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Original poster

How do I go about contesting a parking fine?

16 replies

PrettyCandles · 16/03/2007 10:45

No info on the fine documents. Do I have to pay up and contest at the same time? If I don't pay up within 14days (as of yesterday) then the fine is doubled to £80 [choke!].

OP posts:
clumsymum · 16/03/2007 10:56

There MUST be an address somewhere on the parking ticket, assuming it's a fine you got on the public road, or in a council car-park. The details of the issuing authority are normally hidden in VERY small print.

Don't pay, you'll never get it back. Write to the parking authority, enclose a copy of the ticket, an a detailed explanation of why you believe it was issued incorrectly. Be prepared to argue in letters for at least the next three months.

If the ticket was issued in a private car park, and really does have no information on how to complain, then they can probably don't have any rights to enforce the ticket, so just don't pay.

Original poster
PrettyCandles · 16/03/2007 11:00

Presumably if they don't accept my reason then I'll have to cough up the full amount and lose the opportunity to pay 'only' £40?

OP posts:
CODalmighty · 16/03/2007 11:01

why are you contesting

Original poster
PrettyCandles · 16/03/2007 11:03

Because I think it's a leeetle excessive to fine me for not writing my car reg no on the visitor permit when I was in the house fetching a pen in order to write it!

OP posts:
serenity · 16/03/2007 11:04

Shouldn't do. I contested a fine with the council, and your 'reduced rate' period is suspended pending the result of the appeal - so if you lose you still get 14 days to pay the lower amount. Even if it's a private company, I can't see that it could be legal to essentially fine you for contesting it. Where were you parked?

janinlondon · 16/03/2007 11:05

Will depend on which authority issued the fine I think - in some places you have to wait till you get the postal advice of the fine (which is of course after the 14 days) rather than contest the ticket on the windscreen. Other councils expect an appeal before they send the letters out. Have found that sending photos often helps the case.

CODalmighty · 16/03/2007 11:08

lol at pen

clumsymum · 16/03/2007 11:10

How long were you away fetching the pen? 2 minutes or 20 minutes.
In other words, did the warden issue the ticket and run away, or might they have seen you parking and issued the ticket quickly on purpose?

Didn't you see the warden coming up the street? You could have borrowed their pen

It is dodgy as to whether you would get away with it, and yes, if they don't accept your reason, you may lose the ability to pay the reduced rate (altho' last time I contested one, they stopped the clock until it was resolved. I won anyway).

Original poster
PrettyCandles · 16/03/2007 11:16

I was on a public road. The suspension of the 14 days makes sense.

Unfortunately I haven't a clue how long I was away from the car. I was certainly in and out of the house twice, first to get the permit, then to get the pen, so, given the time it took for me to find my dad and him to find the permits, it could well have been 10mins or moer in totaal.

But the parking wotsit did something that has never happened to me before: he was polite and apologised for being jobsworthy! I'm still peed off about it, though.

OP posts:
CODalmighty · 16/03/2007 11:16

write that in your letter
it soduns funny

Original poster
PrettyCandles · 17/03/2007 17:45

Grrrr! I've checked the councils website and they don't allow appeals until after the 28 days have expired, and you lose the right to pay the smaller amount within 14 days.

Surely this contravenes my Human Rights, or something!?

OP posts:
indiajane · 17/03/2007 17:54

PrettyCandles, I've lost an appeal when I was parking outside a children's hospital to take my DD to the ER with a broken leg because I had no ticket on the car.

I'd only gone to get change from the nearest shop (- about a 3 min walk each way) which I could put in the meter.

I don't want to be doom and gloom but I don't think your excuse will be considered valid. It may be worth paying it early

hercules1 · 17/03/2007 17:56

Indiajane, that's appalling. I'd have gone to the local papers.

LazyLine · 17/03/2007 18:19

Candles,

have a look at this website, the forums are excellent, you shoul dbe able to find something there.

indiajane · 18/03/2007 14:54

It is terrible isn't it?? Birmingham Children's hospital only has parking on the street (and it's £4.50 for 2 hours) and that's the maximum you can park for. So if you're unfortunate enough to have a child in A&E you're pretty stuffed anyway!

Original poster
PrettyCandles · 19/03/2007 17:24

Parking at hospitals is outrageous and a disgraceful exploitation of people in dire circumstances.

I've decided ot to contest the fine because I don't think I would win. It's true that going to fetch change is not accepted as an 'excuse', so going to fetch a pen would probably not be, either (no matter how ironic and funny it is!) And in any case, I would lose the option to pay the smaller amount.

Grrr.

And my dad gave me the visitor's permit because they work out cheaper than feeding the pay-and-display!

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