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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to contest this parking ticket? (pics included)

153 replies

alwaysfancywine · 18/05/2016 09:43

This looks like a legitimate space right? Road markings to indicate it's a space, no signs anywhere saying no parking. Before I go to the bother of appealing, I wanted to get some second opinions.

AIBU to contest this parking ticket? (pics included)
AIBU to contest this parking ticket? (pics included)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
Kidnapped · 18/05/2016 19:46

OP, I'm kinda confused.

You said "And it looks small in the pic but it's much bigger in real life and fits a car with plenty of space". And then posted a pic that demonstrated that no car could fit in that gap between the barrier and the line.

And then your latest pics are of something else entirely.

If you did legitimately think that those lines were No Parking lines (like the ones in the latest pics) then why did you park there?

Or do you genuinely think that the two latest pics indicate that a line on the road demonstrates that people are allowed to park and block the driveway and park and block the junction there? You think that because there is one line there then that makes it a parking space?

drivingmisspotty · 18/05/2016 19:48

I don't think those latest pictures are parking spaces either, are they? Here those are on dipped kerbs to show you where NOT to park or to at the side of speed bumps, where I think they just alert you to the speed bump asbi have anxiously parked over them before and not received a ticket.

Always worth appealing though, assuming they freeze any quick paying 'discount' while they consider it.

BoomBoomsCousin · 18/05/2016 20:02

OP I wouldn't use those last pictures in your appeal - they're of lines intended to stop people from parking!

StillRabbit · 18/05/2016 20:02

Btw, I know the white lines are small but I thought it was markings a bit like these attached. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions - so helpful. I don't think i have much chance, but im going to give it a go. Will update!!*

Those pictures show lines used to indicate NO parking. Usually at junctions or where the herb has been dropped for wheelchairs. I don't think anyone could say they genuinely believe it is okay to park where the supposed "bay" is barely wide enough for a pushbike.

firesidechat · 18/05/2016 20:13

I bet you anything if you asked the drivers of the cars parked in those nonexistent spaces today what they think, they will say that they know they weren't proper spaces, but took the risk anyway. No one on here has said that they look like spaces because they don't.

BazingaBaby · 18/05/2016 20:21

Id have said that wasn't a space tbh. A 'clearly marked space' will have lines that will go around your whole car and to be fair there's no way you get a whole car inside of this white lines.

Good luck arguing it but I think you'll end up paying the fine.

titchy · 18/05/2016 20:22

Nice to see a local! Waves to OP!

Sorry OP you don't stand a chance! They were spaces until last year as I'm sure you know but when they narrowed the roadway those spaces came out of use, although it's always worth a punt if the top car parks full.

LikeDylanInTheMovies · 18/05/2016 20:25

Yes they are a private firm! They cannot take you to court only the land owner can! If they take you to court they must show that the fine is proportionate to the amount as if you had parked correctly ( or show how they suffered a financial loss) as there were no signs and you paid for a ticket they probably wouldn't bother.

That is outdated and innacurate advice (in england and Wales at least). In all likelihood they won't drag you to court, but they no longer have to show loss or demonstrate the amount claimed is proportionate. If you want to appeal it op go to Pepipoo.com for up to date advice.

BeYourselfUnlessUCanBeAUnicorn · 18/05/2016 20:33

I still don't see the problem. Usually in car parks there are double yellow lines where you can't park. The car park at our swimming pool is always full and people park all down the edges, making getting around really fucking awkward. But it isn't double yellow lines and there are no signs saying don't park there so I don't see how they are doing anything wrong.

Archer26 · 18/05/2016 20:38

Thanks to this thread I have just bought DS a busy town book. And it's not a parking space

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 18/05/2016 20:45

I would appeal on the basis that these parking companies are twats. Like I said before get yourself to the pepipoo forums where people know what they're talking about.

RockMeMomma · 19/05/2016 00:29

You could appeal, stating your willingness to comply by having a valid parking ticket, but you were not aware of the invalidity of the place you parked?

beetroot2 · 19/05/2016 00:32

I'd contest it anyway, what have you got to loose apart from having to pay an extortionate amount if it still has to stand.

susanketty · 19/05/2016 08:41

OP, check whether the ticket company is ATA registered BEFORE supplying them with any details. If they are not, they cannot access the DVLA database to find out who you are from the number plate and you can therefore ignore the ticket.

firesidechat · 19/05/2016 09:41

cp plus

firesidechat · 19/05/2016 09:41

The op said that was the company.

firesidechat · 19/05/2016 09:46

The company looks very mainstream and is a member of the British parking Association.

FuckoffDM · 19/05/2016 09:50

If there were no spaces available I would have parked there - and it seems from your photo that other people feel the same.
I can't seem what harm you have caused by parking there, there are no signs to say access is needed and you are not causing an obstruction or blocking others in. I would appeal.

Collaborate · 19/05/2016 10:01

Whether you challenge the ticket depends on the T&Cs. Chances are it says you must park wholly within the white lines - if it does, you're stuffed.

The cars you've pictured in those spaces clearly don't fit. You're clutching at straws to suggest that they do. If they are parking spaces then they must be for motorbikes.

Pipbin · 19/05/2016 11:25

Btw, I know the white lines are small but I thought it was markings a bit like these attached.

Which mean that you can't park there. You often find them across dropped kerb and the like. As I understand it they aren't enforceable like a double or single yellow but they still me don't park there.

SoupDragon · 19/05/2016 11:34

They aren't spaces. It looks like they wer spaces before they out the barrier, fence and whatever is behind the fence on top of them. They just haven't removed the lines. There is no way you could park a car within the white lines.

Having said that, I'd still contest it on the basis of misleading signs and lines. It's always worth a try.

fiorentina · 19/05/2016 11:34

To me from the photos it looks like that 'space' is actually marked to keep cars off there? I maybe wrong but presumably to allow space for access to the railway. Sorry..

titchy · 19/05/2016 12:55

Soupdragon has it right. They USED to be spaces until they extended the platform (last year) and had to make the car park narrower.

And tbh the gap if you do park there isn't huge. Normal sized vehicles can get past any illegally parked cars, but I doubt an ambulance or fire engine could, at least not without scraping cars either side.

whatsthatcomingoverthehill · 19/05/2016 13:59

This is an example of a letter refuting the parking charge in a station car park. There may be a different situation in this one, but you can see the sort of things that you can argue against.

andintothefire · 19/05/2016 14:04

I think you have a shot at a successful challenge! If other people have made the same mistake then clearly they need to make it apparent that there is no parking there.