Parking Ticket question
Discussion
I will try to be as brief as possible and get to the point.
I live in a ticket permit area. Whilst I was recovering from an operation, my girlfriend was staying at my place and looking after me. Knowing that she would be there for at least 6 weeks, we ensured that we had plenty of weekly tickets - the type where you scratch the first day out, and then it is valid for 7 days.
All went swimmingly with no issues, until about the third week. Girlfriend went downstairs to go out in car, and there was a penalty ticket on the car, followed by a lot of swearing (she is a scouser, so you can imagine!!).
This was Wednesday 20th October, approx 10:00am. The penalty notice was Tuesday 19th October. The 7 day weekly ticket she had placed on the car was placed on Monday 18th October. However upon checking into, when she had gone out on the Monday evening, she had removed the ticket and replaced it with the previous weeks. Schoolboy (girl) error!
We tried to appeal - but the letter came back stating that specific circumstances cannot be taken into account, and all criteria for issuing a ticket had been met. Not happy, but at the end of the day, not a lot we could argue about, as all reasons for the mistake were circumstantial. So paid the £50 fine.
Imagine our suprise to get another letter through last week, asking for £100 for a ticket that was issued on Wednesday 20th October. We never saw any ticket for this date on the car, and in fact had discussed as to how lucky we were to have not received a ticket that morning. So we wrote a letter explaining that this had not been received, and this was the first we had heard of it, drawing attention to the other ticket that had been paid. We asked for photographic proof of the ticket on the car.
They have responded with a photo (or copy) of the penalty notice for 20th (first we have seen of it), and a photo of the outdated 7 day ticket (could have been taken from previous days ticket?), and a photo of the windscreen showing only ONE ticket in it's little bag.
Now knowing that we picked the ticket off the car on the 20th, for the 19th October penalty notice, and immediately corrected the 7 day parking ticket to the correct ticket, they have not proved that we received the ticket.
If they had there should be two tckets in the photo they have provided. Question is do they have to provide a ticket? Or is a copy of their notice that they have enough?
I cannot dispute the car was parked for approx 1 hour without a valid ticket, but if they won't take circumstances into account, then why should we?
If we had received ticket, then we would have paid as with the previous one. Why can they not provide a verified photo with both tickets?
I think they are trying it on based upon us telling them in first letter of appeal that ticket was spotted at 10:00am, and they have issued a ticket retrospectively. Can they do that?
I live in a ticket permit area. Whilst I was recovering from an operation, my girlfriend was staying at my place and looking after me. Knowing that she would be there for at least 6 weeks, we ensured that we had plenty of weekly tickets - the type where you scratch the first day out, and then it is valid for 7 days.
All went swimmingly with no issues, until about the third week. Girlfriend went downstairs to go out in car, and there was a penalty ticket on the car, followed by a lot of swearing (she is a scouser, so you can imagine!!).
This was Wednesday 20th October, approx 10:00am. The penalty notice was Tuesday 19th October. The 7 day weekly ticket she had placed on the car was placed on Monday 18th October. However upon checking into, when she had gone out on the Monday evening, she had removed the ticket and replaced it with the previous weeks. Schoolboy (girl) error!
We tried to appeal - but the letter came back stating that specific circumstances cannot be taken into account, and all criteria for issuing a ticket had been met. Not happy, but at the end of the day, not a lot we could argue about, as all reasons for the mistake were circumstantial. So paid the £50 fine.
Imagine our suprise to get another letter through last week, asking for £100 for a ticket that was issued on Wednesday 20th October. We never saw any ticket for this date on the car, and in fact had discussed as to how lucky we were to have not received a ticket that morning. So we wrote a letter explaining that this had not been received, and this was the first we had heard of it, drawing attention to the other ticket that had been paid. We asked for photographic proof of the ticket on the car.
They have responded with a photo (or copy) of the penalty notice for 20th (first we have seen of it), and a photo of the outdated 7 day ticket (could have been taken from previous days ticket?), and a photo of the windscreen showing only ONE ticket in it's little bag.
Now knowing that we picked the ticket off the car on the 20th, for the 19th October penalty notice, and immediately corrected the 7 day parking ticket to the correct ticket, they have not proved that we received the ticket.
If they had there should be two tckets in the photo they have provided. Question is do they have to provide a ticket? Or is a copy of their notice that they have enough?
I cannot dispute the car was parked for approx 1 hour without a valid ticket, but if they won't take circumstances into account, then why should we?
If we had received ticket, then we would have paid as with the previous one. Why can they not provide a verified photo with both tickets?
I think they are trying it on based upon us telling them in first letter of appeal that ticket was spotted at 10:00am, and they have issued a ticket retrospectively. Can they do that?
During the period that the two tickets were issued, had the car moved?
If not, then it could be argued that you are being punished twice for the same 'crime'. Otherwise taking this issue to the maximum, you could be on holiday for two weeks and receive a bill for £700 and 14 tickets!
If not, then it could be argued that you are being punished twice for the same 'crime'. Otherwise taking this issue to the maximum, you could be on holiday for two weeks and receive a bill for £700 and 14 tickets!
justinp1 said:
During the period that the two tickets were issued, had the car moved?
If not, then it could be argued that you are being punished twice for the same 'crime'. Otherwise taking this issue to the maximum, you could be on holiday for two weeks and receive a bill for £700 and 14 tickets!
If not, then it could be argued that you are being punished twice for the same 'crime'. Otherwise taking this issue to the maximum, you could be on holiday for two weeks and receive a bill for £700 and 14 tickets!
My thoughts exactly, I just didn't know how the law was on this. Does anyone know?
Can't really help you but I got some good info from here:
www.parking-appeals.gov.uk/
when I had a problem in the past. There may be some useful info on there.
Hope you get it sorted.
www.parking-appeals.gov.uk/
when I had a problem in the past. There may be some useful info on there.
Hope you get it sorted.
I agree with justin on this one. If the car hadn't moved you would be being punished for the same offence twice. I would hope that they are just trying it on, can you ask for a copy of the receipt of the issued ticket to check?
By the way, just because your missus is a scouser does not mean you can tar every scouser with the 'she swears like a trouper' brush.
By the way, just because your missus is a scouser does not mean you can tar every scouser with the 'she swears like a trouper' brush.
Follow up - finally after much chasing received a standard letter today to say that the appeal has been upheld, and there would be no further action in the case.
Funny that they never provided the ombudsman details, or how to direct further complaints, as I requested in letter.
I am not sure whether to follow this up, or whether I have had my day and should just leave it. It is just so annoying that they can do whatever they like, even when they are wrong - or worse - corrupt.
Funny that they never provided the ombudsman details, or how to direct further complaints, as I requested in letter.
I am not sure whether to follow this up, or whether I have had my day and should just leave it. It is just so annoying that they can do whatever they like, even when they are wrong - or worse - corrupt.
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