Car park fine for parking in a hotel as a guest even though I entered my car reg at reception

tbaby

Hello, I received a car park fine for staying in an hotel. The hotel parking is free for guests but you have to register at reception -  I did this but still got a ticket from UKPC for not making a valid payment. I stayed for two nights (arrived in the evening, parked and entered my car reg at reception, left the next morning for a wedding and returned that night, parked in the same car park but did not enter my plate number this time and left the next morning) The ticket I got says the parking contravention occurred on the first night, nothing about the second night. 

I appealed the fine on the basis that I entered my car reg as directed but never got a response although it was confirmed to be received and to expect a response within 28 days. I got a letter months later with an increased fee nothing about the outcome of the appeal. I called to ask about the appeal and was just told repeatedly to pay the fine which I refused. I asked to be contacted by someone more senior but never got any response only further letters for payment and now a court letter. The solicitors are DCB legal. What can I do to prove that I entered my car reg please i.e what is my best defence here, I called the hotel to see if they could assist by providing CCTV of me inputting my car reg but  they said they do not own the car park and I’ll have to contact UKPC about this but UKPC have been useless so I do not see the point anymore.  

I do intend to defend this. I have served the acknowledgement, and my Defence is due at the end of the month. I am in the process of gathering all the letters I received and will upload this shortly.  

tbaby

Not sure why the claim form is right in the middle of the text but there you go

Gr1pr

Its NOT a fine

Post the Issue date from the top right of the claim form below. ( UKPC via DCB Legal. )

Post the date that you completed the AOS stage online 

Adapt the template defence in announcements near the top of the forum by coupon mad 

Coupon-mad

You can put pretty much anything as your paragraph 3 within the Template Defence that you saw as an Announcement thread next to the NEWBIES thread (both pinned at the top of the forum, to be read before posting).

Defend exactly as we advise and the claim will be discontinued before the hearing this year.

Just play the game:

Follow the easy 8 steps covered in the Template Defence sticky thread. No link is needed to that Announcement, or to the NEWBIES FAQS thread - which you must also read post 2 of, especially the red heading IMPORTANT: KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN'. It is very easy to see this off.

See my signature below if you need a reminder how to hop straight to page one. This could not be easier once you bookmark the Template Defence thread to follow the 8 steps.

We don't want to know about DCB Legal's reply to your defence, nor the DQ, nor questions about Mediation (all are covered).

What we do collect are pictures of the Notices of Discontinuance for Umkomaas' thread, so we'll see you again in the Summer/Autumn when you strut proudly back here with your win!

Jemma01

Have you contacted the hotel about their parking management? I once went to the climbing centre, forgot to entre my reg on the way in, but did on the way out, and they cancelled it. They asked me not to appeal and just take a screenshot of the letter so they see the reference number, and that was it. I didn't contact the parking folks or appealed.

I suggest you speak to the hotel first.

elsien

And for future reference any time I enter my registration into one of those machines in reception I always take a photo of it. Particularly if it’s somewhere like a pub rather than a hotel that I’m staying at and where they may not have a record of me. 

dever33

This sounds like classic hotel parking nonsense tbh. If the ticket says the contravention was the first night and you did register that night, that already weakens their case. I’d also lean hard on the fact they ignored your appeal completely and just escalated fees.

Coupon-mad

However, there is a claim to defend first.

tbaby

Thanks everyone for your response and apologies for the delay in coming back. I've moving house and its all been hectic. I have contacted the hotel and they said they can't get involved. Also spoke with DCB legal yesterday and they said they did respond to my appeal and they asked I provide proof I was a guest. I told them I never got this email and asked if I could send the proof now anyway so they could withdraw the case but they said no they cannot do that. In the same breath they advised me to pay now which would cancel the claim. This is absolutely ridiculous, they are able to withdraw the claim if I pay but not if I provide proof I was a guest.


I will serve my defence using the template (thank you)!

James_Poisson

tbaby said:

Thanks everyone for your response and apologies for the delay in coming back. I've moving house and its all been hectic. I have contacted the hotel and they said they can't get involved. Also spoke with DCB legal yesterday and they said they did respond to my appeal and they asked I provide proof I was a guest. I told them I never got this email and asked if I could send the proof now anyway so they could withdraw the case but they said no they cannot do that. In the same breath they advised me to pay now which would cancel the claim. This is absolutely ridiculous, they are able to withdraw the claim if I pay but not if I provide proof I was a guest.


I will serve my defence using the template (thank you)!

That's because they are just in an unregulated money making scam, they will go through the motions hoping you will cave in then withdraw at the last minute.

Nellymoser

If you've moved house ensure CNBC and DCB Legal are notified of your new address.