Parking charge rant

Hades

Hades

Hades

Man of Honour
Joined
19 Oct 2002
Posts
30,049
Location
Surrey
Just getting this one off my chest and I'll take proper advice from the likes of pepipoo. But if anyone has experience of this then even better.

Scenario:
Went to visit a university campus.
Stopped in a car park. Got out to look for payment machine.
Realised after a few mins of looking that I could not pay and that partilcular area was for permit holders only.
Moved to another car park on campus as soon as I realised. Paid at this second car park. Kept evidence.
Zapped by parking eye for the heinous crime of 6 minutes before I realised I could not park there.

I've appealed and, no surprise, lost. So I'll be going the POPLA route. I moved as soon as I realised by the signage that the area was permit only and not pay and display. Maybe I'll win and maybe I'll lose.


Now my rant...

I've already paid the reduced charge to avoid it increasing. I did that before appealing and stated in my appeal that payment does not confirm my acceptance of the charge. But in their most recent letter advising me of the POPLA process it states:

If you appeal to POPLA and your appeal is unsuccessful you will not be able to pay the discounted amount in settlement of the Parking Charge. If you have already paid the reduced amount, the Parking Charge will be increased to the full amount and you will be liable to pay this increase
Click to expand...

In other words it's a threat that if I appeal then the charge will be increased, despite having already paid it. What a bunch of cowboys this rabble are. I'm struggling to find anything online which covers this scenario. Frankly I think I'll still appeal just on damn principle.
 
I'm fighting one at the minute which is hilarious. My car was delivered to me on a transporter which obviously stayed overnight in a location. I've now been sent a ticket with my car clearly displayed on the back of the transporter saying I'm liable. I've politely pointed out that the operator of the transporter is responsible if anyone at all as I've never entered in to any form of contract with them.
 
Dis86 said:
I'm fighting one at the minute which is hilarious. My car was delivered to me on a transporter which obviously stayed overnight in a location. I've now been sent a ticket with my car clearly displayed on the back of the transporter saying I'm liable. I've politely pointed out that the operator of the transporter is responsible if anyone at all as I've never entered in to any form of contract with them.
Click to expand...

That's got a genuine lol from me. They'll try anything, won't they?
 
Dis86 said:
I'm fighting one at the minute which is hilarious. My car was delivered to me on a transporter which obviously stayed overnight in a location. I've now been sent a ticket with my car clearly displayed on the back of the transporter saying I'm liable. I've politely pointed out that the operator of the transporter is responsible if anyone at all as I've never entered in to any form of contract with them.
Click to expand...
Haha that really is funny. I would wish you good luck but I can't see how you would lose that one.
 
Dis86 said:
They're just absolute incompetent scum of the highest order.
Click to expand...

We fought and won one recently via POPLA as they were unable to verify that their systems were working correctly on the day in question. The legal aspect of it is all extremely questionable. In theory, you could write to them and say something along the lines of 'Any more communication sent on the matter enters you into a contract with myself and will be billed at a minimum of £30 per communication to cover administrative fees'. It's basically the same thing as they do to you when you drive onto land they manage.
 
I'm still actually fighting Parking Eye over one. I got fined last August because the machines in the shopping centre didn't work. I lost the POPLA appeal because they said I should have used my phone to pay, which I legitimately did not have on me. Anyway the shopping centre cancelled the fine but Parking Eye kept chasing me. I told Parking Eye to just take me to court over it and they then passed it on to DCBL (from Can't Pay Take it Away), who are now trying to charge me £170, when the parking cost was only £2. I'm just ignoring it now until they take me to court, as they aren't allowed to whack the charge up from £100 to £170 just because they handed it over to a debt collector, plus the fact that the shopping centre cancelled it.
 
Mysterae_ said:
Parking companies are a scourge of the earth. A deterrent is required to stop people parking inconsiderately but they should at least try and be reasonable.

Not that I would condone such behaviour, but perhaps get a few t-shirts printed and you and some friends visit the car park again....

A couple got fined £60 after a woman with a Knitter tshirt walked in a bus lane, triggering the anpr camera and sending a fine to the couples door.
Click to expand...

Find the reg number of a council vehicle (or maybe the local MP's) and have it printed on a t shirt :D

Troll the **** out of them until they fix their dumb system.

Sirrel Squirrel said:
I'm still actually fighting Parking Eye over one. I got fined last August because the machines in the shopping centre didn't work. I lost the POPLA appeal because they said I should have used my phone to pay, which I legitimately did not have on me. Anyway the shopping centre cancelled the fine but Parking Eye kept chasing me. I told Parking Eye to just take me to court over it and they then passed it on to DCBL (from Can't Pay Take it Away), who are now trying to charge me £170, when the parking cost was only £2. I'm just ignoring it now until they take me to court, as they aren't allowed to whack the charge up from £100 to £170 just because they handed it over to a debt collector, plus the fact that the shopping centre cancelled it.
Click to expand...

