Parking Fine - advice please?
Discussion
Hi all,
So, we got one of these lovely jobbies through the door. We'd stayed for just under three hours in a free car park that only permits two and a half hours. We didn't realise, didn't pay attention to be honest as we were there legit. We were shopping in the complex the entire time, just spent too long spending too much money I suppose!
Anyhow, I contested it saying we were shopping in the complex and provided evidence by way of receipts. They said they would come back to me in 14 days, it has now been about 20 days.
Where do I stand? Should I follow it up? The reason being, the fine is £50, but increases to about £100 after 14 days. They say the time period is frozen until I hear from them, but what if the response has been 'lost in the post'? I don't have a lot of faith in these companies, nor do I trust their integrity.
Has anyone been in a similar position?
(Please note, I have no desire to "Ignore it" in the hope it will go away. If they don't find in my favour, I'll take it up with the ombudsmen etc and if I loose, I'll pay up. I just don't want to get caught out on a technicality.)
Thanks!
Paul.
So, we got one of these lovely jobbies through the door. We'd stayed for just under three hours in a free car park that only permits two and a half hours. We didn't realise, didn't pay attention to be honest as we were there legit. We were shopping in the complex the entire time, just spent too long spending too much money I suppose!
Anyhow, I contested it saying we were shopping in the complex and provided evidence by way of receipts. They said they would come back to me in 14 days, it has now been about 20 days.
Where do I stand? Should I follow it up? The reason being, the fine is £50, but increases to about £100 after 14 days. They say the time period is frozen until I hear from them, but what if the response has been 'lost in the post'? I don't have a lot of faith in these companies, nor do I trust their integrity.
Has anyone been in a similar position?
(Please note, I have no desire to "Ignore it" in the hope it will go away. If they don't find in my favour, I'll take it up with the ombudsmen etc and if I loose, I'll pay up. I just don't want to get caught out on a technicality.)
Thanks!
Paul.
Ace. Paul O said:
Hi all,
So, we got one of these lovely jobbies through the door. We'd stayed for just under three hours in a free car park that only permits two and a half hours. We didn't realise, didn't pay attention to be honest as we were there legit. We were shopping in the complex the entire time, just spent too long spending too much money I suppose!
Anyhow, I contested it saying we were shopping in the complex and provided evidence by way of receipts. They said they would come back to me in 14 days, it has now been about 20 days.
Where do I stand? Should I follow it up? The reason being, the fine is £50, but increases to about £100 after 14 days. They say the time period is frozen until I hear from them, but what if the response has been 'lost in the post'? I don't have a lot of faith in these companies, nor do I trust their integrity.
Has anyone been in a similar position?
(Please note, I have no desire to "Ignore it" in the hope it will go away. If they don't find in my favour, I'll take it up with the ombudsmen etc and if I loose, I'll pay up. I just don't want to get caught out on a technicality.)
Thanks!
Paul.
I am at a loss to understand your opinion on this.So, we got one of these lovely jobbies through the door. We'd stayed for just under three hours in a free car park that only permits two and a half hours. We didn't realise, didn't pay attention to be honest as we were there legit. We were shopping in the complex the entire time, just spent too long spending too much money I suppose!
Anyhow, I contested it saying we were shopping in the complex and provided evidence by way of receipts. They said they would come back to me in 14 days, it has now been about 20 days.
Where do I stand? Should I follow it up? The reason being, the fine is £50, but increases to about £100 after 14 days. They say the time period is frozen until I hear from them, but what if the response has been 'lost in the post'? I don't have a lot of faith in these companies, nor do I trust their integrity.
Has anyone been in a similar position?
(Please note, I have no desire to "Ignore it" in the hope it will go away. If they don't find in my favour, I'll take it up with the ombudsmen etc and if I loose, I'll pay up. I just don't want to get caught out on a technicality.)
Thanks!
Paul.
You knew 2 and a half hours was the free parking period but you stayed longer than this.
A stay longer than this costs £50 or £100 depending on how long you take to pay. You know this too.
Perhaps to get the new conditions you applied to be heeded, spending money in the shopping centre, you should have warned the car park operator; that way they could have considered that spending money extended the 2 and a half hour free period.
