To not pay this parking fine?

[ChicagoBears]

Parked in a car park with 3 hours maximum stay. Was back in plenty of time 2.45 hours but when I got back the car park was literally gridlocked with not a single car moving for at least 30 minutes. I therefore couldn’t get out of the on time if I’d tried.

the car park has CCTV of this but has still issued me with a £100 fine, despite me appealing where I argued that but for the road outside the car park being blocked I would have successfully exited on time.

the appeal has failed, does this mean I have to just suck it up? Thanks!

I have ignored and never paid a single one of those fines in a private car park. Never went any further. Once you respond it seems a different matter. Not advocating my approach but sharing my experience

This. ^ @ChicagoBears Don't ever NOT pay a fine. It will just escalate! You can always dispute it afterwards!

Well it depends on what county you live in? In Scotland only legal if fine is issued by Local council or Police Scotland no private company can enforce the fine. They will threaten with a county court but we don’t even have them
here so not possible.

More bad advice. You guys are costing OP money

“You cannot appeal a parking ticket after you have already paid. As soon as you pay the parking fine, you are accepting liability to pay and that you are guilty of the parking contravention. Therefore you need to choose between paying the fine or challenging it.“

moneynerd.co.uk/private-parking-fines/appealing-parking-ticket/

Citizens Advice Bureau has some guidance on this

I would appeal. Have you got a copy of the payment you made at the time of exit? I would imagine there are cameras there? I had a fine. There was photographic evidence of me. They said I had not paid. Fortunately because my car is a skip on wheels,I had kept the receipt and sent a stern e msil suggesting they look at their procedure. Still waiting for an apology 🙈

Only if you live in England. These private companies have no legal standing in Scotland and sell
the debt on and on and on and on u til they give up. They threaten you with county courts which we do not have in Scotland.

This post is from august so OP has probably already taken action.

🙈oops

I have done a lot of research on this. This link was just my starting point. Private parking firms are notorious. The ‘debt collectors’ they set on people have no power and not paying does not affect your credit rating. They may take it as far as the small claims courts, but usually back off before the day. I am fighting one of these. The very worse that can happen is a small fine and a costs in the small claims court and that is unlikely.
www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/
This is a letter I sent to them (template from Parking Cowboys)