Parking ticket due to misspelled licence plate
Discussion
A couple of weeks ago I parked in a council car park near a cafe in Nottinghamshire. I didn't have the change, and my brother in law paid the £1 parking fee for my car on the RingGo app, because he already had it installed. When I got back to the car I had a parking ticket. I challenged this on their website and have just had a letter saying that they've rejected the claim, because my registration number had been spelled with a zero instead of an O when he paid for it.
I think this is ridiculous, and I'm not about to give them £25 because of a little error like that. This was a council car park. Apparently I can make a more formal challenge when they issue a notice to keeper.
Anyone had experience with this? The enforcement is from Notts Parking Partnership and they've been criticized in the news recently for treating it as a cash cow. If it was just a private parking ticket I'd feel a bit more confident to tell them where to go.
I think this is ridiculous, and I'm not about to give them £25 because of a little error like that. This was a council car park. Apparently I can make a more formal challenge when they issue a notice to keeper.
Anyone had experience with this? The enforcement is from Notts Parking Partnership and they've been criticized in the news recently for treating it as a cash cow. If it was just a private parking ticket I'd feel a bit more confident to tell them where to go.
This happened to my wife, except my wife's keying error was classed as a major keying error as the machine only recorded one character from our 5 character number plate, wife didn't check the screen before paying!
We still had our parking ticket submitted this and paid a reduced administration fee, £20, which covered the parking companies costs DVLA search and postage cost! Still a joke but such is life!
Keying error [Scenario 1]
PUBLISHED ON: 4TH MAY 2020
Overview
The parking operator issued the parking charge notice because the motorist parked without making a valid payment or having a valid permit.
Motorist’s case
The motorist explained that they did pay but entered incorrect vehicle registration details into the payment machine. The appellant provided evidence of the payment made.
Evidence
POPLA examined the evidence provided by the parking operator which included copies of the signs at the car park and a list of payments made on the day against the vehicle registration of the parked car. The signs confirmed a requirement to enter a full and correct vehicle registration into the payment machine.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras recorded the appellants car entering and exiting the car park. The list of registration plates recorded against payments made, did not include the appellant’s car which is why the PCN was issued.
Analysis
Section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice covers the steps a parking operator should take when a keying error occurs. If there has been a minor keying error, for example one digit entered incorrectly, the parking operator is expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. If they failed to do this, they are expected to cancel the Parking Charge Notice when the motorist appeals.
In situations where a major keying error has occurred, for example the motorist entered an entirely different registration, the parking operator is not expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. it is recognised that the operator will have incurred charges in issuing a Parking Charge Notice and the Code of Practice permits that they can they seek to recover these by way of applying a modest charge of no more that £20 to the motorist.
In this instance, the motorist had made a major keying error by entering the wrong registration entirely. The parking operator had not offered to reduce the charge to a maximum of £20 when the motorist appealed. POPLA found that the operator had failed to follow the keying error guidance in the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
Outcome
POPLA allowed the appeal and required the parking operator to cancel the Parking Charge Notice because it was evident that the parking operator had failed to offer the reduced charge as required by section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
https://www.popla.co.uk/case-studies/keying-error
We still had our parking ticket submitted this and paid a reduced administration fee, £20, which covered the parking companies costs DVLA search and postage cost! Still a joke but such is life!
Keying error [Scenario 1]
PUBLISHED ON: 4TH MAY 2020
Overview
The parking operator issued the parking charge notice because the motorist parked without making a valid payment or having a valid permit.
Motorist’s case
The motorist explained that they did pay but entered incorrect vehicle registration details into the payment machine. The appellant provided evidence of the payment made.
Evidence
POPLA examined the evidence provided by the parking operator which included copies of the signs at the car park and a list of payments made on the day against the vehicle registration of the parked car. The signs confirmed a requirement to enter a full and correct vehicle registration into the payment machine.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras recorded the appellants car entering and exiting the car park. The list of registration plates recorded against payments made, did not include the appellant’s car which is why the PCN was issued.
Analysis
Section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice covers the steps a parking operator should take when a keying error occurs. If there has been a minor keying error, for example one digit entered incorrectly, the parking operator is expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. If they failed to do this, they are expected to cancel the Parking Charge Notice when the motorist appeals.
In situations where a major keying error has occurred, for example the motorist entered an entirely different registration, the parking operator is not expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. it is recognised that the operator will have incurred charges in issuing a Parking Charge Notice and the Code of Practice permits that they can they seek to recover these by way of applying a modest charge of no more that £20 to the motorist.