You didn't do that so it seems entirely fair for the car park operator to seek compensation from you for your extended stay.
I don't like paying £50 for 151 minutes parking so I would have only stayed a maximum of 150 minutes...because that's free, more is not.
We didn't know, we realised when the fine letter dropped on the door mat. Hadn't even realised there was a time limit - in not so stupid to deliberately outstay my welcome then expect no consequence! This is all retrospective discovery and I've appealed. My question is "I've heard nothing about the appeal - what's the best corse of action?".
I'm thinking "call them as see what they say" to be honest, but wondered if anyone else had a similar experience.
I'm thinking "call them as see what they say" to be honest, but wondered if anyone else had a similar experience.
It's likely that the company in question requires the income from parking 'fines' to make the business profitable. Even if they didn't, an extra £50 here and there is always nice.
If they have you bang to rights, then they are not going to let you off. Bear that in mind in any future dealings with them.
If they have you bang to rights, then they are not going to let you off. Bear that in mind in any future dealings with them.
First of all if it is from a PPC then they cannot call it a fine. Only councils and courts can fine you. This is just a speculative invoice
Second
Do not write to them admitting thst
You ar the driver, or
In fact anything at all
Thirdly
log on to pepipoo.com in the private parking thread, and ask their advice. Things have changed since the Beavis ruling
Put up the parking ticket with details redacted
follow whatever advice the posters giv you, tell the truth because they dont like liars
IF you follow their advice andit goes to POPLA there is a better than evens chance you will not pay one penny piece.
So it is up to you
Pay them or fight
There will be some on here ( see above) who take the holier than thou attitude, Personally i would fight it all the way, as a lot of these PPC are run by people hose iq is less than their bodyweight in kilos and do make fatel mistakes in their requests for cash
Second
Do not write to them admitting thst
You ar the driver, or
In fact anything at all
Thirdly
log on to pepipoo.com in the private parking thread, and ask their advice. Things have changed since the Beavis ruling
Put up the parking ticket with details redacted
follow whatever advice the posters giv you, tell the truth because they dont like liars
IF you follow their advice andit goes to POPLA there is a better than evens chance you will not pay one penny piece.
So it is up to you
Pay them or fight
There will be some on here ( see above) who take the holier than thou attitude, Personally i would fight it all the way, as a lot of these PPC are run by people hose iq is less than their bodyweight in kilos and do make fatel mistakes in their requests for cash
silverfoxcc said:
There will be some on here ( see above) who take the holier than thou attitude, Personally i would fight it all the way, as a lot of these PPC are run by people hose iq is less than their bodyweight in kilos and do make fatel mistakes in their requests for cash
Not really about being "holier than thou" - I don't see why people think that the rules and regulations are put up in a car park are simply there as a joke. They then completely take the piss, do what they please and then get all upset when the "fine" makes it's way through the door.Nobody seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions these days - must fight it all the way, even though I was the t
t parking as long as I like in a 2-hour stay spot.Stoofa said:
Not really about being "holier than thou" - I don't see why people think that the rules and regulations are put up in a car park are simply there as a joke. They then completely take the piss, do what they please and then get all upset when the "fine" makes it's way through the door.
Nobody seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions these days - must fight it all the way, even though I was the tt parking as long as I like in a 2-hour stay spot.
Agreed. I was in the wrong, I didn't check the signs and will pay if required. I don't really understand the "fight the system" either - thems the rules. But I am appealing to their better nature, legally I'm wrong, but morally hopefully they will see that I'm spending cash in the very place which is enforcing rules to stop people parking there for free and walking into town, leaving space for us genuine shoppers.Nobody seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions these days - must fight it all the way, even though I was the t
t parking as long as I like in a 2-hour stay spot.Will see what they say - I'll call them later.
Mitigation doesn't work, but if you were genuinely there shopping for 3 hours and have receipts, get in touch with he retailers and make them cancel it with the PPC.
There are many other ways to get them cancelled with contractual arguments, but as alluded to above, YOU KNOW THE RULES SO YOU BURN IN HELL!!!
