So annoyed at myself. Parking fine

[CynthiaRothrock]

Not aibu, just need a rant.
I promised Dd1 that i would take her clothes shopping last week after work. Every street around town is having roadworks done or has diversions on. And every where is pay and display. I decided to park at the far end of town in a pay and display carpark, rather than get lost in all of the diversions and one way streets. So i park up, pay for 2hrs (its 5.30ish and town shuts at 7.30 apart from primark where she wanted to go which shuts at 8)
Any way we did our shopping,but never realised that they shut the back entrance to the store (the way we came in) o we had to go out the front nd walk the long way around, i realised we were now cutting it fine and ran back to the car. Only i had read the time wrong. I had read the ticked as 5.32pm it wasnt. It was 5.23pm. I was back at the car at 7.35.pm.
I know its my fault but i can't help feeling a bit pissed off. £60 if i pay in 14 days from the notice (3 days before payday. ) or it goes up to £100. I really can't afford it at all. Even on payday. But i did make the mistake. Arrrgh. Feeling very 2steps forward and 3 back atm. Sorry for the rant but thanks for reading if you have made it to the end.

Was this a council charge or from a private company? If a private company then it is not a fine, it is an invoice and so can be got rid of quite easily but should not be ignored.
Have a look at Pepipoo website for more info.
First rule: never say who was driving.

It was a private (thought it was council as it used to be) caught on anpr and you can see me driving. I have researched the company and it doesnt look like many people have been successful at appeal. Im more annoyed though as they have the time as 5.20pm (which will be the time i entered the car park) but i know i paid for the ticket AFTER 5.20. Hence me getting the 23/32 mixed up. (I was pissing down and having a stressful day as it was. Clothes shopping was not really where i wanted to be!) But out of all the car park tickets decorating my car floor, this one has dissapeared so i can't check the time!

You can still avoid this. Just look on the website I put in my previous post. Or Martin's Money Saving Expert.

You just need to get a POPLA number from the parking company and then take it from there.

If it is only ANPR evidence and they show you coming in at 5:20 and leaving at 7:35 then that may well be sufficient grounds to appeal as, if they are BPA members, they need to give you 10 mins grace and it has been established that this should be at the beginning and the end of the time that you were in the carpark so 20 mins in total.

I am no expert but the people on Pepipoo are...have a look.

Whatever you do, don't admit to being the driver. You shouldn't lie and claim that you were not driving, you just have to always say "the driver of the vehicle."

And also always remember that this is an invoice and not a fine. If you feel that it is unfair to be invoiced £60 for being a few minutes late back to your car then fight this (and you will almost definitely win.)

So is this the car park attached to primark? I would contact their customer services and explain that you were shopping there and got a ticket. They may be able to get it cancelled. This happened to me with aldi and as I had proof that I'd been shopping there, they had the ticket cancelled. It was much easier than appealing or fighting it, so worth a go I reckon.

Thank you mcT i will look tonight when i can look without being disrupted.

Really no the carpark is nothing todo with primark it is about 5 streets away. About 5min walk if you use the back entrance. Add another 10-12 mins if you use the front. I don't go to town often (last time i was there was xmas) do i didn't know they closed the back door early.

they have the time as 5.20pm (which will be the time i entered the car park) but i know i paid for the ticket AFTER 5.20. Hence me getting the 23/32 mixed up

Can you prove this? This is basis for an appeal.

You could also ask Primark to write a letter to say the back door shuts early which caused the delay.

Basically, hit them with supporting docs when you make the appeal using Money Super Market's template. Even if POPLA agree with them, you can still be prepared to appeal to the small court.

I can send you my template letter that had my private parking fine removed if you like.

The MSM template will focus on the fact that your parking an extra 10 minutes only cost them £1 or whatever, not £60.

Also folks, many of these privately run car parks HAVE NO planning permission for their signs ! Check with the local council department first before writing your letter, you will be refused by the first point of contact but persist and take it further .

Be careful. I ended up ignoring a parking eye ticket and they registered a CCJ against me. It affect ed me getting a mortgage until I satisfied it. It's probably better to pay it tbh. It's not the end of the world.

There's ex-police, motoring solicitors and people with years of experience on www.pepipoo.com . Don't ignore it, but you don't necessarily have to pay it. The peeps on Pepipoo will guide you through the entire process.

bordello I would appeal rather then pay it. They rely on people's inertia.

www.facebook.com/groups/fightyourprivateparkinginvoice/

This fb group is excellent, I find far better than mse who in the whole are a bunch of unhelpful twits.

Can I join in your ranty thread op? I got a £60 ticket last month for not being quick enough getting my ticket. So I had a ticket, was back in time but was too slow from my car entering the car park (camera) to buying the ticket. And it arrived on my birthday.

Write to them and offer them £5. We have done it before and they accepted. Explain your circumstances and say you aren’t in a position to pay £60.