In this instance, the motorist had made a major keying error by entering the wrong registration entirely. The parking operator had not offered to reduce the charge to a maximum of £20 when the motorist appealed. POPLA found that the operator had failed to follow the keying error guidance in the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
Outcome
POPLA allowed the appeal and required the parking operator to cancel the Parking Charge Notice because it was evident that the parking operator had failed to offer the reduced charge as required by section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
https://www.popla.co.uk/case-studies/keying-error
Edited by Milner993 on Friday 19th July 23:02
Milner993 said:
This happened to my wife, except my wife's keying error was classed as a major keying error as the machine only recorded one character from our 5 character number plate, wife didn't check the screen before paying!
We still had our parking ticket submitted this and paid a reduced administration fee, £20, which covered the parking companies costs DVLA search and postage cost! Still a joke but such is life!
Keying error [Scenario 1]
PUBLISHED ON: 4TH MAY 2020
Overview
The parking operator issued the parking charge notice because the motorist parked without making a valid payment or having a valid permit.
Motorist’s case
The motorist explained that they did pay but entered incorrect vehicle registration details into the payment machine. The appellant provided evidence of the payment made.
Evidence
POPLA examined the evidence provided by the parking operator which included copies of the signs at the car park and a list of payments made on the day against the vehicle registration of the parked car. The signs confirmed a requirement to enter a full and correct vehicle registration into the payment machine.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras recorded the appellants car entering and exiting the car park. The list of registration plates recorded against payments made, did not include the appellant’s car which is why the PCN was issued.
Analysis
Section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice covers the steps a parking operator should take when a keying error occurs. If there has been a minor keying error, for example one digit entered incorrectly, the parking operator is expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. If they failed to do this, they are expected to cancel the Parking Charge Notice when the motorist appeals.
In situations where a major keying error has occurred, for example the motorist entered an entirely different registration, the parking operator is not expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. it is recognised that the operator will have incurred charges in issuing a Parking Charge Notice and the Code of Practice permits that they can they seek to recover these by way of applying a modest charge of no more that £20 to the motorist.
In this instance, the motorist had made a major keying error by entering the wrong registration entirely. The parking operator had not offered to reduce the charge to a maximum of £20 when the motorist appealed. POPLA found that the operator had failed to follow the keying error guidance in the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
Outcome
POPLA allowed the appeal and required the parking operator to cancel the Parking Charge Notice because it was evident that the parking operator had failed to offer the reduced charge as required by section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
https://www.popla.co.uk/case-studies/keying-error
Doesn’t POPLA only apply to private parking companies, and not Council operated car parks.We still had our parking ticket submitted this and paid a reduced administration fee, £20, which covered the parking companies costs DVLA search and postage cost! Still a joke but such is life!
Keying error [Scenario 1]
PUBLISHED ON: 4TH MAY 2020
Overview
The parking operator issued the parking charge notice because the motorist parked without making a valid payment or having a valid permit.
Motorist’s case
The motorist explained that they did pay but entered incorrect vehicle registration details into the payment machine. The appellant provided evidence of the payment made.
Evidence
POPLA examined the evidence provided by the parking operator which included copies of the signs at the car park and a list of payments made on the day against the vehicle registration of the parked car. The signs confirmed a requirement to enter a full and correct vehicle registration into the payment machine.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras recorded the appellants car entering and exiting the car park. The list of registration plates recorded against payments made, did not include the appellant’s car which is why the PCN was issued.
Analysis
Section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice covers the steps a parking operator should take when a keying error occurs. If there has been a minor keying error, for example one digit entered incorrectly, the parking operator is expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. If they failed to do this, they are expected to cancel the Parking Charge Notice when the motorist appeals.
In situations where a major keying error has occurred, for example the motorist entered an entirely different registration, the parking operator is not expected to have identified this before issuing a Parking Charge Notice. it is recognised that the operator will have incurred charges in issuing a Parking Charge Notice and the Code of Practice permits that they can they seek to recover these by way of applying a modest charge of no more that £20 to the motorist.
In this instance, the motorist had made a major keying error by entering the wrong registration entirely. The parking operator had not offered to reduce the charge to a maximum of £20 when the motorist appealed. POPLA found that the operator had failed to follow the keying error guidance in the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
Outcome
POPLA allowed the appeal and required the parking operator to cancel the Parking Charge Notice because it was evident that the parking operator had failed to offer the reduced charge as required by section 17 of the British Parking Association Code of Practice.
https://www.popla.co.uk/case-studies/keying-error
Edited by Milner993 on Friday 19th July 23:02
Had the same happen to me in a council run train car park, Bedford.
Paid for car parking with the old reg (yes I should have checked) and received tickets.
Appealed against the PCN, supplied evidence I previously owned the other car (old receipts / collection note when it was changed) and they cancelled the PCM.
This was all with the local council so maybe I got off lightly. The whole process took maybe 10 days to solve.
Paid for car parking with the old reg (yes I should have checked) and received tickets.
Appealed against the PCN, supplied evidence I previously owned the other car (old receipts / collection note when it was changed) and they cancelled the PCM.