(worth checking who the PPC have contracted with - if it is a shopping centre, it may well be the retail management facility, rather than the landowner.) (I may well be talking st according to others, but this is a valid question at POPLA and has led to numerous tickets being cancelled at second appeal)
There are many other ways to get them cancelled with contractual arguments, but as alluded to above, YOU KNOW THE RULES SO YOU BURN IN HELL!!!
(worth checking who the PPC have contracted with - if it is a shopping centre, it may well be the retail management facility, rather than the landowner.) (I may well be talking s
t according to others, but this is a valid question at POPLA and has led to numerous tickets being cancelled at second appeal) S11Steve said:
Mitigation doesn't work, but if you were genuinely there shopping for 3 hours and have receipts, get in touch with he retailers and make them cancel it with the PPC.
Is it fair to cause additional work for several businesses because the OP failed to read the signs?They more than likely have far better things to do.
PurpleMoonlight said:
Is it fair to cause additional work for several businesses because the OP failed to read the signs?
They more than likely have far better things to do.
That is a commercial decision for them as to how much they value a customer who spends time and money on their site. But similarly, is it fair to penalise a genuine customer who has been on site spending money the whole time? It's more than likely that he could have spent his money somewhere else.They more than likely have far better things to do.
Maybe the ANPR cameras could have permitted another vehicle onto the site, that would then enable another customer to spend even more cash than the OP...
Paul O said:
...I've appealed. My question is "I've heard nothing about the appeal - what's the best corse of action?".
I'm thinking "call them as see what they say" to be honest, but wondered if anyone else had a similar experience.
You've made an appeal so just wait. Don't go running after them.I'm thinking "call them as see what they say" to be honest, but wondered if anyone else had a similar experience.
To follow this up and finish, I've paid the £50 fine.
They have acknowledged my appeal, but only in so far as to resend the bill to me (the admitted named driver) rather than my wife. Nothing else of the appeal has been acknowledged in any way. But then, I expected nothing less as these companies hardly have a stirling reputation.
I could fight it out, re-appeal, go to the independant ombudsmen, etc etc, but I can't be arsed. For the sake of £50 (and I'm sure this is exactly the rationale that keeps them in business) I'd rather be done with it.
But a letter will be sent to the shopping companies on that block that we used to advise that we'll be taking our business elsewhere in future.
Yes, I was in the wrong (hence paying the fine), but it still stinks that we used their facilities the entire time. So we'll simply not shop there any more. Its not like we are hard pressed to find shops, both high street and online, who want to take our money instead!
They have acknowledged my appeal, but only in so far as to resend the bill to me (the admitted named driver) rather than my wife. Nothing else of the appeal has been acknowledged in any way. But then, I expected nothing less as these companies hardly have a stirling reputation.
I could fight it out, re-appeal, go to the independant ombudsmen, etc etc, but I can't be arsed. For the sake of £50 (and I'm sure this is exactly the rationale that keeps them in business) I'd rather be done with it.
But a letter will be sent to the shopping companies on that block that we used to advise that we'll be taking our business elsewhere in future.
Yes, I was in the wrong (hence paying the fine), but it still stinks that we used their facilities the entire time. So we'll simply not shop there any more. Its not like we are hard pressed to find shops, both high street and online, who want to take our money instead!
daveinhampshire said:
This is exactly the right thing to do. A quick letter to the local shopping centre explaining what had happened and the bad feeling it has left will have more effect than arguing with the idiots at the parking company.
Why they have decided 2.5 hrs is all your getting for free why would they now want to bend their rules for this person?silverfoxcc said:
First of all if it is from a PPC then they cannot call it a fine. Only councils and courts can fine you. This is just a speculative invoice
Second
Do not write to them admitting thst
You ar the driver, or
In fact anything at all
Thirdly
log on to pepipoo.com in the private parking thread, and ask their advice. Things have changed since the Beavis ruling
Put up the parking ticket with details redacted
follow whatever advice the posters giv you, tell the truth because they dont like liars
IF you follow their advice andit goes to POPLA there is a better than evens chance you will not pay one penny piece.
