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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think I've been zapped into a parallel universe?

5 replies

WestieMamma · 29/05/2013 14:06

What other explanation can there be?

I received a parking ticket from G4S a while back for parking on a residential road where parking is forbidden for 15 minutes. They are contracted by the local council as their enforcement officers (not UK).

I wrote to them and pointed out that I was displaying a blue badge and was therefore allowed to park there for up to 3 hours.

They wrote back saying that the badge was not valid as the local authority had decided that nobody was allowed to park in that street. So pay up.

I sent them a copy of the national law sent to me by the Department of Transport saying that where the local authority imposed a parking ban, blue badge holders were exempt for up to 3 hours.

They wrote back saying tough shit (not literally), the council don't want people parking there. There is a carpark at the end of the road which I should have used. It's the council's land so it's up to them who park there so pay up.

So I wrote to the council asking them if their parking restrictions did indeed trump national law. I got a reply from the head of parking services saying of course they don't and confirming that I can indeed park where I was parked for up to three hours and that G4S (their enforcement people) have no authority to issue a ticket to a BB holder parked in that street.

I sent this letter to G4S.

They have responded by sending me a court summons for failure to pay.

Head! Wall!

OP posts:
HerrenaHarridan · 29/05/2013 14:08

But you kept a copy of the letter to take to court, right?

sherbetpips · 29/05/2013 14:09

ignore them they wont pursue it - if it does go to court you have confirmation from the council that they are in the wrong. I would however ask the council member you referred to to go back to G4S.

WestieMamma · 29/05/2013 14:22

I've just emailed copies of all the correspondence to the head of parking services at the council. Hopefully he can sort it out. I'm not worried as I know that the law is on my side and they are 100% wrong. They'll be laughed out of court. I just can't get my head around the complete bonkersness of them refusing to accept that they made a mistake.

Reminds me of a boss I once who in a discussion on employment issues said 'I know that's what the law says I have to do ... but that's not how I work' Shock

OP posts:
WestieMamma · 29/05/2013 14:23

sherbetpips they are pursuing it, I got the court papers this morning.

OP posts:
ThinkAboutItTomorrow · 29/05/2013 14:25

Ahh yes, we could all list laws we would rather ignore.

the one that says stabbing my MIL in the foot is assault is particularly vexing but hey ho.

Seriously, submit a counter claim for harassment and time wasting. Waste a bit of their time as payback....

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