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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to expect a refund on a parking fine?

12 replies

CluckyKate · 23/05/2011 09:52

Travelling back from picking-up and eBay purchase yesterday I stopped off at the motorway services. I was towing a small trailer so couldn't park with the cars and the caravan parking was fenced-off due to building work. I really didn't feel safe to park amongst the HGVs so pulled up in the coach car park and have picked-up an £80 fine for this misdemeanour.

AIBU to think I have a valid case for appealing against this fine?

OP posts:

bupcakesandcunting · 23/05/2011 09:53

YABU.

TattyDevine · 23/05/2011 09:54

Don't pay it. Its private property and therefore only an invoice. If you dont pay it, nothing will happen.

emsyj · 23/05/2011 09:55

Where should you park with a trailer?? Cannot say if YABU as have no clue which would have been the 'correct' car park.

TattyDevine · 23/05/2011 09:55

Here's a guide

VivaLeBeaver · 23/05/2011 09:56

You can try appealing as the caravan section was fenced off. Infact I wouldn't pay it full stop. Its a private car park and as long as you follow certain proceedures the fine can't be enforced.

Google as there are dedicated forums for this. My brother got a fine as he was over the line in a car park. He told me you can't ignore the letters but just reply back saying that you're not paying. So you could reply back saying you're not paying as teh caravan section was fenced off and thats not your fault.

They may argue that there are still signs warning of an £80 fine for parking in the coach area (there normally are) but just refuse to pay it. I nearly got caught out by this in my campervan but saw the sign at the last minute.

aldiwhore · 23/05/2011 09:57

If the area you were supposed to park in was fenced off (the caravaning park) then I think you're perfectly reasonable to not expect a fine. I'd write and appeal it, because although technically you were parked where you shouldn't be, where you should have been was unavailable, so they may wave it.

If they don't, simply don't pay it.

VivaLeBeaver · 23/05/2011 09:57

And no YANBU. If the caravan bit hadn't been fenced off I'd have said that you were.

nannyl · 23/05/2011 09:58

agree with aldi

bupcakesandcunting · 23/05/2011 10:01

Actually, YANBU.

Tell 'em to go suck on a fat one.

TandB · 23/05/2011 10:10

Who is the "fine" from? If it is a private car park company (like Euro Carparks) just ignore it. It makes no difference whether you argue or ignore - they will follow a set process and then give up.

If you are feeling uncomfortable about doing this have a look on the various motoring or consumer forums for other people's experiences.

It's not a fine - it is thinly disguised as one but it is actually an invitation to settle a claim for damages. The general wisdom on this subject is that no-one ever actually gets taken to court for this - this seems likely as they would have to show that your actions caused them some sort of loss.

Original poster

CluckyKate · 23/05/2011 10:23

Thank-you everyone for your excellent advice. Thanks also for the link Tatty....if Martin Lewis says I don't have to pay then I won't

Thank-you, thank-you!!!

OP posts:

5ofus · 23/05/2011 10:24

Agree with Kingfupannda. Fines from private parking companies are really just invoices in disguise. Google it as there are plenty of support forums. MSE has a large section devoted to this with special letters and all sorts. Advice seems largely to be ignore and don't get into a debate with them regardless of the ever increasingly scary letters they send.

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