Parking fine whilst at undertakers!

[january123]

Wrote a long post and lost it so I'll be brief.

One hour parking ticket purchased for 1st undertaker's meeting to discuss DM's funeral the day after she died unexpectedly. Big public car park, very quiet.

Without me thinking, the Meeting over ran by 10 minutes, I'm slapped with a ticket.

Appealed, gave circumstances, gave evidence, asked for a bit of compassion.
Just heard back - rejected
Can pay £50 now or take it to ombudsmen, but if I lose fine will be doubled.

Worth appealing again or do I just suck it up? Funeral director also appalled and prepared to help.

Very sorry about your loss, and parking department should have approved your appeal on compassionate grounds.

But, if the funeral director is also appalled, why don't they pay it (basically take it off the funeral cost)? Not sure if it is Council carpark or private, but funeral directors could also come to an agreement that they have several bays available (or passes, or codes) such that bereaved customers can park for free and take the stress off buying tickets/planning how long it will take etc. I'd be speaking to them about that.

You tell the truth, but 100 people lie about why they overstayed. So you suffer as a consequence.

National consistent parking policies, appeals and methods of payment (no more apps) are long overdue. This is the only real 'war on the motorist'.

It is likely the person who rejected your appeal has guidelines they must follow and an appointment overrunning just doesn't meet the criteria. They probably do sympathise with your circumstances, but it is not in their power to do anything about it.

You are just opening yourself up for more upset if it gets rejected again and it may be easier to just pay it and move on.

So, sorry for your loss OP, I know how hard it is when the world is business as usual while you feel everything has changed.

I’m really sorry for your loss but I think you will end up paying the fine. I’ve had to set alarms to top up my parking when visiting dying relatives in the hospital. It’s just a fact of life that no matter what is going on, charges and bills have to be paid. They don’t really have compassion in my experience.

parking companies are very black and white and don’t consider potentially extenuating or mitigating circumstances.
in their view - you overstayed - fact.
very frustrating, but unless you have a lot of headspace to fight this - I would just pay.
very sorry to hear about your mum

This.

They're just heartless bastards.
Reminds of when a friend got married some years ago. The wedding car ( borrowed) and guests cars complete with white ribbon were parked on parking meters outside the registry office. Wedding ran a few minutes over, and all 4 cars got tickets, which they refused to revoke.
You'll have to pay, but it's really awful that they either don't believe you or worse, don't care.
Sorry about your Mum.

If they have genuinely considered your circumstances and decided not to waive it then it is better to pay it. The ombudsman will not look at it. You would need to take it to the Tribunal if you want to appeal it.

Just had this with Parking Eye - appeal rejected.
They do not go by the ombudsman - instead, popla do their appeals and only 37% are upheld so I am not appealing further - despite having receipts.
Sucking it up but will vote with my feet - this mum no longer shops at Iceland.
For those saying to the OP, the companies have to follow the rules etc Parking Eye makes a massive annual profit and screw over everyone from genuine customers to hospital visitors; it is a money-making racket.

To add on to the griping we just had this at Heathrow. Took a wrong turn and ended up in oversize short stay parking. Literally did a U-turn to leave and the machine at the exit wanted to charge us £16.50. We called the helpline and were on hold for 15mins. Get a customer service rep who looks up our reg and says “it says here you’ve been there for 16mins” “yes because we’ve been hold at the exit gate” “you weren’t dropping anyone off?” “No, we took a wrong turn trying to get to terminal 3 short stay” “well you must have been doing something because it says you’ve been there more than 15mins” “yes, we’ve been sitting here on hold waiting for you.” “I dont think youre being entirely honest you’re going to have to pay the £16.50” “Can I speak with your manager” “I don’t have a manager” (and hung up on us)

So we had to pay £16.50 to get out of that car park… or miss our flight.

Why. Just why do people do this? It's pathetic, like running to Twitter etc. Oh I broke the rules, but let me go cry to the local papers and have a sad face photo of me in there to appeal to all of the bleeding hearts.

It's a crap situation for OP and I am sorry for the loss, but OP unfortunately overstayed.

I'm sorry for your loss op but I'd suck this one up. You ran over the parking time and got a ticket. They probably hear lots of people trying to explain why they shouldn't get a fine. My hospital fined me when I was in a&e with child and I paid as I was in the wrong

Just pay it. U overstayed

I’m sorry for your loss.

Like others have said, I’d just pay the fine and have it be gone.
If the undertakers are amenable, perhaps they could telll future families that their initial meeting may take more than an hour (it’s not something that you’d necessarily know or think to ask about) and to allow for that when purchasing parking.

According to these articles the 10 minute grace ruling was implemented in 2015 and updated in 2019.