At this point they are just trying to bill you for nothing. I can't see that going anywhere near a court as it's a waste of their time.

They would need to chase the shopping center to cover the cost, but they don't have the balls. They think the public are easier to harass.
 
Last edited:
Sirrel Squirrel said:
I'm still actually fighting Parking Eye over one. I got fined last August because the machines in the shopping centre didn't work. I lost the POPLA appeal because they said I should have used my phone to pay, which I legitimately did not have on me. Anyway the shopping centre cancelled the fine but Parking Eye kept chasing me. I told Parking Eye to just take me to court over it and they then passed it on to DCBL (from Can't Pay Take it Away), who are now trying to charge me £170, when the parking cost was only £2. I'm just ignoring it now until they take me to court, as they aren't allowed to whack the charge up from £100 to £170 just because they handed it over to a debt collector, plus the fact that the shopping centre cancelled it.
Click to expand...
I did this with a fine I received for an overnight stay at a motorway services. I had sold the car the week before so it was just the dealer 'relaying' up to the dealer that wanted it. Parking company were total garbage. I let it go to county court and in my questionnaire I attached an appendix of evidence and they replied saying the claimant has pulled out.

Nice to know they wasted money taking it that far. :D
 
Dis86 said:
I'm fighting one at the minute which is hilarious. My car was delivered to me on a transporter which obviously stayed overnight in a location. I've now been sent a ticket with my car clearly displayed on the back of the transporter saying I'm liable. I've politely pointed out that the operator of the transporter is responsible if anyone at all as I've never entered in to any form of contract with them.
Click to expand...
Lol missed this. My story very similar but not quite as lol.

If you get no where with parking company don't sweat it. You receive a court paper, fill an online form out saying you want to contest. You then get to fill out a questionnaire and that's where I attached an appendix of evidence. The next letter back was saying they've pulled out.
 
We need to be more like France, they don't give a **** en mass with this sort of thing and it goes nowhere :D

I am suprised no one has started messing with them yet though. E.g. find the reg plates of their CEOs and keep flashing them infront of the ANPR cameras of various parking companies. It would be so easy and there is nothing they could do about it.
 
Last edited:
Hades said:
Just getting this one off my chest and I'll take proper advice from the likes of pepipoo. But if anyone has experience of this then even better.

Scenario:
Went to visit a university campus.
Stopped in a car park. Got out to look for payment machine.
Realised after a few mins of looking that I could not pay and that partilcular area was for permit holders only.
Moved to another car park on campus as soon as I realised. Paid at this second car park. Kept evidence.
Zapped by parking eye for the heinous crime of 6 minutes before I realised I could not park there.

I've appealed and, no surprise, lost. So I'll be going the POPLA route. I moved as soon as I realised by the signage that the area was permit only and not pay and display. Maybe I'll win and maybe I'll lose.


Now my rant...

I've already paid the reduced charge to avoid it increasing. I did that before appealing and stated in my appeal that payment does not confirm my acceptance of the charge. But in their most recent letter advising me of the POPLA process it states:



In other words it's a threat that if I appeal then the charge will be increased, despite having already paid it. What a bunch of cowboys this rabble are. I'm struggling to find anything online which covers this scenario. Frankly I think I'll still appeal just on damn principle.
Click to expand...

Your first mistake was engaging with them in any form. They own you now.
 
Currently got 2 outstanding UKPC charges, both threatening to send debt collectors. Chucked the letters in the bin just waiting to see what happens next.
 
Django x2 said:
Your first mistake was engaging with them in any form. They own you now.
Click to expand...
The advice to ignore died a death in 2012. It is simply bad advice now.

LiamC said:
Currently got 2 outstanding UKPC charges, both threatening to send debt collectors. Chucked the letters in the bin just waiting to see what happens next.
Click to expand...
If they are valid you will go to court and you will lose.


To be clear - THE ADVICE TO IGNORE DIED IN 2012 (or thereabouts)!
 
Its crazy how many people think you can just ignore them.

In regards to the OP. You should have not paid at all, only contested it. Once it gets to POPLA, you'll likely find the Operator won't offer no evidence and it'll be cancelled. Then you'll have to spend ages trying to get your refund.

I think if a company doesn't allow a cancellation and it gets to POPLA and they offer no contest they should be fined for wasting time. Its so stupid, and such a waste of time, stress and energy.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom