ParkingEye parking charge...google says I don't have to pay it...but...

[HauntedLittleLunatic]

OK - The scenario:
Went to a smallish shopping centre at weekend and parked for 4 1/2 hours. I was trying on school shoes for 3 children for an extensive period of time - over 90mins (but didn't make a purchase). I browsed some other stuff in Wilkos, Peacocks, Next but again no purchases.

I then did my weekly shop in Tesco including trying on various bits of school uniform hence the reason it took so long.

I did know that there was a parking limit (4hrs) and was half expecting a parking notice on my car when I got back, was relieved when I didn't. There are no facilities to pay for parking for longer than 4hrs as it is a free car park.

Roll on to today. I have received a £80 "Parking Charge Notice", including timed photos of me arriving and leaving. (reduced to £50 if I pay within 13 days)

Now it mentions appealing in the letter so I googled to see if proof that I was within the shopping centre for the entire period was grounds for an appeal...and basically everything suggests this is a 'scam' on the grounds that a private company cannot issue a parking fine (but can issue a parking charge).

MSE guidance is not to pay on the grounds that the parking charges issued are disproportionate (parking is free for 4hrs, and therefore cost to company of me overstaying is nil, and if there was a charge £80 for 30 mins overstay is still disproportionate). A number of strategies are suggested,

A. ignore (and all subsequent letters). These feels rude to me.
B. Send the MSE template letter stating the grounds on which I will not be paying, but this involves engaging with the company which kind of feels like admitting fault.
C. pay the charge

I feel scared about A&B given that I would rather pay £50 than £80...but I am convinced by the MSE page dated June 2012 - so reasonably up to date - and numerous threads over there saying that they have only ever gone to court twice and both have been won by the motorists.

So WWYD?

I wouldn't pay. I'd either tell them I have no intention of paying or just ignore them. You have no legal obligation to pay and they have no legal way to make you pay. The MSE website is brilliant for this sort of thing, I C&P'd the thread into an email to Dad and he used it to get off a charge.

Ignore, ignore, ignore. Manners don't come into it.

I've got one of them too (or rather DH has as it's his car). I am following the advice of MSE and Pepipoo.com and studiously ignoring the cheeky feekers

Thanks,

I get that they can't fine. But then at the same time I don't get it.

They have signs up with the rules. If I break the rules - which I admit to...surely I am in the wrong.

But then I get that its the magnitude of the charge which is unlawful.

Don't appeal, just ignore.

I have had one too, they send a variety of vaguely threatning letters then they give up. I looked at the MSE advice too, it works.
The last letter was pretty hilarious- it was clearly TRYING to look like an 'letter of intended prosecution' like you get for a parking ticket, except across the top it said 'Notice of intended further action' how pathetic.

You can safely file them in the round cabinet

I got one of these. I wrote back saying "since toyou are not legally allowed to issue parking fines, I will not be paying your invoice"

They wrote to me 4 times, threatening legal action. I threw the letters away. That was 6 years ago.

Private companies cannot issue fines, only the local authority and police can. Just ignore them. They will threaten to take you to court. Ignore them. It would cost them a huge amount of money to take you to court and they will lose because there is no contract or agreement to pay between you and them.

Because the rules are rules, not laws.

OK.

So do I ignore or do I write to them telling them that I have no intention to pay their charges which can't be legally enforced?

Depends how bored you are really. Best ignored unless you really want to get into it.

Just ignore. It's easier.

Don't enter into any correspondence with them at all OP. simply ignore and after a few shitty letters you'll hear no more from them.

Ignore.

I made the mistake of entering into correspondence and they were complete tossers. After advice on MN I sent one more letter, and haven't heard anything since.

You can safely ignore it.

In the absolutely minuscule chance of being taken to court, you would only have to pay for their loss of income on the space. Given that it's a free space, that charge would be zero.

When I received a private charge, these sent 3 increasingly threatening letters before losing interest.

don't pay parking eye, save your money for council parking tickets, those you really do have to pay.