Parking Noticeboard wrong

[Sun7July]

Please help me with a question: There is a parking lot near some sports grounds. It used to have a barrier etc, it now has nothing but a camera and some boards around detailing the online payment options. I drove in and dropped my child there last Wednesday. I couldn't find exactly where she should go, so I was probably driving around for 10 to 15 minutes, enough to trigger a ticket. In my confusion about where she should be dropped off etc I completely forgot to pay. As the barriers have now gone, it is very easy to do (part of the plan? I doubt anyone mistakenly didn't pay before as there was no way to get out!)

I paid today and contacted the sports company whose land it is about the mistake, and I am about to email the parking firm, but i have noticed the prices are wrong on the board (£1.80 per hour on the board, £2.05p when you go to pay).

Is this is a reason to appeal if the fine comes through - which I am certain it will, as this is the point of these firms!

Does the noticeboard need to be correct and can I appeal on that? I'm not trying to shirk payment, and I have now paid, but it was an honest mistake that I know many other people have made and paid the price for.

The noticeboard will tell you that the land is private and who owns/runs it. It should clearly explain the charges and how you are meant to pay them. If the charges levied are not correctly displayed you may have some wriggle room.

I don't think the removal of barriers carries any weight. As pay on foot/pay by App has replaced pay and display barriers are becoming rare.

I think you should let them know, I would too even if I stayed there and paid, but it turned out to be more than advertised, as they need to correct it.

I would outline the confusion caused by the changes to the layout and explain that you didn’t find the signage sufficient, adding in that when you did find signage the prices advertised were incorrect.

I think you’d be lucky to get any fine waived, but it might save the next person from getting one!

Did you pay online eg Ringo app or similar? There are extras you can choose that can push the price above what’s displayed, such as text message notifications when your time is running out. You can turn them off in the app and save the fees, but I found they were on by default.

Just to say why the price could be different and would possibly remove your wriggle room with the parking company.

I was just explaining how I managed to not pay, given it was absolutely not my intention, I wasn't trying to use that as a reason to avoid a fine.

I DO want to avoid the fine though, it was very easily done so wondered whether legally I have a leg to stand on. Just to make clear I have now paid, Im not trying to shirk it.

If anyone does know the legality, please let me know.

Sorry, I don’t want to sound dim. But you dropped DD off last Wednesday and didn’t pay. And you realised, so paid today?

I’m not sure that will help you. You’ve got a ticket that shows payment today. That could be for parking today. There’s no way of ‘proving’ that you paid to catch up on last Wednesday’s mistake.

My point about the Ringo thing was to try and explain why the cost could be different to the notice board. There’s a machine/board in my town that displays cheaper than Ringo charges me due to the fees for optional reminders that the app sends.

Anyway, re the legality of it - the Honest John forum has loads of threads about parking fines in various circumstances; you might find something that relates on there. Maybe even the same car park!

I'd appeal on the basis you didn't park there.

Tell them that you went to drop someone off, got out to read the terms and conditions before deciding not to accept them, and then leaving. 15 minutes might be a stretch - but it absolutely a legitimate case that you have to be afforded the opportunity to read and assess the terms and conditions of a contract before entering into it.

OP won't win on that basis. If it had been less than 10 minutes, yes, but 15 minutes is too long.