Lying Bl**dy Westminster
Discussion
I have just received a Notice To Owner from Westminster council, it claims I have not paid a PCN from August 29th. What bloody PCN? I never received one!
I phoned Westminster Parking Services to ask what was going on, the girl was helpful and said they have pictures of my car, I asked if they had a picture showing the PCN on the windscreen, she said no, in fact she could no even see a yellow line on the pics! She said a note said the Attendant had handed the PCN to the driver....WTF!!! He is lying, this just did not happen!
On the day I was in the area and pulled over to read my A to Z, I probably stopped for 3 minutes then carried on to my destination, I didn't even see a Parking Attendant and never 'Parked'.
Of coarse I will be appealing this all the way, it will be my word against the attendant however as he claims he handed the PCN to me and never fixed it to the car I have a good chance of winning. It just pisses me off that these bastards try and get away with this, it is tough enough working in London without dishonest Parking Attendants trying to leg you over!!
Rant Over!!
PS. I would welcome any advice on this, has anyone else been in this situation?
I phoned Westminster Parking Services to ask what was going on, the girl was helpful and said they have pictures of my car, I asked if they had a picture showing the PCN on the windscreen, she said no, in fact she could no even see a yellow line on the pics! She said a note said the Attendant had handed the PCN to the driver....WTF!!! He is lying, this just did not happen!
On the day I was in the area and pulled over to read my A to Z, I probably stopped for 3 minutes then carried on to my destination, I didn't even see a Parking Attendant and never 'Parked'.
Of coarse I will be appealing this all the way, it will be my word against the attendant however as he claims he handed the PCN to me and never fixed it to the car I have a good chance of winning. It just pisses me off that these bastards try and get away with this, it is tough enough working in London without dishonest Parking Attendants trying to leg you over!!
Rant Over!!
PS. I would welcome any advice on this, has anyone else been in this situation?
The Wiz said:
Cloned plates?
No, it was my car and I was there, this is why the girl from Westminster checked the pics, I just never got a PCN and never even saw a parking attended, I didn't even get out of my car, just checked my map and carried on. He/she must have snapped a couple of pics and then issued a ticket after I had gone.Hopefully the pictures show you in the vehicle and reading your A-to-Z. If so they may assist in supporting your claim. However, some councils are drawing a very fine line between being stationary at the kerb and being parked. Don't forget, a fine they can't enforce is a loss to their pension fund - Streaky
streaky said:
...some councils are drawing a very fine line between being stationary at the kerb and being parked.
They can try, but if the owner is in the driving seat it's not parked, it's 'waiting'. And if the photo doesn't even show the double-yellows, then I would suggest the OP just swears and/or laughs at them until they go away! (Note to OP: Tongue-in-cheek...and make sure first!!!
)My uncle got a ticket for parking on a red route via a CCTV operator, despite the fact he was legally parked in a bay. The only way he could find this out though, was to request the photos and immediately double the potential fine. I wonder how many people just accept it without question because they don't want to risk it. It is legallised extortion.
cjs said:
I have just received a Notice To Owner from Westminster council, it claims I have not paid a PCN from August 29th. What bloody PCN? I never received one!
I phoned Westminster Parking Services to ask what was going on, the girl was helpful and said they have pictures of my car, I asked if they had a picture showing the PCN on the windscreen, she said no, in fact she could no even see a yellow line on the pics! She said a note said the Attendant had handed the PCN to the driver....WTF!!! He is lying, this just did not happen!
On the day I was in the area and pulled over to read my A to Z, I probably stopped for 3 minutes then carried on to my destination, I didn't even see a Parking Attendant and never 'Parked'.
Of coarse I will be appealing this all the way, it will be my word against the attendant however as he claims he handed the PCN to me and never fixed it to the car I have a good chance of winning. It just pisses me off that these bastards try and get away with this, it is tough enough working in London without dishonest Parking Attendants trying to leg you over!!
Rant Over!!
PS. I would welcome any advice on this, has anyone else been in this situation?
This is fairly common practise in Westminster. Fight it all the way (if you are correct in your own story and details) and I can guarantee the satisfaction is worth it.I phoned Westminster Parking Services to ask what was going on, the girl was helpful and said they have pictures of my car, I asked if they had a picture showing the PCN on the windscreen, she said no, in fact she could no even see a yellow line on the pics! She said a note said the Attendant had handed the PCN to the driver....WTF!!! He is lying, this just did not happen!