So it is up to you
Pay them or fight
There will be some on here ( see above) who take the holier than thou attitude, Personally i would fight it all the way, as a lot of these PPC are run by people hose iq is less than their bodyweight in kilos and do make fatel mistakes in their requests for cash
Oh, the irony!Second
Do not write to them admitting thst
You ar the driver, or
In fact anything at all
Thirdly
log on to pepipoo.com in the private parking thread, and ask their advice. Things have changed since the Beavis ruling
Put up the parking ticket with details redacted
follow whatever advice the posters giv you, tell the truth because they dont like liars
IF you follow their advice andit goes to POPLA there is a better than evens chance you will not pay one penny piece.
So it is up to you
Pay them or fight
There will be some on here ( see above) who take the holier than thou attitude, Personally i would fight it all the way, as a lot of these PPC are run by people hose iq is less than their bodyweight in kilos and do make fatel mistakes in their requests for cash
OP, you were wise to ignore the nonsense above and not waste your time on pepipoo. That is a rather sad website populated by ranty nutters who are apparently obsessed with doing whatever they like for free, and seem to regard parking tickets as worse than the Third Reich.
There's no big moral crusade issue here. You just received a bill from a commercial organisation. It's not worth fussing about in most cases. The parking company is just a boring company that makes money for its shareholders in a way that isn't against the law. It's not an evil empire.
If the parking company displayed the parking conditions at the car park in such a way that you could reasonably have seen them, then by parking there you agreed to the conditions, and so had little option but to pay up. This isn't a holier than thou stance, just a practical one. It's not worth wasting time and stressing over the charge in most cases, and sensibly you haven't. Those who suggest "fighting all the way" over a parking ticket should perhaps invest in getting a life.
Thus paying up was sensible, but your attitude to the shops is, I suggest, a tad silly, or at least a bit pointlessly stubborn. There is no inherent right to park for free at a shopping centre. Some places offer a period of free parking. They don't have to. In general, use of land entails a charge. Sometimes no charge is made, but the starting point is not one of free parking being any sort of entitlement.
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 29th December 00:29
Breadvan72 said:
Oh, the irony!
OP, ignore the nonsense above. Do not waste your time on pepipoo. It is a rather sad website populated by ranty nutters who are apparently obsessed with doing whatever they like for free, and seem to regard parking tickets as worse than the Third Reich. There's no big moral crusade issue here. You've just received a bill from a commercial organisation. It's not worth fussing about in most cases. The parking company is just a boring company that makes money for its shareholders in a way that isn't against the law. It's not an evil empire.
If the company that is seeking payment from you displayed the parking conditions at the car park in such a way that you could reasonably have seen them, then you have by parking there agreed to the conditions, and so have little option but to pay up, if the company presses for payment. This isn't a holier than thou stance, just a practical one. It's not worth wasting time and stressing over the charge in most cases.
the other stuff might be true but all private parking enforcement companies are part of an evil empire, along with all car insurance companies Apple, BT, BP, The BBC, Sony, Sky, VW, Vodafone, Ryanair, Scottish Power, RBS, amazon prime and the european patent office.OP, ignore the nonsense above. Do not waste your time on pepipoo. It is a rather sad website populated by ranty nutters who are apparently obsessed with doing whatever they like for free, and seem to regard parking tickets as worse than the Third Reich. There's no big moral crusade issue here. You've just received a bill from a commercial organisation. It's not worth fussing about in most cases. The parking company is just a boring company that makes money for its shareholders in a way that isn't against the law. It's not an evil empire.
If the company that is seeking payment from you displayed the parking conditions at the car park in such a way that you could reasonably have seen them, then you have by parking there agreed to the conditions, and so have little option but to pay up, if the company presses for payment. This isn't a holier than thou stance, just a practical one. It's not worth wasting time and stressing over the charge in most cases.
And i can make up something as proof if required
daveinhampshire said:
This is exactly the right thing to do. A quick letter to the local shopping centre explaining what had happened and the bad feeling it has left will have more effect than arguing with the idiots at the parking company.
+1If they value your business, they'll get the parking company to reimburse you!
Well, any decent business would!
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