help re parking - paid for parking but made error on reg.

[rhinochopig]

We received a parking ticket at York train-station (APCOA car-park) which we've challenged and been told tough essentially.

We paid for a space but my wife made an error and used the reg number for our other car - we use the station car park a lot and it lets you repeat the booking over the phone.

So when we got back to the car they'd issued a parking ticket. Now I don't mind paying a fine if we'd not paid, but we had paid in full for a space - just made an error with the car details. I thought you could only be charged compensation if the other party had suffered a loss, and in this case they clearly haven't.

Do I just have to bend over accept it and pay up - and use a different carpark in future - or should I be challenging the charge?

Can anyone point me in the right direction to the relevant legislation please?

[saaby93]

Ive often wondered about this as the simplest of car parks now have a machine where you type in your reg and can easily make a mistake. If you lose your ticket they can see if you really bought one. They can also see who's using their car park.

There's nothing on the machine saying your ticket is void if you type in the wrong reg number, so take it to their appeal system

If someone else finds the regs please post them up

[V8LM]

Send them a copy of the phone record and suggest they check their CCTV if they wish to. Not proof in this case of course as you could have parked both cars, but they may be lenient and let you off the fine.

[anonymous-user]

I did the same thing at Swindon train station about a year ago. I threw their letter threats of doubling the fine and taking me to court in the bin. Didn't hear anything more after a couple of months.

Martin Lewis has a dedicated advice section/forum on his moneysavingexpert site - might be worth reading and posting on there.

[saaby93]

RaymondVanDerDon said:

I did the same thing at Swindon train station about a year ago. I threw their letter threats of doubling the fine and taking me to court in the bin. Didn't hear anything more after a couple of months.

Martin Lewis has a dedicated advice section/forum on his moneysavingexpert site - might be worth reading and posting on there.

I know what you're saying but isn't this a motoring forum?

I'd be more impressed if someone on the martinlewis site said 'theres a dedicated thread on Pistonheads about this, might be worth reading and posting there'

Whats happened to PH

[fossilfuelled]

I've made the same mistake and successfully appealed a fine in Westminster on the basis of "the common sense approach"which is detailed on their guidelines for enforcement and I stated that "reasonable attempts have been made to comply" and I shouldn't be unduly punished for an innocent mistake.

Try that..

[djdest]

Register on http://forums.pepipoo.com and start a new thread giving all the info, scans of letters and tickets (with any personal info removed) and you will get help.
However, are expected to do some research and reading yourself on there too, don't expect the answers on a platter!
Tons of threads to read, you will soon get the gist of things

[robinessex]

You should know by now it's government policy for you to be 'fined' for any trivial mistake you make. Unless you’re a politician, and are unable to work out which house is your main residence, so you can claim the correct expenses.

[djdest]

First rule, its NOT a fine!
Its a speculative invoice

[djdest]

saaby93 said:

irked:
I know what you're saying but isn't this a motoring forum?

I'd be more impressed if someone on the martinlewis site said 'theres a dedicated thread on Pistonheads about this, might be worth reading and posting there'

Whats happened to PH

Trust me, the peeps on pepipoo have all the knowledge needed to sort it out.
Yes, this might be a motoring forum, and a car is involved in the dispute, but the majority of it is legal stuff regarding contracts and other technicalities.
OP, if you want it sorting quickly and properly please follow my advice

[anonymous-user]

robinessex said:

You should know by now it's government policy for you to be 'fined' for any trivial mistake you make. Unless you’re a politician, and are unable to work out which house is your main residence, so you can claim the correct expenses.

APCOA is a government department is it, with the ability to fine people? You sure?

[anonymous-user]

Does anyone who has posted on this thread know the difference between a 'station' car park operating under railway byelaws, A private car park near a station, or a council parking fine as all 3 seem to be bandied about. The OP needs to clarify the ownership if this one http://www.apcoa.co.uk/parking-in/york/york-commut... it looks like a straight forward private car park.

[TooMany2cvs]

saaby93 said:

Ive often wondered about this as the simplest of car parks now have a machine where you type in your reg and can easily make a mistake. If you lose your ticket they can see if you really bought one. They can also see who's using their car park.

There's nothing on the machine saying your ticket is void if you type in the wrong reg number, so take it to their appeal system

And, of course, if the ticket doesn't match the car it's in, was it a legit error in entering the plate, or was the ticket handed over by somebody leaving the car park earlier than they thought...?

In this case, no ticket was issued - the OP just paid by phone. The "ticket" is an entry on the computer saying AB51CDE has paid by phone. Except, of course, BC62DEF is parked there, not AB51CDE. The parking attendant has no way of knowing that the two cars are the same person - or, even that AB51CDE has paid, because he just puts in BC62DEF to his hand-held and it comes back "NOT PAID!". Ticket. Thank you.

So it's down to whether the appeals process upholds it or not.

[djdest]

Lots of info here

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=9124...

[rhinochopig]

Thanks all for kindly taking the time to respond. Some useful advice and links. The pepipoo site is superb.

Cheers

Rich

[stemll]

djdest said:

First rule, its NOT a fine!
Its a speculative invoice

Not if issued under a railway bye-law (Transport Act 2000 or something like that IIRC). If so, it will be a Penalty not a Parking Charge Notice