Excel parking charge at Iceland - is it worth challenging?

pannonica

I wasn't looking for a car park specifically, I just parked there because it was right next to the restaurant and there were cars parked on the street (directly outside the restaurant that is, I'm sure I could've found a space further up). I naively assumed there wouldn't be a problem with parking in an almost completely empty supermarket car park at that time in the evening.

kryten3000 said:

pannonica said:

Okay amazing, thanks very much for all the comments, I'll do as you suggest Kryten.

I'll mention the fact that it was dark, the signs are black and not particularly conspicuous, that the car park was nearly empty and that the shop was almost shut (I actually thought it was shut at the time but after checking the opening hours now it seems like it shut 20 minutes after I entered the car park).

Don't give any details.  Just use the standard appeal template. Definitely don't tell them who was driving. 

Okay, this makes sense. Should I not bother complaining to Iceland and just skip straight to making an appeal using the template?

Car1980

There is no appeals process. Just ignore. The template is for court claims.

I doubt Iceland will be minded to cancel a ticket given to a non-customer.

Altior

It appears there is a larger sign at the entrance to the car park. To be fair, there are not many places to park on private property nowadays without the default worry of getting rinsed with a ticket.

Coupon-mad

Yep I'd never have parked there. Ignore it.

pannonica

Yeah, well I'm sure I won't make the same mistake again anytime soon!

So I shouldn't bother appealing through the link on the letter at all? I should just wait until they send a claim then respond using the template?

I'm really reluctant to pay because they seem like a pretty morally dubious company behaving in quite a predatory way (like all these companies) but I'm also a bit wary that it could end up eventually causing more hassle and potentially also costing more than if I just paid the 60 quid now. 

Coupon-mad

Ignore.

Tell them if you move house. That is all.

Still unsure that we are right?

Just click on the little red 'MSE link' in the small 'Parking Ticket Appeals' banner at the top of this page which leads to the MSE Guide to fight PCNs.

Same info is shown in both this forum and in that Guide, as regards the debt recovery letters being a futile stage and risk-free. Consistent advice here is easy to find and not just from random strangers. The MSE Guide is official 'Martin Lewis backed' advice.

pannonica

Okay great, thanks.

I did have a quick look at the MSE Guide. If I'm understanding everything correctly, the worst that could happen is that they could eventually take me to court and I might have to pay £100 instead of £60 (avoiding any CCJs or anything like that) and that there's a good chance they might not ever take me to court, or that they won't win in court. If that's correct I think I'll just ignore them.

Car1980

Yes. If you live nearby it would be worth getting some of your own photos in the dark though so you have some evidence.