On the day I was in the area and pulled over to read my A to Z, I probably stopped for 3 minutes then carried on to my destination, I didn't even see a Parking Attendant and never 'Parked'.
Of coarse I will be appealing this all the way, it will be my word against the attendant however as he claims he handed the PCN to me and never fixed it to the car I have a good chance of winning. It just pisses me off that these bastards try and get away with this, it is tough enough working in London without dishonest Parking Attendants trying to leg you over!!
Rant Over!!
PS. I would welcome any advice on this, has anyone else been in this situation?
Unfortunately it will be easier to just pay up but I don't and now have stock letters and phrases that I use when I am 'caught out'!
www.pepipoo.com ??? Was brilliant and I even managed to find the Westminster parking enforcemenat guidelines which are fairly clear cut.
PM me if you like and I will forward a letter that I used. DO NOT PAY THEM!
Standard stuff in Westminster, nothing to worry about. I've had loads of Westminster PCNs cancelled, including a 'driveaway' where the guy lied and said he'd served the ticket.
In the absence of photographic evidence showing the PCN was served, Westminster will probably cancel the PCN upon receipt of your appeal. They *might* reject your appeal in which case you just need to fill out the PATAS form. I can virtually guarantee you will then get the standard letter a couple of days before the hearing saying that Westminster have declined to send any evidence and the PCN is therefore cancelled.
Westminster are well aware that a large proportion of parking attendants are either dishonest, incompetent or both.
In the absence of photographic evidence showing the PCN was served, Westminster will probably cancel the PCN upon receipt of your appeal. They *might* reject your appeal in which case you just need to fill out the PATAS form. I can virtually guarantee you will then get the standard letter a couple of days before the hearing saying that Westminster have declined to send any evidence and the PCN is therefore cancelled.
Westminster are well aware that a large proportion of parking attendants are either dishonest, incompetent or both.
Westminster traffic wardens are known for this kind of thing. There was an article in the papers about them not that long ago - the paper photographed them sitting around having coffee at the times when tickets were supposedly issued.
And they hunt in packs. I've seen them hang around outside offices waiting for couriers to pull up so that they can ticket them as soon as they enter the building.
And they hunt in packs. I've seen them hang around outside offices waiting for couriers to pull up so that they can ticket them as soon as they enter the building.
We have a whole army of mini hitlers near my house, I have had in excess of 10 tickets in the last 2 years easily. I have had tickets accusing me of parking in a residents parking bay with no permit displayed, tickets to accuse me of parking on double yellow lines, some saying I have parked on a pavement (I would have no chance of parking on a pavement that high), others saying I have parked in a pay and display and haven't paid.
These have all been when I have been parked outside my house (where no double yellows exist) in a permit holders bay WITH my permit on display. I have been told on the phone that pictures have been taken and I should not dispute it, but I disputed every single one of them and got each ticket revoked. This meant I had to write a letter and physically drop it into hounslow council asking for a receipt so as I could prove I dropped in my arguement against all the tickets.
After every appeal I made I would get a letter about 2/3 months afterwards basically saying "We have let you off this one time, don't do it again!"
The funniest one I had was in Richmond. I was late to meet a friend so parked quickly in what I thought was a pay and display bay. I returned to find a ticket stating I had been in a residents parking bay, which in all fairness I actually was (even though it was just my rear tyre!).
I rang Richmond council to pay when I noticed they had taken down my registration incorrectly. Cue one very nice lady say to me "Sir, we have taken your details down incorrectly, It would appear you weren't in Richmond that night at all wouldn't it? Have a lovely christmas!".
I even got a letter of apology, and this was the only time I was completely in the wrong too!
These have all been when I have been parked outside my house (where no double yellows exist) in a permit holders bay WITH my permit on display. I have been told on the phone that pictures have been taken and I should not dispute it, but I disputed every single one of them and got each ticket revoked. This meant I had to write a letter and physically drop it into hounslow council asking for a receipt so as I could prove I dropped in my arguement against all the tickets.
After every appeal I made I would get a letter about 2/3 months afterwards basically saying "We have let you off this one time, don't do it again!"
The funniest one I had was in Richmond. I was late to meet a friend so parked quickly in what I thought was a pay and display bay. I returned to find a ticket stating I had been in a residents parking bay, which in all fairness I actually was (even though it was just my rear tyre!).
