Can you get off of a parking fine with a sob story?

[Adz]

I was at the funeral directors today arranging my dad's funeral and had my car parked in a pay and display in Eastbourne town centre. Unfortunately it took far longer than anticipated, I'd lost track of time which I think is understandable and I overran by a mere 20 minutes. I returned to my car to find I'd been slapped in a £75 (!!!) penalty.

If I explained the circumstances, is there any chance of them taking pity or will I just be making a fool of myself by asking? If the latter, I'll just pay the fine and be done with it .

Thanks in advance .

Edit: Council carpark, not private...

 

[Adz]

Thought so . You do the crime, you do the time I guess... £75 for 20 minutes though, from the council when the carpark was far from full seems a little harsh.

 

[Adz]

You lose nothing by writing to them mate. Even if you lose then it will be six months down the line by which time you'll have collected enough small change to pay the fine. In london for example i'm fighting a parking ticket due to a warden not seeing my residents permit.

1. Appeal the ticket by letter using the address on the ticket.
2. Wait a month for them to write back rejecting your appeal
3. Wait another 2 weeks for the 'Notice to Owner' to drop on your mat.
4. Wait 2 weeks (or whatever the allowed reply time is) then make a formal written appeal as detailed on the notice to owner.
5. Wait a month for the council to formerly reject your appeal.
6. Appeal to the parking service ombudsman and wait.

You'll probably win when it gets this far as they have a record of overturning the councils decision. Even if you lose you have delayed the fine and caused the council a load of hassle for the sake of a few letters. Councils rely on people not wanting the hassle and paying the fine. Just do what you are legally entitled to do in accordance with the details of the ticket. They want to take your money you should make them earn it. I'm on stage 4 btw, i'll keep you posted.

Sounds like a bit too much effort to save £75 . Thanks anyway though .

It just seems a bit harsh really, it's not as if the carpark was packed, it's not as if I hadn't paid, it's not as if I was causing an obstruction. I merely underestimated the time I needed to pay for.

 

[Adz]

Ok I'm an idiot! I didn't even read the ticket - it's not a parking ticket at all, they're fining me for not displaying a tax disc! Stupid thing fell off and I just shoved it in the glovebox and forgot about it.

Please close thread to save further embarassment .

 

[Adz]

unless they have a photo of windsheild, which is getting more and more common now to stop people contesting stuff....

but the comment about public roads is an interesting one, where was the car parked? I'd imagine a council run car park is considered public road i'm afraid thou

Council run car park just off the road. I'm sure it would be considered a public road for tax purposes.

I'm going to write to them explaining that the car was actually taxed and that the tax disc holder had simply fallen off. Hopefully they'll be generous and let me off .

 

[Adz]

Sorry to hear about your loss, was this in south street by chance? Always loads of them there!(I live in Eastbourne too)

Hyde Gardens

And yes, the whole place was crawling with them yesterday!