Paid for parking but still fined!

GDB2222

I parked in East Heath Road car park. I paid for parking using the RingGo app. Unfortunately, we bought a new car a few months ago, and the app defaulted to the old car's reg no, not the new one.

In my defence, I was in a hurry as I was taking a sample for analysis at the local hospital, as my granddaughter is taking immuno-suppressant drugs and she had just been diagnosed with Scarlet Fever.

I have just received a Parking Charge Notice for £100 from Park and Control (UK) Ltd. Reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days of 31 March. (I only received the notice today.)

What's the best thing to do? Just pay it? Appeal on the grounds I was on an urgent medical errand and made a tiny administrative slip? Be awkward and ask them to prove who was driving?

Gr1pr

IPC AOS member , they won't be interested in excuses or mitigating factors

Definitely NOT a fine, just an invoice from a private parking company

They had their payment, albeit for the wrong VRM

Either appeal as keeper stating the app error

Or

Ignore them

No paying !

GDB2222

"appeal as keeper stating the app error"

If I do that, can I avoid admitting I was driving the car at the time?

If I ignore them, what happens next? Will they issue proceedings against me, despite not knowing who was driving the car?

Gr1pr

Definitely do not reveal who was driving, the postal PCN letter went to the keeper, so if you appeal, appeal as keeper, stating that the driver made full payment but selected the incorrect VRM

Issuing a Money Claim in the future is always a possibility if their invoice remains unpaid, as is true for any person or business

Car1980

Be aggressive. Send them this and tell them their invoice is in dispute and that you look forward to their court claim.

1505grandad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958643#Comment_81958643

Just checking - @Car1980 is this the correct thread for your post?

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81958605#Comment_81958605

You realise that the Code requires them to settle for £20 in a full keying error case?

I'm not saying that policy is fair (PCNs should be cancelled because app technology is potentially capable of aligning with real-time site VRM entry records if they could be bothered) but I am telling you that this can be ended if you decide to appeal & pay £20.

Or totally ignore them and defend if they try a small claim. However, even then it looks far more reasonable in court if you can say that you appealed and told them which VRM the app defaulted to. It removes their basis of claim if they litigate after knowing from this point on, that you'd paid for your stay so there was no loss.

So appeal, show them the app record so they can match the wrong VRM to your payment, then decide what to do.

GDB2222

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81959195#Comment_81959195

I am really busy at the moment, so I would pay £20 to settle this. Could you kindly explain which code I need to quote and how I can go about this, please?

Coupon-mad

The Joint Parking Code of Practice. But just appeal like I said! They have to abide by it.

GDB2222

Thanks. I appealed. I hadn't realised how easy that is to do on their website. I told them I wasn't admitting who was driving, and gave them a parking receipt number.

So, the next step is that they should look the receipt up, realise it's the wrong VRN, and reissue the PCN for £20? If, instead, they simply refuse the appeal, is there a right to an ombudsman appeal?

Gr1pr

They wont be reissuing the pcn

They may offer a £20 settlement

The IAS is the ADR for IPC AOS members

There is no ombudsman