Parking ticket in NHS hospital car park

[mark.adams]

I received a ticket attached to my car in an NHS car park for parking causing an obstruction, all bays were full and i parked on the end of a bay. I wasn't obstructing anybody. The ticket states i should pay £50 to Trethowans Solicitors acting for Papworth hospital NHS trust.
I challenged them to prove i was parked obstructively, which they haven't responded to except for threatening to issue county court proceedings against me to effect recovery of the charge.

What would be my best defence??

Thanks in advance for a superb forum, so glad i found it.

[buzby]

Check that there is a valid order allowing them to apply fines for vehicles parked on their (private) property. In the absence of a properly constituted order giving them the power to do this, the debt could be disputed.

[Rob S]

As a hospital is private premises, would it be right to assume you could treat the matter in the same way as parking on any private premises, without the need to ask them about an order?

[mark.adams]

I have scanned the ticket for your combined perusal, have they got it sewn up tightly....
http://www.mercifulrelease.com/ticket.gif

[Rob S]

What they have on the ticket doesn't matter one jot. It comes down to them issuing a penalty for parking on private premises. read Pete's sticky at the top of this forum and it tells you what to do and how to handle them.

[buzby]

Thanks for the scan. Talk about money with menaces! They're on a sticky wicket if they think entering a car park means you have accepted the contract. You could have been distracted or otherwise unable to comprehend the sign. If you are prepared to assert not only were you not aware of the sign but intend to challenge them on their interpretation that as a customer of the the 'Trust' you agreed to anything other than efficient health care.