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Original poster

PCN after paying to park on Ringgo

29 replies

trader21c · 13/06/2024 21:15

I am so cross - paid for parking on the RingGo app when taking my daughter to hospital - for some reason the car numberplate already on the app had a zero 0 instead of an O so I got a PCN. Appealed it with proof of a receipt from RingGo showing I was covered for the time in question but it was rejected. They don’t deny I paid they just say I inputted the car numberplate wrong and it’s the responsibility of the driver to get this right. I’m really not sure what to do - whether to pay up at the 50% discounted rate or appeal further and risk being liable for the full amount. I really don’t see how they can take the car-parking payment and issue a fine? WWYD?

OP posts:
Just2MoreSeasons · 13/06/2024 21:33

I wouldn't pay that. You know you've paid. They know you've paid. Asked them to take you to court and hold your nerve. They won't take you to court they are just chancing it.

Abitorangelooking · 13/06/2024 21:37

That is ridiculous. I got a pcn waived when I accidentally paid for the wrong car. I’d saved two on the app and it defaulted to the last one. I called up and spoke to someone and sent photos etc of the two cars, screenshot of cars saved in app. I’d also challenge if further

SweetGingerTea · 13/06/2024 21:38

I was caught by the same with RingGo, except I accidentally used the car reg of a car scrapped a few weeks before. I provided the scrappage doc and screenshot showing both numbers and V5s; they were bast**ds and would not back down. Honestly, I ended up paying the PCN because my blood pressure and health were worth more than the fine.

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Driving & parking
Mirandasbiggestfan · 13/06/2024 21:39

Is it a London borough OP? The reason I ask is that certain London boroughs (e.g. Walthamstow, Islington) are absolutely merciless about PCN’s. I’ve had so many in Waltham Forest & appealed one or two where I’ve made a genuine error & I have always had to pay. You shouldn’t have to pay the greater fine if you appeal though, once they make a decision on the appeal you should still have the option to pay the reduced amount.

Original poster
trader21c · 13/06/2024 21:43

@Mirandasbiggestfan hi yes it is a London borough

OP posts:
Bearpawk · 13/06/2024 22:14

I expect they will say it's your responsibility to enter the car reg you are paying for correctly

Original poster
trader21c · 14/06/2024 03:00

@Bearpawk they’ve said exactly that - though point is they suffered no loss as a result of this error and can’t really have it both ways by accepting the money and imposing a fine … they’ve only recently put Ringgo in - if there had been the parking machine none of this would have happened!

OP posts:
StMarieforme · 14/06/2024 04:20

trader21c · 14/06/2024 03:00

@Bearpawk they’ve said exactly that - though point is they suffered no loss as a result of this error and can’t really have it both ways by accepting the money and imposing a fine … they’ve only recently put Ringgo in - if there had been the parking machine none of this would have happened!

Regardless of all of this, the T&Cs will have laid out the conditions clearly. Not their error. Yours. You need to pay.

PilingOnTheAgony · 14/06/2024 04:41

Have a read of this before paying anything:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/

FloofPaws · 14/06/2024 06:10

That's ridiculous though it's clearly paid, a o or 0 makes no odds, you've paid for that car parking!

Scissorsisters · 14/06/2024 06:35

As you had already input the incorrect reg in your app, have you got away with the same issue before?

It It's your responsibility to have the correct reg.

YouBetYourBippy · 14/06/2024 06:39

I got a ticket waived in the same circumstances when I used the phrase “no intention to deprive the council of revenue” or something like that. There is a piece of case law that uses those words if I recall - google parking ticket and intention to deprive - there is a very helpful article somewhere!

Original poster
trader21c · 14/06/2024 06:54

Scissorsisters · 14/06/2024 06:35

As you had already input the incorrect reg in your app, have you got away with the same issue before?

It It's your responsibility to have the correct reg.

Yes rarely use RingGo but the same reg was inputted on a couple of previous occasions and didn’t have issue - maybe I was just lucky? But the app just displayed the numberplate with the zero now I have corrected it to an O it shows the colour and make of car

OP posts:
shearwater2 · 14/06/2024 06:55

It's absolutely shit. Yes it's a breach of their terms and conditions but consumer terms and conditions have to be reasonable. You also have to have suffered a loss to claim breach of contract, and you have to mitigate your loss at common law. They have not suffered a loss as you have paid, the vehicle was clearly identifiable in spite of the "error" yet they have chosen to compound their "loss" (not that they had one) by sending you a ticket and engaging in pointless administration. They would be unlikely to succeed in court. But many people are understandably scared to leave it to go that far.

