Parking fine but unable to pay for parking, am I screwed
Discussion
So I found a parking spot close to where I needed to be last week in Chester. I parked up and started looking around for a meter or signage. I dont actually remember seeing any signs. But I spotted the machine on the other side of the car park. I walked over and noticed it was totally wrapped in black pallet wrap. There was a label on the machine, or just above it. And it directed me to a website to pay. It stated no sign up so I did as instructed. I got to the point of paying where it then announced I could only use apple pay on safari. So I tried that and after two or three attempts it would not accept payment. So I decided to give up and leave.
Fast forward to today and i receive a notice demanding £100 reduced to £60 for immediate payment. This was for non payment of parking charges. The pics showed me arriving and departing 12 minutes & 10s later.
Im genuinely not a scumbag. I wasnt trying to park for free and got caught. I might be screwed here but it just doesnt seem fair.
Is it worth appealing ?
Fast forward to today and i receive a notice demanding £100 reduced to £60 for immediate payment. This was for non payment of parking charges. The pics showed me arriving and departing 12 minutes & 10s later.
Im genuinely not a scumbag. I wasnt trying to park for free and got caught. I might be screwed here but it just doesnt seem fair.
Is it worth appealing ?
IMHO appeal.
While the usual rule is 10 minutes grace, your argument is that several methods of payment didn't work and 10 minutes is to read the rules...
For future, photo the parking machine wrapped up so you can prove non-functionality.
Possibly you may also have records on apple pay and/or bank for transaction failures; These would be very, very useful as it provides proof (+timing) that you attempted to pay then promptly left when you couldn't do so.
While the usual rule is 10 minutes grace, your argument is that several methods of payment didn't work and 10 minutes is to read the rules...
For future, photo the parking machine wrapped up so you can prove non-functionality.
Possibly you may also have records on apple pay and/or bank for transaction failures; These would be very, very useful as it provides proof (+timing) that you attempted to pay then promptly left when you couldn't do so.
Thanks all
So to update I appealed and got a letter back today. Which in amongst it all, I think means pay £20 to cover our admin costs etc.
Thank you for your appeal received on 03/04/2025 regarding the above detailed Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
We have reviewed the case and considered the comments that you have made. This appeal has been considered
in conjunction with the evidence gathered and our records show that the PCN was correctly issued as your
vehicle was parked in breach of the Terms and Conditions of Parking.
The location where the vehicle was parked is private land and for use by paying customers. It is the drivers
responsibility to ensure that the correct vehicle registration number (VRN) is entered in the electronic system
using the relevant 'on-line', 'App' pre-pay service or Pay & Display machine.
Prior to leaving the car park the driver is responsible for ensuring that the VRN has been successfully recorded on
the electronic system or machine.
However, in this instance, we will be willing to waive the PCN charge subject to an administration
payment of £20 being made which is in contribution to the costs associated with the issue of the PCN,
DVLA costs and other administration costs.
We are therefore unable to cancel the PCN as it was issued correctly. We have now extended the discounted
payment period by 14 days to allow you time to pay the discounted settlement amount. Please now make
payment of £20 to reach us by 18/04/2025 or £100 to reach us by 02/05/2025. We must advise you that once the
discounted settlement rate passes it will not be offered again.
For those asking where the parking lot was. Here is a screenshot. I have roughly circled the location of the lot.
So to update I appealed and got a letter back today. Which in amongst it all, I think means pay £20 to cover our admin costs etc.
Thank you for your appeal received on 03/04/2025 regarding the above detailed Parking Charge Notice (PCN).
We have reviewed the case and considered the comments that you have made. This appeal has been considered
in conjunction with the evidence gathered and our records show that the PCN was correctly issued as your
vehicle was parked in breach of the Terms and Conditions of Parking.
The location where the vehicle was parked is private land and for use by paying customers. It is the drivers
responsibility to ensure that the correct vehicle registration number (VRN) is entered in the electronic system
using the relevant 'on-line', 'App' pre-pay service or Pay & Display machine.
Prior to leaving the car park the driver is responsible for ensuring that the VRN has been successfully recorded on
the electronic system or machine.
However, in this instance, we will be willing to waive the PCN charge subject to an administration
payment of £20 being made which is in contribution to the costs associated with the issue of the PCN,
DVLA costs and other administration costs.
We are therefore unable to cancel the PCN as it was issued correctly. We have now extended the discounted
payment period by 14 days to allow you time to pay the discounted settlement amount. Please now make
payment of £20 to reach us by 18/04/2025 or £100 to reach us by 02/05/2025. We must advise you that once the
discounted settlement rate passes it will not be offered again.
For those asking where the parking lot was. Here is a screenshot. I have roughly circled the location of the lot.
Thieving b
ds. As they are willing to waive the full amount, will they take you to court for £20?
They are saying both, we are right to charge you the full amount, but are also willing to let you pay just the admin cost. Their ‘admin’ should have pointed them in the direction of ‘no fee payable’ so any admin cost is theirs to bear, surely?
They are saying both, we are right to charge you the full amount, but are also willing to let you pay just the admin cost. Their ‘admin’ should have pointed them in the direction of ‘no fee payable’ so any admin cost is theirs to bear, surely?
'Please now make payment of £20 to reach us by 18/04/2025 or £100 to reach us by 02/05/2025.'
So this admin charge quintuples after a fortnight? That's a funny way to charge admin; it smells a bit like blackmail.
You got a PCN because you drove out without paying... but now I wonder if the label you saw was fake. Did the company really have a working method of payment or have they sent PCNs to everyone because there was in fact no way to pay?
So this admin charge quintuples after a fortnight? That's a funny way to charge admin; it smells a bit like blackmail.
You got a PCN because you drove out without paying... but now I wonder if the label you saw was fake. Did the company really have a working method of payment or have they sent PCNs to everyone because there was in fact no way to pay?
Vanden Saab said:
Assuming they have given you details of how to pay then pay them for parking for the time you were there.
Covering email telling them what you have done with payment details. Stating you have paid as soon as you were able to.
If this is true I'd have thought the OP is home and dry because there were no means to pay. I would also send a photo of the label and the machine with a bag over it (if still there). Covering email telling them what you have done with payment details. Stating you have paid as soon as you were able to.
Gixer968CS said:
Nope, it's standard on all All devices - iOS and Mac. But, ApplePay does not use safari.
Perhaps time to call them if possible and sort it out person to person; it usually gets better results.Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 5th April 09:24
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