This was all with the local council so maybe I got off lightly. The whole process took maybe 10 days to solve.
Milner993 said:
This happened to my wife, except my wife's keying error was classed as a major keying error as the machine only recorded one character from our 5 character number plate, wife didn't check the screen before paying!
We still had our parking ticket submitted this and paid a reduced administration fee, £20, which covered the parking companies costs DVLA search and postage cost! Still a joke but such is life!
It think that paying the retrospective charge plus admin fees is a fair outcome.We still had our parking ticket submitted this and paid a reduced administration fee, £20, which covered the parking companies costs DVLA search and postage cost! Still a joke but such is life!
Crystal balls don’t exist and other motorists or local council tax payers should not have to pay a premium just to mitigate the extra admin for inattentive people.
Worth an appeal. Had to do one with Nottinghamshire when my wife picked up a fine, where the ticket had not been put on the car, or it had vanished. We only found out when they wrote to say the cheap period had timed out...
They agreed to reset it, so we paid the 14 day fine, which was perfectly reasonable.
They agreed to reset it, so we paid the 14 day fine, which was perfectly reasonable.
Epic thread resurrection but anyway...
Today sent an appeal to POPLA as I have been charged for allegedly entering a 'major error' whilst paying for a ticket in a private beach car park in Dorset.
Last 2 letters of my personalised reg missing apparently. Goodness knows how, I have had it 10 years and the last 2 letters are my wife's initials so I won't forget them.
I do not believe that this is correct, and this particular machine has previous. Cases where the last 2 characters have gone missing have been reported in the local paper, Facebook, and the beach website. It is far from uncommon.
Anyway we shall wait and see...
Today sent an appeal to POPLA as I have been charged for allegedly entering a 'major error' whilst paying for a ticket in a private beach car park in Dorset.
Last 2 letters of my personalised reg missing apparently. Goodness knows how, I have had it 10 years and the last 2 letters are my wife's initials so I won't forget them.
I do not believe that this is correct, and this particular machine has previous. Cases where the last 2 characters have gone missing have been reported in the local paper, Facebook, and the beach website. It is far from uncommon.
Anyway we shall wait and see...
Zero and letter O are clearly interchangeable. James Bond is never referred to as ‘zero zero seven’ for example. As far as I know there is also no requirement to know whether or not the zero on your number plate is actually the letter 0 (presumably most drivers would know this, but maybe not a foreigner in a hire car).
Impossible to imagine that a court would uphold this penalty.
Impossible to imagine that a court would uphold this penalty.
XCP said:
Epic thread resurrection but anyway...
Today sent an appeal to POPLA as I have been charged for allegedly entering a 'major error' whilst paying for a ticket in a private beach car park in Dorset.
Last 2 letters of my personalised reg missing apparently. Goodness knows how, I have had it 10 years and the last 2 letters are my wife's initials so I won't forget them.
I do not believe that this is correct, and this particular machine has previous. Cases where the last 2 characters have gone missing have been reported in the local paper, Facebook, and the beach website. It is far from uncommon.
Anyway we shall wait and see...
How did they get your name and address if the registration number was (allegedly) entered wrongly?Today sent an appeal to POPLA as I have been charged for allegedly entering a 'major error' whilst paying for a ticket in a private beach car park in Dorset.
Last 2 letters of my personalised reg missing apparently. Goodness knows how, I have had it 10 years and the last 2 letters are my wife's initials so I won't forget them.
I do not believe that this is correct, and this particular machine has previous. Cases where the last 2 characters have gone missing have been reported in the local paper, Facebook, and the beach website. It is far from uncommon.
Anyway we shall wait and see...
Sebring440 said:
How did they get your name and address if the registration number was (allegedly) entered wrongly?
They read the plate correctly off ANPR and tied it with what I supposedly entered. Being 2 digits short this was not hard to do.There was only one other vehicle in the car park so that made it easier I suppose.My number is A123BCD.
The machine recorded A123B supposedly.
I reckon this missing number error occurs more often than not. I had this issue in Bewdley. Keyed in.my number properly, printed the P&D ticket, noticed that a letter was missing on the ticket.
Fortunately that car park had a one hour free option but still required a ticket to be displayed thus not cost me anything. So I had another free go but this time took more care in pressing the buttons and looking at the small screen. Sure enough got to the same digit and it didn't register. Took several goes to get it to work properly.
Know I can have fat fingers but ever since always check carefully not just rely on things working properly first go.
Fortunately that car park had a one hour free option but still required a ticket to be displayed thus not cost me anything. So I had another free go but this time took more care in pressing the buttons and looking at the small screen. Sure enough got to the same digit and it didn't register. Took several goes to get it to work properly.
Know I can have fat fingers but ever since always check carefully not just rely on things working properly first go.
oblio said:
Someone please remind me, for how many years and over how many governments has this been promised? Timely?Message Board | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff