Bloody parking charge

[RoseWrites]

I went to a car park and my 4 year old went batshit on the way in. I quickly parked and got her out and calmed her down. I looked at the car, and one wheel was on the white line. Tbh I couldn't be bothered with putting DD back and reparking so I just dashed into the shop. Came out 5 minutes later and found a ticket on my car for £100.
I got home and appealed it but got a standard letter back saying appeal has been denied, but with no rationale. I assume they send the same wording to everyone. There's no way of contacting them.
My options are pay for the fine now or appeal to the ombudsman but run the risk of paying more if that's denied.
If it's any use, it's Excel parking. And the car park is in cramlington.
Would you appeal or just (begrudgingly) pay?

I'm not sure what you're trying to argue as you've admitted you parked incorrectly and chose not to move the car. What grounds are you trying to appeal on?

Private car park company? Oh you definitely don't have to pay and can tell them where to stick.

I spanked Euro Car Parks in court a few months ago

^ and that was 5 parking charges

Please be careful giving this advice out. They can slap you with a CCJ if you don’t pay - just because they’re private doesn’t meant there isn’t repercussions.

What rationale do you need from them? You parked on the line. Don’t you understand that?

Course you did, petal.

This is what life is like in the UK these days. A ridiculously minor infringement for 5 mins that harmed and inconvenienced nobody is made into a fine of £££ by a private company who has employees just watching and waiting for a ridiculous reason to make £££. Shameful. Having said that, I’d pay to make the problem go away and get on with your life. The UK is really a shitty place these days.

If you broke the terms of parking there then there is no point in appealing so check to see if you did. If there is nothing about parking within the white lines then you might have valid grounds to appeal. Note the word "within" that means inside and not on the lines. Do you have any picture evidence as this will be needed for appeals.

Don't ignore it as it can get escalated to bailiff collecting agencies.

I once parked correctly but went over the free time limit. It was only a quid if I’d put money in the machine but I thought I’d be back in time. I wasn’t. Cost me £100. My mistake, the signs were clear.
Your mistake, you pay.

You say that you knew you parked incorrectly and decided to risk a fine. It's a gamble that didn't pay off but it was your choice. I think you have to pay.

What were the grounds for your appeal? Not sure you not wanting to bother a good enough excuse?

Of course you need to pay. So just pay it. If you feel aggrieved by it, appeal it AFTER you have paid the fine.

The terms of these car parks are that you park within the lines. If you break the terms then you pay unfortunately. Yes you can refuse but it doesn’t mean they can’t persue you in civil proceedings. It’s always worth remarking. Learn the lesson and move on with your life; take it as a mistake you won’t make again and you will be better equipped in the future.

They can't slap you with CCJ only courts can.

And they're very unlikely to take her to court for £100.

Loool awww you can't do something so it's unlikely no one else can eh

They can and WILL take you to court. My 50 quid fine became a 275 one. I only avoided a ccj because I paid the court fine immediately. Just pay it and ignore anyone who tells you to ignore it.

They won’t necessarily take you to court, it depends if they think they could win. If the signs about parking within the lines weren’t clear, or they don’t have proof ( no photo) then I would pay. Also £100 imo is quite steep, normally there is a discount if paid early. I have a parking fine from four years ago which they’ve only recently stopped bothering me about.

*wouldnt pay.

The "ignore it" advice is massively out of date

Most people used to pay so they'd let he few that didn't off the hook - then word got around they could just be ignored. Soon they started to have the majority of people not paying and so started taking people to court. They're well set up for it now and won't hesitate.

If you appeal the ticket will be put on hold until they respond, don't pay and then appeal and paying is seen as an admission of guilt. As others have said though, I’m not sure what your grounds for appeal are?

This might still help though - they are great!
www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/parking-ticket-appeals/

The basis for your appeal is that you weren't in violation for very long? The only way that would stand up is if they are supposed to allow 5 mins grace period for any infringement. I imagine lots of people think it is OK because they will "only be a few minutes" then aren't. Annoying but those are the rules unfortunately.

My honest advice pay on the first ticket POPLA were useless won't bore you with the story ended up paying £140 for a £60 ticket 11 minutes over but there were circumstances involved ...

It just sounds like a fair cop to me. You knew you'd parked incorrectly but risked it. I'd just pay it whilst kicking myself. And tbf, that parking rule is being enforced to stop people parking like dicks.

I always thought the rule was you could park on the lines?

As long as any part of your tyre is touching the line, then they cant give you a ticket?

Or is that just the council?

I ahve successfully argued a parking ticket. I took it all the way to court and won but the difference is I hadn't done what they claimed I had and I had clear proof.

You've admitted you were in violation of their terms by parking on the line not within it so you need to pay the fine.

How many of us have had to drive past a potential parking spot, because the poor parking doesn't leave you enough room to get your car in there?