If you are going to appeal, do have a look at this first and the forums.

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/

I got "caught" in a local car park with a PCN. I had paid, correctly, for the parking but because of the shitty app there was no way of my proving that I had - no records or text sent etc, neither for any previous transactions where I hadn't got a PCN. Except I could of course show I had paid on my bank statement.

I won the POPLA appeal on a technicality - because they had not correctly informed the registered keeper. Not because I had paid and their app and record keeping was shit.

Viewfrommyhouse · 14/06/2024 06:59

Did you get a Penalty Charge Notice or a Parking Charge Notice?

shearwater2 · 14/06/2024 07:01

As an example of how it should be dealt with, I once got a PCN in a council run car park, quite a few years ago when phone parking started - and at first I was outraged. I had paid! But when I read the PCN it was just asking me to correct the number plate for next time as I'd only put half of it in. No charge was levied.

TheaBrandt · 14/06/2024 07:11

The Councils are much better than the private companies. I have been let off several over the years for errors like that but only on the council run ones where I am a resident. The dynamic is different.

Appealed one yesterday actually that I got for our residents parking. I rang them when we got a new car to add a second car and they hadn’t done it properly so only one car was actually covered 🙄. They had put the second car as linked to first but not given it its own permit. Who would want that?! The lady at the council said to appeal and she made a note on the file her end so fingers crossed.

Copperoliverbear · 14/06/2024 07:11

My friend had something similar told them to take her to court, she didn't have to actually turn up to the court and the judge threw the case out.
Personally I wouldn't pay I'd say I want to go to court, they're just relying on the fact you'd be scared and pay.

shearwater2 · 14/06/2024 07:52

If it were up to me, I'd write them all a single code of practice and tell them to stick to it or legislation would follow. A full forensic audit of these companies' practices and tax affairs for those who breach the rules.

Gorgonemilezola · 14/06/2024 07:59

'point is they suffered no loss as a result of this error and can’t really have it both ways by accepting the money and imposing a fine'

I would have thought exactly this - they have suffered no loss so what are they fining you for.

I'd probably hold my nerve too.

Original poster
trader21c · 14/06/2024 08:46

Viewfrommyhouse · 14/06/2024 06:59

Did you get a Penalty Charge Notice or a Parking Charge Notice?

Hi a penalty charge notice

OP posts:
TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/06/2024 08:58

If a zero was entered instead of 'O' or vice-versa the registration would be invalid.

They obviously have access to the DVLA database (that's how they got your address) so they could validate your registration at the time of entry and highlight it if it is invalid.

Of course they won't do this unless legally forced to as they are merciless bastards.😡

Bjorkdidit · 14/06/2024 09:06

You don't need to pay this, appeal it and you will almost certainly win.

https://www.popla.co.uk/

DP did similar - he went somewhere in my car but accidentally put his own registration in the machine, again a hospital visit, mind was on other things. The ticket came to me, so when we realised what had happened, we appealed to Popla, explained it was a mistake and the ticket was cancelled.

Welcome to POPLA | POPLA

Increase your chances of a successful parking charge appeal

https://www.popla.co.uk

Original poster
trader21c · 14/06/2024 09:16

Bjorkdidit · 14/06/2024 09:06

You don't need to pay this, appeal it and you will almost certainly win.

https://www.popla.co.uk/

DP did similar - he went somewhere in my car but accidentally put his own registration in the machine, again a hospital visit, mind was on other things. The ticket came to me, so when we realised what had happened, we appealed to Popla, explained it was a mistake and the ticket was cancelled.

Thanks yes it’s not popla for mine as it was a council issued one in the road below the hospital (not the official hospital parking). If I don’t pay the discounted rate within 14 days of the appeal decision letter then I understand the Council send me a notice to owner setting out how I formally appeal to them (bizarrely the previous one was an informal appeal). If that fails then I can appeal to the London Appeals tribunal … they are very keen to get me to pay the discounted rate!!! If it gets as far as London Tribunals (please not🙏🏼) has a 51% chance of success. No-one including the council disputes that I paid …

OP posts:
Bjorkdidit · 14/06/2024 09:23

If it gets as far as London Tribunals (please not🙏🏼) has a 51% chance of success. No-one including the council disputes that I paid

I'd still appeal it. What is the 51% based on? People who paid but made a minor error, or everyone who got a ticket, including all those didn't pay or who'd chanced it with overstaying/yellow lines/residents parking/private roads etc?