Westminster parking fine for paying at a meter that was out of order

hugh jass · 27th June 2007, 12:42

Can anyone give me any info on where to go from here please.
My husband is a delivery driver and had to deliver to Lloyds in Westminster in May. He parked in a parking bay and put money in the meter. The meter didn't display anything, so my husband presumed it would be ok, as he had payed to park and the other meters that were out of order in the street had covers over them showing out of order.
Upon returning to his van, he saw a warden issuing a ticket, after getting a little upset etc, my husband phoned the police, who advised him to just send the ticket back and say he wasn't going to pay it. Unfortunately, my husband didnt get a log number for this call.
That night I appealed the ticket online and never heard anything back, that was the begining of May. Two days ago my husbands boss phoned him because he had recieved a letter from Westminster council saying as he hadn't paid in the 14 days the cost of the ticket was going up from the reduced amount of £50 to £100, but if he didn't pay straight away it would go up further.
I immediately phoned Westminster council up and they said yes I had appealed in the 14 days and would send a letter out.
This morning my husbands work has recieved a letter saying the appeal was unsuccessful and the reason being that it is an offence to park at an out of order meter. The letter also states that these rules are clearly written on the plate on the back of the meter. My husband and the boss from Lloyds read this meter and couldn't see any wording to that affect.

The letter dated the same day as I phoned them regarding the increased charge stated that a copy would be sent to my husband, as yet we have not recieved it. The letter said that we can appeal to parking regulators using the attatched form and that this form states the certain resons you can appeal, this form was not attatched.

Surely they cannot make us pay for parking at a meter and paying because it was out of order? There was no display saying out of order, there was no cover over it saying out of oder and if it is written of the back that you cannot park there when it is out of order, it is not clear enough, because two people couldn't see anything.
Hugh Jass

Rob S · 27th June 2007, 13:24

You need to go to the next stage of the appeal process which is PATAS. I would also suggest you go to the parking bay and take photos of gthe meter and any signs on it to see what it says (if anything ) about parking if the meter is out of order.

hugh jass · 27th June 2007, 13:28

My husband took photographs of the meter at the time, but it is impossible to read what it says and the meter is in Westminster and we are in Bucks. If anyone lives in Westmister that can help, it would be appreciated.
Hugh Jass

Rob S · 27th June 2007, 13:30

It may be worthwhile asking the same question on PePiPoo: Helping the motorist to get justice in their parking section. There may be some of the members there who have the photgraph you require.

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