Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulJC  Hi, just a quick question. I parked in a resident/permit holder only bay while on a plumbing call-out. I didnt realise it wasnt a normal 1 hour parking bay as the markings on the road all look the same to me, but fair enough I shouldnt have parked there as there is a sign further down the road saying so.
My question is this: When I returned to my van there was absolutely definately no ticket, so until I received a letter saying that I had a penalty charge which was now £60 (instead of £30), I had no idea of the parking fine.
I dont dispute that I (unknowingly) parked where I shouldnt have, but I do dispute that its £60, as I havent had the chance to pay the reduced rate. I'm not just trying to save £30 because I missed the deadline or anything, I genuinely didnt have any ticket on the van. Some very very cruel person must have peeled it off. I'm wandering if the area was covered by CCTV, as we have a lot of it in Torquay now. Might call the council tomorrow to see actually...
Anyway, where do I stand with getting the fine back to £30 instead of £60? Any help greatly appreciated. Even if I end up paying more, I'd still happily go to court on matter of principle, and I'd love the judge to tell Torbay council what a bunch of idiots they are, and fine them for wasting the courts time hahaha! Maybe thats wishful thinking though!! |
What to do if a Notice to Owner (NtO) arrives for a parking ticket that you didn't know had been issued
If you know that you had been illegally parked and the Notice to Owner arrived within a couple of months then it is recommend that you:-
i) respond admitting you were there at the time in question
ii) say that, had you received the ticket you would immediately have paid it at the reduced rate and that, in fairness the authority should give you the opportunity to pay it at the reduced rate.
iii) enclose a cheque for payment at the reduced rate
Although there is no guarantee that this will be accepted, human nature being what it is, most councils would rather have the reduced amount without any further argument than have the hassle of trying to get the other half from you.
However!
If several months have elapsed it is unreasonable for you to be expected to remember where you were at the time in question. I would recommend that you write back saying that you did not receive a parking ticket and that it is unreasonable for the council to pursue the matter.
Councils have a duty to act 'fairly'. It is generally accepted that an NtO should be sent no later than six months from the issue of the parking ticket. But even if it's three or four months it might be worth giving it a try.
£60 PCN but nothing was on windscreen 
Re: £60 PCN but nothing was on windscreen 
