NCP parking ticket when incorrectly parked
Discussion
Got to Chester train station yesterday morning, parked up, bought a ticket for the day but when i got back to my car I had a ticket on my car. Apparently I wasn't in a bay (i thought I was). I wasn't blocking anyone else, or any paths, or any access, just a genuine mistake.
It's £85 or £50 paid within 14 days. Just to confirm, I did buy a ticket for £7 for the day.
Do I appeal and hope they side with me? It says the appeal will be heard after 35 days so if I fail, does that mean I'm liable to the £85 then?
Or do I just ignore it like is often recommended by people for those fines for overstaying in free carparks?
It's £85 or £50 paid within 14 days. Just to confirm, I did buy a ticket for £7 for the day.
Do I appeal and hope they side with me? It says the appeal will be heard after 35 days so if I fail, does that mean I'm liable to the £85 then?
Or do I just ignore it like is often recommended by people for those fines for overstaying in free carparks?
alistair1234 said:
Or do I just ignore it like is often recommended by people for those fines for overstaying in free carparks?
It's only recommended by idiots, it certainly isn't the best practice these days.Register and post on www.pepipoo.com, you'll get much better consistent advice there.
Train stations are usually covered under local byelaws, even if run by a private company, so the "usual" advice wouldn't apply. Notwithstanding that, recent changes and cases mean that the usual advice these days is not to ignore tickets even if you're complately in the clear. If you were not in a bay, I'm sorry to say that you have very little chance of a successful appeal, and I would probably pay it.
In a similar fashion, I parked up at Northampton station car park last week on Monday, bought a weekly ticket and went off to London. I was a bit aggrieved when I found a ticket on the window of the car on my return, but then realised that the weekly ticket was still in my wallet, not on display in the car. Very stupid indeed, but my mistake and my stupidity nonetheless. I paid the fine without quibble. On the other hand, I had an issue at a Waitrose car park run by Smart Parking, they were in the wrong, I told them to stuff it with evidence and they cancelled it even though I hadn't used the official appeals system.
In a similar fashion, I parked up at Northampton station car park last week on Monday, bought a weekly ticket and went off to London. I was a bit aggrieved when I found a ticket on the window of the car on my return, but then realised that the weekly ticket was still in my wallet, not on display in the car. Very stupid indeed, but my mistake and my stupidity nonetheless. I paid the fine without quibble. On the other hand, I had an issue at a Waitrose car park run by Smart Parking, they were in the wrong, I told them to stuff it with evidence and they cancelled it even though I hadn't used the official appeals system.
QuickQuack said:
Train stations are usually covered under local byelaws, even if run by a private company, so the "usual" advice wouldn't apply. Notwithstanding that, recent changes and cases mean that the usual advice these days is not to ignore tickets even if you're complately in the clear. If you were not in a bay, I'm sorry to say that you have very little chance of a successful appeal, and I would probably pay it.
In a similar fashion, I parked up at Northampton station car park last week on Monday, bought a weekly ticket and went off to London. I was a bit aggrieved when I found a ticket on the window of the car on my return, but then realised that the weekly ticket was still in my wallet, not on display in the car. Very stupid indeed, but my mistake and my stupidity nonetheless. I paid the fine without quibble. On the other hand, I had an issue at a Waitrose car park run by Smart Parking, they were in the wrong, I told them to stuff it with evidence and they cancelled it even though I hadn't used the official appeals system.
NCP are attempting to take payment in lieu of prosecution under Railway Byelaw 14. Breach of byelaws can only be dealt with by magistrates court and brought by the Train Operating Company and not a contractor (eg NCP).In a similar fashion, I parked up at Northampton station car park last week on Monday, bought a weekly ticket and went off to London. I was a bit aggrieved when I found a ticket on the window of the car on my return, but then realised that the weekly ticket was still in my wallet, not on display in the car. Very stupid indeed, but my mistake and my stupidity nonetheless. I paid the fine without quibble. On the other hand, I had an issue at a Waitrose car park run by Smart Parking, they were in the wrong, I told them to stuff it with evidence and they cancelled it even though I hadn't used the official appeals system.
Advice to the OP
This byelaw "breach" times out 6 months from the date of alleged contravention. Do not engage with the appeal process and play letter tennis with NCP until the 6 months is up. Send them letters asking for clarification on points of the byelaw, asking for evidence of contravention etc and then take a while between letters until the 6 months is up. Then you will no longer be taken to court by the TOC and just have to deal with NCP which will be easier after the 6 months has passed
pavarotti1980 said:
NCP are attempting to take payment in lieu of prosecution under Railway Byelaw 14. Breach of byelaws can only be dealt with by magistrates court and brought by the Train Operating Company and not a contractor (eg NCP).
Advice to the OP
This byelaw "breach" times out 6 months from the date of alleged contravention. Do not engage with the appeal process and play letter tennis with NCP until the 6 months is up. Send them letters asking for clarification on points of the byelaw, asking for evidence of contravention etc and then take a while between letters until the 6 months is up. Then you will no longer be taken to court by the TOC and just have to deal with NCP which will be easier after the 6 months has passed
Sounds like a lot of faff. Think I'd rather pay the 50 quid and be done with it.Advice to the OP
This byelaw "breach" times out 6 months from the date of alleged contravention. Do not engage with the appeal process and play letter tennis with NCP until the 6 months is up. Send them letters asking for clarification on points of the byelaw, asking for evidence of contravention etc and then take a while between letters until the 6 months is up. Then you will no longer be taken to court by the TOC and just have to deal with NCP which will be easier after the 6 months has passed
justinio said:
pavarotti1980 said:
NCP are attempting to take payment in lieu of prosecution under Railway Byelaw 14. Breach of byelaws can only be dealt with by magistrates court and brought by the Train Operating Company and not a contractor (eg NCP).
Advice to the OP
This byelaw "breach" times out 6 months from the date of alleged contravention. Do not engage with the appeal process and play letter tennis with NCP until the 6 months is up. Send them letters asking for clarification on points of the byelaw, asking for evidence of contravention etc and then take a while between letters until the 6 months is up. Then you will no longer be taken to court by the TOC and just have to deal with NCP which will be easier after the 6 months has passed
Sounds like a lot of faff. Think I'd rather pay the 50 quid and be done with it.Advice to the OP
This byelaw "breach" times out 6 months from the date of alleged contravention. Do not engage with the appeal process and play letter tennis with NCP until the 6 months is up. Send them letters asking for clarification on points of the byelaw, asking for evidence of contravention etc and then take a while between letters until the 6 months is up. Then you will no longer be taken to court by the TOC and just have to deal with NCP which will be easier after the 6 months has passed
It's your call OP, but that (faff), on top of the ambiguity/grey area about the land and the applicable enforcement regime, is what NCP (and other PPCs) rely on to keep their sausage machine churning.
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