Parking Eye charges do I have to pay?

[Notonaschoolnight]

Eye infirmary appointment last month had loads of change as I knew I had to pay for parking but when I got there the machine wasn't working. Now I have a fine letter I've sent an email appealing but no reply as yet, by husband has read online that Parking Eye isn't totally legal and you don't get into bother for not paying , do any of you know?

I noticed another thread on his yesterday but can't find it now, sorry. But if you go to the Money Saving Expert website and look for the parking 'fines' thread, a whole world of info will open up.

Basically, this is not a parking fine as they have no power to fine you. They didn't provide a working machine - their problem. If (and it's massively, massively unlikely) they were to take you to court, a judge would most likely tell them off in no uncertain terms for wasting his and the court's time. IMHO the worst that would happen is that they'd tell you to pay the parking fee - and even that would astonish me.

Disclaimer: I have no legal knowledge or qualifications. But I did decide not to pay a parking notice slapped on my car in our wretched, crappy railway car park - I had paid, they were trying it on because they decided I'd parked outside the lines, which are barely visible. They sent me a stream of supposedly-threatening letters from an alleged solicitor (identified on the MSE site as a fraud), and after I'd resolutely ignored every last one, they gave up.

You have to decide it for yourself and if you're ridiculously law-abiding like me, it's quite scary to get a legal-looking letter - but they're completely taking the piss. Really, do read those MSE threads and they will reassure you.

I had one of these 'invoices' from Parking Eye last week. I visited a store with 2 hours free parking and fortunately stayed in the store almost the full 2 hours browsing, I did make some purchases, lost the receipt but paid by card and have it on my bank statement.

When I came out I visited the only other store in the visinity about 200 yards away and walked over not taking the car. When it began to dawn on me that maybe I had gone over time, ran back and moved the car, no ticket so thought it was OK. It was 4.30 pm and the car park was almost empty.

The letter and photographs came a week later £60, if not paid in 2 weeks goes up to £100. I also read all the blogs about ignoring etc. However, I decided to contact the store and the store manager told me to take the letter in, she would deal with it not to worry.

The next morning I was met by a smiling lady very pleasant and helpfull gave her the letter and bank statement. She promised to E-mail and get this charge cancelled right away and if I heard any more from them not to panick, if I call into the store later this week she will have a printout for me confirming the charges have been cancelled.

I haven't contacted Parking Eye at all, not sure if I should E-mail explaining developments so far, decided to wait until I have been back to the store. Not counting my chickens until I get the confirmation.

I understand only the landowner can issue or cancel a parking charge Parking Eye only manage the parking.

I had a very similar experience to tbcole, a Go Outdoors carpark fairly close to a football stadium, so they'd set the parking time at just not long enough to get in and out of a match. The store manager dealt with it on my behalf, all over the phone.