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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To challenge this parking ticket?

55 replies

BerylStreep · 02/02/2011 21:11

We went into town on Monday 3rd Jan (which was a bank holiday as 1st was on a Saturday). I parked in a pay & display space, and went to pay at the ticket machine, when I noticed it said on the machine:

?Charges apply Monday to Saturday 8am to 6pm except 1 January, Easter Monday, 12 and 13 July, 25 and 26 December or days in lieu.?

As a result of the notice, I thought that as Monday 3rd was the bank holiday in lieu of New Years Day, that no fee was needed and I therefore did not purchase a ticket. When I returned to my car, I discovered I had been given a parking ticket, which is £60, or £30 if paid within a certain period.

I have written to appeal the ticket, and have received a response saying that charges were suspended on Saturday 1st, and so charges applied on Monday 3rd, so I therefore have to pay the ticket.

There is a further appeal mechanism, but the discounted rate will have expired, so if I lose the appeal, I will need to pay £60.

I honestly thought that no fee was required. I was willing to pay for parking. If they are saying a fee was due, I think the notice on the machine is ambiguous at best, and misleading.

AIBU? And do you think I should just pay up, or appeal?

OP posts:
gordyslovesheep · 02/02/2011 21:13

yeh you ABU - is stated the dates you didn't have to pay - the 3rd of jan wasn't one of them :)

FabbyChic · 02/02/2011 21:13

Id pay then appeal as a matter of principle.

SnapFish · 02/02/2011 21:14

YABU

fragglerocks · 02/02/2011 21:15

3rd Jan counts as a day in lieu, YANBU, I would appeal

PlasticLentilWeaver · 02/02/2011 21:16

I'd pay and then appeal it.

Out of curiosity, why are 12 and 13th July not chargeable?

bubblewrapped · 02/02/2011 21:16

Did you not look at the other cars that were in the car park?

Original poster
BerylStreep · 02/02/2011 21:17

Gordy - But it says 'or days in lieu'. 3rd Jan was a public holiday in lieu of 1st Jan.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 02/02/2011 21:17

You did not have to pay on the 1st of January, which incidentally was new years day. 3rd of January would therefore not be in lieu of 1st of January, as it was already mentioned.

irishbird · 02/02/2011 21:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

gordyslovesheep · 02/02/2011 21:18

got yah - half watching mary Portas and missed that bit

I would pay then appeal and ask for written clarification of what they mean - so actually YANBU - they are

Original poster
BerylStreep · 02/02/2011 21:19

When I got back to the car, all the other cars in the street had been given parking tickets too. Obviously I was not the only one who took the notice on the pay & display machine at face value.

12th & 13th July - we are in NI - marching season!

OP posts:
irishbird · 02/02/2011 21:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MadamDeathstare · 02/02/2011 21:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
BerylStreep · 02/02/2011 21:23

I don't think there is any facility to pay, then appeal. It is either pay or appeal.

Irishbird - no, we were in Belfast.

OP posts:
Minin · 02/02/2011 21:23

Appeal.

PlasticLentilWeaver · 02/02/2011 21:24

Ah! That makes sense, thank you.

melpomene · 02/02/2011 21:25

I would read it as meaning that the "days in lieu" bit only applies to 25 Dec and 26 Dec. If it was meant to apply to all of the preceding dates then they would have had a comma between the "25 and 26 Dec" and the "days in lieu" bit.

LadyBiscuit · 02/02/2011 21:30

I would appeal - if the wording on their sign is unclear, that's their problem not yours. I would read that as days in lieu applying to bank holidays should any of those dates fall on a weekend.

FWIW bank holidays in England are free parking so the same rule should apply to NI

fifitot · 02/02/2011 21:30

Agree with melpomene.

Cribbage · 02/02/2011 21:31

Who was the ticket issued by, a local council or a private company?

LadyBiscuit · 02/02/2011 21:31

and yes, don't pay. If you pay, you have accepted the fine and you are not able to challenge

Original poster
BerylStreep · 02/02/2011 21:36

It was issued by the Roads Service - NI Govt Department responsible for parking enforcement.

I have had a look at Irishbird's link, and it seems to be saying that when 1st Jan falls on a Sunday, then any day in lieu applies, but that's not what it says on the machine.

OP posts:
MorticiaAddams · 03/02/2011 22:54

Days in lieu would be dependent on your working week so for those who work Monday to Friday then a Saturday holiday would have a day in lieu and if you worked Monday to Saturday then you could have that day off and wouldn't need an in lieu day.

I would only have expected a day in lieu for a Sunday as that's the only day there aren't charges anyway.

llbeanj · 04/02/2011 02:29

i have no idea how things work in NI - but try posting on pepipoo, there are people there that will know what to do. although they will probably tell you to appeal anyway

JaquesTouatte · 04/02/2011 02:55

You have waited four weeks to ask this. Lodge your appeal at the very earliest opportunity, and the clock should stop on the £30/60 thing. It is highly likely that you will be knocked back at the first attempt (this is standard practice, even when it is obvious that the ticket has been wrongly issued). Re-appeal immediately. The signs must be clear and unambiguous, which they weren't.

Good luck, and get your arse in gear.

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