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Original poster

Baffled by parking fine and anxious

45 replies

Peanutbutteryogurt · 06/01/2020 22:02

Absolutely stumped! At the end of November I took DD to a rhyme time at the library in a nearby city. Parked in an underground car park around the corner from the library and I specifically remember paying as it was an absolute faff. Most car parks in the city have the same parking app and this car park had a random different one, couldn't download it as we were underground, DD fussing in the car and i managed to gather enough change in the car and my bag to cover an hour, after which I moved to a different car park as I wanted to go shopping on the high street.

DP picked up post from old address today and we have a parking fine claiming I didn't pay, their only evidence is a picture of my car entering the car park then leaving exactly an hour later. Nothing in the 'evidence' explains why they think I didn't pay. It was pay and display and there was no ticket on the car when I returned.

I have searched my car high and low and can't find the pay and display ticket, which is frustrating as I rarely tidy my car. Without it I can't prove I paid, but they don't seem to have any evidence that I didn't.

As we received the letter late we've missed the window to pay £60 and it's now £100. We're having a very tight few months due to paying off credit card debt and this is such a blow.

Wtf do I do! We've appealed but it's basically 'i did pay' with no evidence. I'm so pissed off.

OP posts:
nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 06/01/2020 22:28

I'd ignore it personally. You can't prove you paid but they cant prove you didn't. Given that they don't even have your current address, I can't see how they're going to enforce it. Even if they take it to court, the onus is on them to prove you didn't pay, which they can't because you did.

CointreauVersial · 06/01/2020 22:34

Are you sure they don't have a photo of your windscreen without a ticket? If it's "Pay & Display" then that's the only way to verify if you've paid.

Carparks that record you going in and out must surely also ask for your numberplate when you buy the ticket, or how would they know you hadn't paid? Maybe you typed it in wrong?

theduchessstill · 06/01/2020 22:47

I would go here

forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=4816822

for advice. It's not always advisable to ignore and the people on the forum are extremely knowledgeable.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
KnifeAngel · 06/01/2020 23:04

Don't ignore it. That is terrible advice.

WatcherintheRye · 06/01/2020 23:11

Are you sure the photographs weren't from a different parking occasion? Number plate recognition isn't usually used in a pay and display car park.

KaptenKrusty · 06/01/2020 23:15

Id ignore - they don’t even know where you live.

And if it gets taken further (which it won’t) they will have to prove you didn’t pay!

What car parking company was it?

JaniceBattersby · 06/01/2020 23:18

You need to update your address with the DVLA OP. It’s an offence not to.

Was it a council or a private car park?

queenie6687 · 06/01/2020 23:19

If its privately owned car park ignore and don't pay
If it's council then pay

GoldfishRampage · 07/01/2020 04:00

Don't just ignore it. That's bad outdated advice.

IwishIcan · 07/01/2020 04:03

Exactly who is it from?

CalamityJ · 07/01/2020 06:57

Ignoring it is bad advice these days. If there's ANPR it suggests you needed to enter your number plate to pay and display. Do you remember doing that?

Somanysocks · 07/01/2020 07:12

This thread has just made me realise I should take a photo of my ticket on my windscreen before I walk away from the car.

Why have I never thought of this before?

foamrolling · 07/01/2020 07:20

I wonder if you failed to display your ticket? You were obviously flustered, maybe you forgot or it fell out of the car without you noticing.

I once got a fine because the pay and display ticket had nothing sticky on it and it slipped down the dashboard. You could see most of it but not all. I appealed and they let me off but I was able to send the ticket in. Maybe check your bag and pockets just in case it's in there?

KaptenKrusty · 07/01/2020 08:16

They would have sent a photo of the dashboard of the car if the ticket had slipped down though - this is shady because they have no evidence other than the fact that she was in the car park at that time on the cctv! They need to prove you didn't pay!

Original poster
Peanutbutteryogurt · 07/01/2020 08:59

Thanks for the replies.

It's not a council it's from Parkingeye.

This is why I am so baffled. I definitely remember putting the ticket on my dashboard, but their evidence does not seem related to the ticket. It's two very dark pictures and all you can see is my number plate entering and leaving the car park. I am tempted to go back to that car park and look at the machine etc again.

If I needed to enter my reg then I definitely did as I definitely got a pay and display ticket iyswim.

Definitely not from a different occasion. I've checked all the dates and times and that is the only time I've used that car park.

We've appealed but again, it seems I matter of I say I did and they say I didn't.

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 07/01/2020 09:05

Did you input the wrong registration into the machine? Without the ticket you’ll not know. But I would guess this is why they think you didn’t pay

Pay and display carparks do have cameras at exit and entrance

You drive in it takes your reg

You pay using different ref

You leave with different ref

They have no account of ticket purchase for that ref

They send ticket

ivykaty44 · 07/01/2020 09:09

How long between you parking in the car park and the date on the letter? If it’s more than 14 days you can appeal on that fact

Read up on appealing with parking eye - and remember they’ll refuse your first appeal and make you use popla....which most people don’t bother...so get £100

LittleG69 · 07/01/2020 09:25

Parking Eye should never be ignored. There is a really good Facebook group called ‘fight your private parking invoice’. Join this and seek advice. They are very knowledgable

mumwon · 07/01/2020 09:26

did you pay by coins or card? if by card you will have record

crustycrab · 07/01/2020 09:31

Don't ignore it. And for all those giving that advice, please stop. It's costing people a lot and it's severely outdated

Original poster
Peanutbutteryogurt · 07/01/2020 11:56

ivykaty44

That's a possibility. I haven't had the car that long so might have made a mistake. I'm going to search the car again for the ticket.

I paid using cash, which is unlike me, as I said I had to root around the car to find enough change to cover an hour.

OP posts:
Original poster
Peanutbutteryogurt · 07/01/2020 11:57

I've requested to join that Facebook group, thanks

OP posts:
BentBastard · 07/01/2020 12:05

You say the picture of you leaving is an hour later, is it exactly an hour to the minute? Is it possible that the camera footage has you overstaying by literally a minute and that's what they're getting you for?

Original poster
Peanutbutteryogurt · 07/01/2020 12:09

Yep it's exactly an hour to the minute! The fine even says stayed for 1 hour 0 minutes

OP posts:
billyt · 07/01/2020 14:39

OP, it's not good sense to ignore this. Although this is not a fine as these parking companies cannot fine you. This is an invoice.

Join the Pepipoo website (it's legit even with that name!) for proper advice on what to do next.

Good luck

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