To be really pissed off at a parking charge?

[Brigante9]

I received a Parking Charge Notice this morning for a restaurant I went to last week. Normally, you go in and register the vehicle but the appliance to do this was unplugged, plug hanging down, screen obviously dead. Should I have notified the owner? It’s right by the entrance so obvious.

The PCN is from Civil Enforcement LTD in Liverpool. Is this one of those notices whereby if you phone up they take it as admitting liability? Is it one that you can successfully ignore?

It's worth contacting the restaurant. I got one when I stayed an hour and 40 minutes at the supermarket when it's restricted to an hour and a half (whether that's long enough for a full weekly shop in an understaffed supermarket with only a few told is another debate). Their tills had gone down and the queues were huge, so it wasn't my fault I overstayed. They were able to contact the parking company and squash it, as they employ them to monitor their carpark.

Don't phone them under any circumstances.
Go here for the best advice about what to do
forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163
Definitely approach the restaurant.
Do not identify yourself formally as the driver.

I will, they were heaving that night so surely they’ve had complaints from other users? The appliance was still unplugged when I left. The place isn’t open til this evening. It would be nice if they could deal with it.

You could just appeal the charge.

I've done it twice with two different companies and each time they've written it off.

@shallichangemyname I’ve just spent ten minutes on that forum! Very helpful. It’s owner of vehicle that counts, not driver.

@ZippyBungleandGeorge We do a monthly shop for a large family (Trolley piled high and small trolley) and it would not be a stretch to say we could easily take a couple of hours if not a lot more. If I were to receive a parking charge there's no way I would be paying it. The only thing the company would get is a copy of my receipt.

OP, contact the restaurant. Their machine being out of order is not your job to chase and fix, tell them your details and inform them they need to contact their parking company and get it sorted.

@Knickersononeshead I will if the restaurant isn’t willing to contact the firm for me. The process is straightforward from what I’ve just read, just a pita, just started the holiday and I’m an anxious person so peed off!