I rang Richmond council to pay when I noticed they had taken down my registration incorrectly. Cue one very nice lady say to me "Sir, we have taken your details down incorrectly, It would appear you weren't in Richmond that night at all wouldn't it? Have a lovely christmas!".
I even got a letter of apology, and this was the only time I was completely in the wrong too!
I wonder whether there is recourse to the Protection from Harassment Act 1997. Of course, there may be an exemption claimed under the section:
12 National security, etc
(1) If the Secretary of State certifies that in his opinion anything done by a specified person on a specified occasion related to—
(a) national security,
(b) the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, or
(c) the prevention or detection of serious crime,
and was done on behalf of the Crown, the certificate is conclusive evidence that this Act does not apply to any conduct of that person on that occasion.
Streaky
12 National security, etc
(1) If the Secretary of State certifies that in his opinion anything done by a specified person on a specified occasion related to—
(a) national security,
(b) the economic well-being of the United Kingdom, or
(c) the prevention or detection of serious crime,
and was done on behalf of the Crown, the certificate is conclusive evidence that this Act does not apply to any conduct of that person on that occasion.
Streaky
Slaav said:
cjs said:
I have just received a Notice To Owner from Westminster council, it claims I have not paid a PCN from August 29th. What bloody PCN? I never received one!
I phoned Westminster Parking Services to ask what was going on, the girl was helpful and said they have pictures of my car, I asked if they had a picture showing the PCN on the windscreen, she said no, in fact she could no even see a yellow line on the pics! She said a note said the Attendant had handed the PCN to the driver....WTF!!! He is lying, this just did not happen!
On the day I was in the area and pulled over to read my A to Z, I probably stopped for 3 minutes then carried on to my destination, I didn't even see a Parking Attendant and never 'Parked'.
Of coarse I will be appealing this all the way, it will be my word against the attendant however as he claims he handed the PCN to me and never fixed it to the car I have a good chance of winning. It just pisses me off that these bastards try and get away with this, it is tough enough working in London without dishonest Parking Attendants trying to leg you over!!
Rant Over!!
PS. I would welcome any advice on this, has anyone else been in this situation?
This is fairly common practise in Westminster. Fight it all the way (if you are correct in your own story and details) and I can guarantee the satisfaction is worth it.I phoned Westminster Parking Services to ask what was going on, the girl was helpful and said they have pictures of my car, I asked if they had a picture showing the PCN on the windscreen, she said no, in fact she could no even see a yellow line on the pics! She said a note said the Attendant had handed the PCN to the driver....WTF!!! He is lying, this just did not happen!
On the day I was in the area and pulled over to read my A to Z, I probably stopped for 3 minutes then carried on to my destination, I didn't even see a Parking Attendant and never 'Parked'.
Of coarse I will be appealing this all the way, it will be my word against the attendant however as he claims he handed the PCN to me and never fixed it to the car I have a good chance of winning. It just pisses me off that these bastards try and get away with this, it is tough enough working in London without dishonest Parking Attendants trying to leg you over!!
Rant Over!!
PS. I would welcome any advice on this, has anyone else been in this situation?
Unfortunately it will be easier to just pay up but I don't and now have stock letters and phrases that I use when I am 'caught out'!
www.pepipoo.com ??? Was brilliant and I even managed to find the Westminster parking enforcemenat guidelines which are fairly clear cut.
PM me if you like and I will forward a letter that I used. DO NOT PAY THEM!
havoc said:
streaky said:
...some councils are drawing a very fine line between being stationary at the kerb and being parked.
They can try, but if the owner is in the driving seat it's not parked, it's 'waiting'. And if the photo doesn't even show the double-yellows, then I would suggest the OP just swears and/or laughs at them until they go away! (Note to OP: Tongue-in-cheek...and make sure first!!!
)Silent1 said:
I got screwed for a similar thing on Tottenham Court Road, i pulled over because i was lost, and despite my lights being on etc, i appealed the parking ticket (issued via CCTV ffs!) and they said that waiting constituted parking. 
How about the traffic lights then you utter tits.
What did I say? - Streaky How about the traffic lights then you utter tits.havoc said:
streaky said:
...some councils are drawing a very fine line between being stationary at the kerb and being parked.
They can try, but if the owner is in the driving seat it's not parked, it's 'waiting'.Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff