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Original poster

Unjustified parking charge!

31 replies

FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 10:32

Just received a parking charge notice letter from parking operator ParkMaven demanding £100 (£60 if paid within 14 days of issue) alleging I was parked in the shopping centre car park for 24 hours. Something has clearly gone wrong, as this did not happen and I was there only for the post office. I had a physio appointment 10 minutes later so had to drive there! The camera picked me up arriving on the 23rd but not leaving, and leaving on the 24th the next day but not arriving!

I'm obviously going to appeal. I'm picking up a print out of my appointment from the doctors today and waiting to see if they can provide CCTV evidence which I can photograph (though this is probably a long shot). I visit the shopping centre a couple of times a week because there's the post office and Tesco etc there too so will this happen again, and who else have they done this to? I'm feeling really helpless and just looking for any more ideas really, and wanting to bloody well vent! Has this happened to you? What did you do, and was your appeal successful?

OP posts:
ifonly4 · 01/02/2024 10:42

How about asking them for photographic evidence of your car leaving the carpark 24 hours later? If there's CCTV, then they should be able to provide a copy of your reg plate with time on there.

ifonly4 · 01/02/2024 10:43

Forgot to say, without that, how are they justifying their claim.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/02/2024 10:44

Just be prepared that they won’t even read your argument and say denied still pay- then insist on taking it further to independent adjudicators eventually they will cave they are just scum trying it.

Windymcwindyson · 01/02/2024 10:46

If you ignore and get a court summons just attend with proof and get it thrown out

NetballHoop · 01/02/2024 10:49

I had the same thing happen to me at our local Tesco's. I just emailed them and explained and the charge was dropped immediately.

Good luck.

HeidiWhole · 01/02/2024 10:59

Generally try advice now is not to ignore the fine but I have tested the theory that if you don't engage at all they will drop it eventually.
By that I mean don't acknowledge letters or anything. It's tempting to argue your case but if they have evidence it's unlikely they'll back down whatever you say.
If I get a court summons I'll pay but until then I don't engage at all and they go away.
No doubt lots will say this is terrible advice and I do acknowledge that!

tommika · 01/02/2024 11:09

Respond with an appeal that you arrived and left

Most will check the CCTV and will pick up the multiple entry/exits

This is common on ANPR covered parking when you make multiple visits in the same day as the camera matches the first and last, but they then can see the multiple entry/exits (not exactly the same as yours due to the 24 hours issue)

The other cause is that the camera misses an exit where there are two vehicles close together, sunlight / shadows on the number plate etc

I have done this more than once in a few car parks - they have all been cancelled with a response that they checked and found the multiple entry/exits but one was missing my original exit which they still cancelled with the message that it wasn’t found but liable to have been blocked by another vehicle

———-

Ignoring is not good advice, it either gets progressed or doesn’t, and it’s very easy and cheap for car park companies to enforce in court - if you keep ignoring and it’s been to court then multiple charges get added finally resulting in bailiff enforcement of a court order

Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:27

ifonly4 · 01/02/2024 10:42

How about asking them for photographic evidence of your car leaving the carpark 24 hours later? If there's CCTV, then they should be able to provide a copy of your reg plate with time on there.

Their letter just shows a close up of my parked car on the 23rd and again on the 24th, so not of it in motion.

OP posts:
Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:30

NetballHoop · 01/02/2024 10:49

I had the same thing happen to me at our local Tesco's. I just emailed them and explained and the charge was dropped immediately.

Good luck.

That's good news! I've just arranged for my GP surgery with their amazingly helpful receptionist for them to find me on their CCTV so I'm just waiting for that now.

OP posts:
Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:31

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 01/02/2024 10:44

Just be prepared that they won’t even read your argument and say denied still pay- then insist on taking it further to independent adjudicators eventually they will cave they are just scum trying it.

Yeah I've a feeling they won't bother checking.

OP posts:
Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:32

tommika · 01/02/2024 11:09

Respond with an appeal that you arrived and left

Most will check the CCTV and will pick up the multiple entry/exits

This is common on ANPR covered parking when you make multiple visits in the same day as the camera matches the first and last, but they then can see the multiple entry/exits (not exactly the same as yours due to the 24 hours issue)

The other cause is that the camera misses an exit where there are two vehicles close together, sunlight / shadows on the number plate etc

I have done this more than once in a few car parks - they have all been cancelled with a response that they checked and found the multiple entry/exits but one was missing my original exit which they still cancelled with the message that it wasn’t found but liable to have been blocked by another vehicle

———-

Ignoring is not good advice, it either gets progressed or doesn’t, and it’s very easy and cheap for car park companies to enforce in court - if you keep ignoring and it’s been to court then multiple charges get added finally resulting in bailiff enforcement of a court order

Thanks. This is really helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:34

HeidiWhole · 01/02/2024 10:59

Generally try advice now is not to ignore the fine but I have tested the theory that if you don't engage at all they will drop it eventually.
By that I mean don't acknowledge letters or anything. It's tempting to argue your case but if they have evidence it's unlikely they'll back down whatever you say.
If I get a court summons I'll pay but until then I don't engage at all and they go away.
No doubt lots will say this is terrible advice and I do acknowledge that!

Their evidence is flawed and I hope to prove it with CCTV soon.

OP posts:
Oreosareawful · 01/02/2024 12:35

The same happened to one of my work vehicles in a tesco. I just sent it back stating it was a return visit and the vehicle wasn't onsite the whole time as it's a company van.
They dropped it straight away. I think they just chance it sometimes.

Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:39

Oreosareawful · 01/02/2024 12:35

The same happened to one of my work vehicles in a tesco. I just sent it back stating it was a return visit and the vehicle wasn't onsite the whole time as it's a company van.
They dropped it straight away. I think they just chance it sometimes.

That sounds too easy! Did you provide any evidence at all?

OP posts:
KnottyKnitting · 01/02/2024 12:40

This happened to me once at a local station car park
I went to pick up DH ( there is a 20 min grace period and notices in the car park state that the car park can be used for pick up and drop offs. )

One weekend the camera on the way out went wrong and I was accused of being there for four days.

The parking charge was sent three months after the alleged offence so not legally binding but I just so happened to have a time stamped ticket for another car park during the time they said I was in the car park.

According to posts on the local Facebook page, there were loads of other people who had the same parking fine for the exact same dates.

I sent them a letter with the time stamped ticket and threatened them with legal action if they didn't drop the charge.

ohthehokey · 01/02/2024 12:44

That sounds too easy! Did you provide any evidence at all?

You shouldn't need any evidence, if you tell them you left at X time on the first day and came back the next day they'll be able to find it themselves.

Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:44

KnottyKnitting · 01/02/2024 12:40

This happened to me once at a local station car park
I went to pick up DH ( there is a 20 min grace period and notices in the car park state that the car park can be used for pick up and drop offs. )

One weekend the camera on the way out went wrong and I was accused of being there for four days.

The parking charge was sent three months after the alleged offence so not legally binding but I just so happened to have a time stamped ticket for another car park during the time they said I was in the car park.

According to posts on the local Facebook page, there were loads of other people who had the same parking fine for the exact same dates.

I sent them a letter with the time stamped ticket and threatened them with legal action if they didn't drop the charge.

4 days! As if! I'm so glad you were successful. I think similar has happened with me ie faulty camera or something.

OP posts:
ChangeAgain2 · 01/02/2024 12:45

This happened to me in tesco. The parking company said I was there for 5 hours.l but I went twice in the same day. I appealed and provided copies of my two receipts. Luckly tesco can reprint the recipts at customer services if you ised your clubcard. I explained that they were mistaken. I told them that the camera has missed my first exit and second entry. Anyhow, I got an email apology.

Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:46

ohthehokey · 01/02/2024 12:44

That sounds too easy! Did you provide any evidence at all?

You shouldn't need any evidence, if you tell them you left at X time on the first day and came back the next day they'll be able to find it themselves.

I'm preempting them not bothering to check by getting evidence. There's only 14 days in which to appeal so I want to be prepared.

OP posts:
Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 12:49

ChangeAgain2 · 01/02/2024 12:45

This happened to me in tesco. The parking company said I was there for 5 hours.l but I went twice in the same day. I appealed and provided copies of my two receipts. Luckly tesco can reprint the recipts at customer services if you ised your clubcard. I explained that they were mistaken. I told them that the camera has missed my first exit and second entry. Anyhow, I got an email apology.

Well done! That's 4 of us so far in a car park containing a Tesco!

OP posts:
GinandGingerBeer · 01/02/2024 13:20

There's a really useful FB group you should join as they'll give you pointers re what to say/ not say (as the parking company have to pay to find out who the registered keeper is for example so don't tell them)
It's called fight your parking invoice (or something similar)
You need to post the letter on the group omitting personal details

GinandGingerBeer · 01/02/2024 13:21

If the appeal company is IAS they are owned by....
The fucking parking company!
Yup!
Hence they get turned down in a lot of cases. You sound like you have a good case though.

Tumbler2121 · 01/02/2024 17:48

Does your doctor's have an agreement with the Parking company? I know this is not same situation as yours, but I stayed over the allowed two hours because my appointment overran and was fined, it was quashed with the surgery's support.

StaringAtTheWater · 01/02/2024 17:57

Just state your case through the appeal procedure.

They will likely send you scare mongering letters saying how it'll be so much more expensive if you delay, yardy yardy ya. Just ignore & restate your case as necessary.

They will drop it before it gets to court, as they won't take a case to court unless they are very confident they will win.

Original poster
FriedEggs1 · 01/02/2024 22:38

GinandGingerBeer · 01/02/2024 13:20

There's a really useful FB group you should join as they'll give you pointers re what to say/ not say (as the parking company have to pay to find out who the registered keeper is for example so don't tell them)
It's called fight your parking invoice (or something similar)
You need to post the letter on the group omitting personal details

Thanks - I'll have a look at Facebook groups.

OP posts:
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