VRM,  your numberplate details 

So its either a miskey, a keying error,  or a machine fault 

The paper ticket would have been proof of payment,  same as you get at ASDA , except it didn't print it out, so you have no proof of payment 

Did they offer the £20 miskeying option   ?

Was it a card payment or cash   ?

Did they give you a popla code  ?

pippypoppy

Thank you for the above. Yes they have given me a POPLA code. 

No I just got given the £60 reduced fee? 

The parking was literally 50p so I put 50p in the machine along with my reg 

Gr1pr

Its a £20 reduced fee for a major keying error,  not £60

The problem here is that there is no receipt, so no way of knowing if it was user error due to miskeying,  or a machine fault not registering the 50p payment 

They are stating that there was no payment made for the VRM numberplate details against the details that were recorded by their cameras,   so neither side has proof of payment , meaning that they believe that there was a breach of the parking contract by the driver 

They are not going to tally the coins in the machine,  don't go down that rabbit hole

pippypoppy

So what should I do. If I just leave it and don’t pay what will happen? 

Gr1pr

I'm afraid that it's your word against theirs, with no proof of payment by either side for a cash transaction 

CEL have rejected your appeal and issued a popla code 

I cannot see popla allowing the appeal based on the story so far,  mainly due to their being no proof 

I realise that you are being honest and meant to pay, but we are where we are 

The ultimate test is a court case hearing in your civil court,  where you would have to convince the judge that you paid, anecdotal statement of truth 

pippypoppy

What’s the chance they would take me to court? 

I’m so annoyed with it 

ChirpyChicken

pippypoppy said:

What’s the chance they would take me to court? 

I’m so annoyed with it 

Do nothing if you get a claim we will help you get it defended and if DCB Ltd claim it will be discontinued

pippypoppy

So shall I just ignore it for now and not pay it 

Coupon-mad

Exactly.

Please read the NEWBIES thread post 4. The post with the pictures. Don't ask us (please) about the laughable £170 threatograms.