05-01-2017, 05:24 AM | #1 |
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Help! A parking penalty notice dispute
I parked at a football stadium on a Saturday night to attend a function there.
The parking is pay and display, so I went to the nearest machine to check the times if it needed money. I saw this big sign right next to the machine and concluded that as it was 8pm, the parking is now free... Then later, found a council parking notice on my car. Turns out there's another sign near the ticket machine with different timings on it than this notice. I'm informally appealing, but Newcastle Council make a lot of money from parking, so they'll probably turn my appeal down. I could argue that I misunderstood the sign, but it was literally attached to the meter. Any views of whether I should formally appeal and risk a doubling of the £50 fine? Thanks! |
05-01-2017, 05:46 AM | #2 |
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Looking at the sign, I'd have said those were the times that the customer number was available for you to phone them rather than the times the charges were in operation.
It could be worth appealing and asking the question; but I wouldn't be optimistic
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05-01-2017, 05:53 AM | #3 | |
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05-01-2017, 06:42 AM | #5 |
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Might sound a bit cynical but they've probably done that deliberately to catch people out.
Appeal and see what happens don't think they can double for appealing time only for foot draggers. Just ask when you call.
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05-01-2017, 06:47 AM | #6 |
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If they have a discount to pay quickly I would. I left the ticket upside down because there was writing on both sides.... Croydon council wouldn't accept it even though I have a valid ticket. Paid £20 and moved on. Feel that the writing on the back gets a good number of people not paying proper attention!
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05-01-2017, 08:32 AM | #10 |
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You need to post up the other picture, the one with the T&C's, which is probably where they spell out parking ticket operation times, not that one that seems quite clear it is the help line opening hours.
Annoying but I would just pay the reduced amount and move on. |
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05-01-2017, 08:50 AM | #11 | |
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I've got a couple of weeks to appeal before the money goes up, so I'll try anyway. |
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05-02-2017, 10:25 AM | #12 |
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No harm formally appealing. During the appeal process the clock is effectively stopped so if the appeal was unsuccessful you don't pay double the fine - that's my experience.
With photos, write the council a letter or an email with read receipt to explain the situation (1st time parked there, noticed confused you into thinking it was charged up to 6pm, it was dark etc) and hope for the best. |
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05-02-2017, 10:29 AM | #13 |
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It's the customer services number opening hours.
But as it's on the machine i can see how it's confusing.. Was it definitely council property you parked on and not some private operation? |
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05-02-2017, 02:33 PM | #14 |
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defo to catch you out - who cares about the hours of a phone number if they are closed there should be a recorded message. Its also interesting that they split Mon-Sat and Sun so appearing to be reduced hours for a Sunday etc as we expect for parking charges. They are also the same blooming times! (you can see they have changed mon-sat as it has a sticker over it)
It draws attention to the hours of operation and I would have probably done the same thing... its certainly not clear IMO |
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05-03-2017, 03:57 AM | #15 |
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If it's the council, I'd say you're best off calling them and hopefully you'll get a nice Doris on the other end that you can flatter. Explain that you genuinely went to pay, but saw the sign and interpreted it, offer to pay the parking fee over the phone as it wasn't your intention to do them out of money etc etc and see where it gets you. At no point confirm you were the driver though
If it was a private company, I'd say go full out letters etc, they deserve it. Might be worth popping over to Pepipoo and see if anything similar crops up in the search function. |
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05-11-2017, 03:36 PM | #16 |
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It was in the grounds of a private football stadium but managed by council traffic enforcement. I've sent an appeal but heard nothing. I'll phone them tomorrow.
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