parking

[hippopolalaa]

I've been informed that my Dh has not been paying parking fees when parking my car to go to work. He enters car park during the day and doesn't leave until the small hours of the morning (night shift). Barrier is down during the day and you have to put in your reg no and pay before you leave. It's free to park after 6 and barrier is up from about 10pm for the rest of the night. Due to the fact that the barrier is up when he leaves he for some reason thought it was fine to just leave. I didn't know this was happening, so got a fright today to be told that we are now getting a legal letter and bill for the amount owed in parking and a fine.

I'm really angry at him because it's a lot of money and it was so avoidable!

I'm going to pay it obviously, but just wanted to check first if there's any legal reason that we shouldn't? He leaves at the time when it's free and the barrier is up. He says he genuinely didn't think therefore that they were expecting payment. They've also waited until this has happened 200 times before telling me. No one's fault of course, but if I'd know earlier I'd have stopped him.

We have to pay it, don't we?

[hippopolalaa]

You're a star thank you! Really appreciate your help!!!

[Collaborate]

It appears that for the council the time limit is 28 days from date of contravention.

www.appealnow.com/parking-tickets/time-limits/

See also this

www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/parking-ticket-appeals

and this

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/transport/driving-and-parking/parking-tickets/parking-tickets-on-public-land-where-the-council-is-responsible/

[hippopolalaa]

Blu they've said they can work out a payment plan if it's a lot.

Fish we have joint account it also our own money accounts. He's said he'll pay for it himself - he's accepted responsibility and that he's been a tool!

Collaborate - does it change anything that it's a council car park? Thanks so much for this info, I'm going to go through it all now. Obviously we will pay anything we owe, but I just wanted to check with regards them not letting us know for so long, plus also the fact that there's no barrier. The signs are pretty clear so I think he's not got a leg to stand on.

Grr - I'm so angry with him. We have young baby and meant to be saving to move house.

[hippopolalaa]

Pixie because he's a numpty

[Collaborate]

We have to pay it, don't we? The only thing that should be payable is the 14 days prior to you receiving their letter. See the link I posted.

It says this:

The technical route: check if your 'Notice to Keeper' is flawed

With private parking tickets it's the owner of the car, not the driver, who's liable. Therefore parking companies will often send a 'Notice to Keeper' to the owner of the car. This is a formal parking charge notice sent to the registered keeper of the vehicle.


You'll get this through the post for one of two reasons - either you were caught on camera (and never got a ticket on your windscreen), or there was a ticket on the windscreen and it hasn't been responded to or the owner hasn't been told.

There are specific rules around how Notices to Keepers should be sent and written. However sometimes companies get this wrong. If they have, it's often possible to appeal on a technicality.

This route comes from members of our forum who have a great deal of experience fighting unfair parking tickets, and campaigning to help others do so as well. Many say it's worked for them (though not with NCP operators or some smaller firms). Here's what to do:

Check if the Notice to Keeper follows the rules

^There's a long list of rules Notices to Keepers need to follow (eg, if the ticket wasn't initially given on your windscreen, it should arrive within 14 days of the alleged parking offence). Our forum has info on what these rules are or the legislation is here- check whether the firm's followed all the rules with your ticket.
Write to the parking firm flagging up the error^

If you've found the parking firm slipped up, it'll give you useful ammunition in your appeal. First write directly to the company (contact details should be on the ticket) and explain what they did wrong - forumites have suggested a template letter in the discussion thread.

[FishWithABicycle]

Are all your finances joint or are they separate? Do you each have an amount of personal spending money for treats and nonessentials? Because the fallout from this idiocy should fall on him not you as far as possible. The fact that it is your name on the car documents doesn't make this your responsibility.

[Blu]

200 times!
I hope they will not issue a fine per incident!
I would seek advice and then try and negotiate direct: paying the money owed and one fine, for example.
Have you been and checked what the notices say about paying if you will be leaving after the pay period ends?

[Collaborate]

Go and ask the people on pepipoo.com. They'll let you know if you can get out of it.

Also look at this: www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets. They should have written to you within 14 days.

[dementedpixie]

If he enters the carp ark at a time that is chargeable then of course he should be paying for parking, why does he think he wouldn't be liable?