Car park fine

[Youvegotafriendinme]

I was wondering if someone might be able to advise me please. I’ve received a parking charge notice from a company that look after a local council play park car park. I called the number on the signs and went through the automated system, paying for the ticket using my bank card. At the end of the call the automated voice said my payment was successful for vehicle ‘red car.’ Thought nothing of it until 2 days ago and I’ve received a fine for £100 for not paying. Upon checking my bank no money has been taken. I appealed it saying what I did above as well as screen shots of the call made and duration. They’ve since got back to me to say I didn’t attempt to pay as many others did that day and their system was working fine and my fine has now increased to £150. Unfortunately my bank can’t see if I tried to pay or if they tried to take the money because it’s been over 10 days. So is it just my word against there’s? What if I appeal it further? Completely ignore it? DH says I should just pay it but as I know I stood there in the freezing cold making the payment, to be told it had gone through, I’m digging my heels in.
Anyone know where I might stand with this please?

I would also dig my heels in - I expect they have a recording of the call?

Usually you get a text after though confirming?

I did get a text but I deleted it and I’m kicking myself now.
My argument is their automated service told me I had paid so why I think otherwise yet I have no way to prove it.

That’s so annoying!
But unfortunately with no proof, no money coming out the bank there’s nothing you can do.

@PinkCookie11

That’s so annoying! But unfortunately with no proof, no money coming out the bank there’s nothing you can do.

That's not true. If the OP refuses to pay, the parking company will have to take her to court to get payment. The court would decide on the balance of probabilities. If the OP can show that she attempted payment by calling the appropriate number, the court may be willing to accept that a glitch in the automated system resulted in her being told she had paid.

It is sometimes possible to recover deleted SMS messages. I would start by asking your mobile network if they have a copy of the message, making it clear that you need it as evidence. If not, Google "recover deleted SMS message" for some guidance as to how you might be able to do this.

And if I left it?

You could try asking for advice on this site. I'm sure someone on there would have come across the same issue:
forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showforum=60

I think Martin Lewis has good advice on this sort of issue too. Look at Money Saving Expert. Good luck!!

@Youvegotafriendinme

And if I left it?

Left it as in do nothing?

If that's what you mean, the risk you take is that they will take it to court. If the court is not convinced that their automated system led you to believe you had paid, you will have to pay the fine plus court costs.

I would just pay it’s honestly not even worth the hassle

Some PPCs are more litigious than others. Which parking company is it?

I wouldnt have thought they would waive the fine based on the fact that you made a phonecall. Or else everyone would just start calling the number, staying on the line a while, put in wrong details a few times and hang up so they have a reasonable length phonecall.

Its unfortunate that you deleted the text, given that phones have massive space for texts etc, i would imagine a court would not believe you if you said that you had a text but deleted it.

Based on the evidence you have, it doesnt really look very likely that you attempted a payment at all, so as unfair as it is, looks like you should just pay the fine and learn from mistakes and not delete texts or emails like this in future.

Can you get your phone bill to show the number you called and length of call?

Not sure on legalities but can you ask for CCTV of when it happened - maybe this would show you making the call and then leaving?