Bell Street, Glasgow

[laguna]

My daughter parked her motor there today and bought a ticket from the machine which she stuck to the front windscreen and off she went only to come back not long after and find a council parking ticket on the motor.

It totally baffled her as her ticket didn’t expire until 14.04 but the car was booked about 7 minutes after she left it at 12.07.

Before she left to head home she had a look at other motors on the same row and several of them had also been booked despite having pay and display tickets on there windows.

She got home and we studied the tickets and it turns out the date on the pay and display ticket is not showing correctly so I guess this was why her motor was booked.

 

Would I be right in assuming if she appeals then it should get scrubbed as the number on the pay and display ticket will prove she did buy it when she said she did?

 

Here are both tickets for any input or advice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks

[lamma]

send a good colour photocopy in with an informal appeal. keep the original in case Glasgow council are stupid enough to let you go to adjudication. A PCN because their machine is rubbish !! unbelievable. Ask for the photo from the CEO showing the ticket (which was clearly 'on display'). and query the CEO's training. And the logs for the testing of the machine. What a joke. I wonder how many others who got done for this will just pay up ?

[laguna]

Thanks lamma for the advice.

I forgot to say she also took a couple of pictures of her motor with her phone when she found it had been booked because she didn't know why she had been given a ticket in the first place so you can see the pay and display ticket still on the windscreen.

 

If she appeals but they stick to their guns will she need to pay the full amount or is it still the reduced amount?

[lamma]

they will try to blackmail you by making it go to the full amount. But it looks like a slam dunk win for her at the tribunal to me. What do others think ?

[Michael Browne]

But it looks like a slam dunk win for her at the tribunal to me. What do others think ?

Absolutely. A motorist cannot be held responsible for a badly printed valid ticket.

[lamma]

but the council and the CEO should be held responsible for this travesty.

[Michael Browne]

It would be interesting to know how many other tickets have been issued to motorists using the same ticket machine. FOI request beckons.

[laguna]

Thanks for the help.

 

I am not a great letter writer nor have I ever needed to appeal a parking ticket so could you have a look at this and tell me if i should alter it in any way or is it fine as it is.

 

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

I would like to appeal the following parking ticket with the Notice Number: *****

 

On Saturday 7th February I parked my car in Bell Street and bought a ticket from the pay and display machine just along from where my car was parked which I stuck to my front windscreen but when I returned to my car a short time later I found a parking ticket on it.

I was totally shocked by this as my ticket didn’t expire until 14.04 but the car was booked about 7 minutes after I left it at 12.07.

Before I left to go home I took some pictures of my car in the bay which shows my pay and display ticket on the windscreen and I also had a look at other motors on the same row and several of them had also been booked despite having pay and display tickets on their windows.

When I got home I studied the tickets and it turns out the date on the pay and display ticket is not showing correctly so I guess this is why my car was booked.

I have enclosed a copy of the parking ticket and also the pay and display ticket which has a serial number and will prove I did buy a ticket and your warden’s pictures will show my ticket is clearly displayed on my windscreen. The pay and display machine is obviously faulty and therefore the ticket should be cancelled.

 

If this appeal is refused could you please supply me with the following information?

 

I would like copies of any photos the warden took of my car as it will show my pay and display ticket clearly on the windscreen and I would also like a copy of the logs for testing the said ticket machine.

 

 

Would that be OK to send?

 

Thanks again

[laguna]

I sent the appeal letter yesterday and I also went to that machine on my way home from work armed with my camcorder.

I bought a ticket and filmed it coming out the machine and guess what? Still no date showing. So much for checking these machines.

We just need to wait now and see what they say when the get the appeal letter.

It makes you wonder how many motors have been booked for this machine being faulty.

[DDWales]

An interesting one this. But not too uncommon i think. A friend of mine was in a similar situation (no date printed etc) in a Swansea car park. He appealed and won easily Your letter should be enough so hopefully the Council wont be too daft to follow it through. Best of luck

Edited February 11, 2009 by DDWales
spelling

[lamma]

why would the council fix it when leaving it like this means they can issue lots of tickets many of which will just get paid without appeal. report the machine formally to the council. hand deliver the letter and get a signed receipt. see how long it takes them to fix it.

[ecobabe]

is the format of PCN valid, where it says 'date of notice' should that not be 'date of issue'? I know thats not the point in this particular case but just wondering for self as I know of someone else who has ticket and am trying to find out if the wording complies.

[buzby]

No - the tickets issued in Glasgow since December are fully compliant. However, you may well find your letter may well be ignored - so send it, OR a follow up within 14 days if there is no response, by Recorded Delivery.

 

I have had the misfortune to be handed 2 of these tickets, each claiming is was parked in a controlled area when I wasn't. I appealed informally and had no response. I then followed it up with an updated letter, noting their lack of response, and stating as I had provided the required information in rebuttal, I considered the matter closed.

 

There was no response to that letter either, or indeed any other contract.

 

I think they simply are issuing tickets like confetti, and not pursuing or commenting on the ones they know are hookey....

[laguna]

Update,

 

They sent the letter below so my daughter took the pay and display ticket into them but the said they needed to keep the original and gave her back a photo copy of it.

She was told this was the only way it would be dealt with.

 

[patdavies]

Do not give them the original ticket - it may well get 'lost' and enforcement continue.

 

I would reply to the effect that the photocopy supplied should be more than sufficient for an informal representation and that should they wish to continue enforcement of this PCN , you require the original as evidence to produce to the Parking Adjudicator.

 

Make it very clear, that unless they cancel the PCN, you will take this matter to the adjudicator.

[buzby]

I'm already in correspondence with this person, and I agree with Pat, DO NOT provide the original for the reasons he stated. I am presently awaiting a Notice to Owner following their initial rejection which was nonsensical (effectively stating the vehicle was parked in to different places, where different rulesw applied).

 

Don't trust them - and Mr T isn't a patch on his police namesake.

[lamma]

keep hold of the original at all costs. It is your ace in the hole. Glasgow have to produce a true copy of the PCN at adjudication or they lose and last I heard they couldn't so this. I wouldn't send the photocopy either !!!

[laguna]

They already have the original. My daughter took it into them as soon as she got the letter but she did get a receipt and they gave her a photocopy.

 

Its a waiting game now to see what their next move will be.

[laguna]

We heard back from the council and they have cancelled the ticket.

 

Their letter still makes out my daughter didn't have a pay and display ticket displayed despite her having an independent witness saying it was displayed and they also make no mention of the faulty machine giving tickets with no date.

 

I am almost tempted to send them a cheeky letter back.

 

[buzby]

They never seem to want to give in with good grace - always the little kick at the end. My dispute is still ongoing, and in their letter of rejection of my informal appeal, was told 'the attendant has confirmed a parking plate nearby that shows the relevant hours of loading and unloading."

 

I videoed the scene on the day and after getting their letter. There were NO such plates, and there STILL aren't. They really make this up as they go along!

[Fright-Flight-Fight]

Is there any recourse for expenses (postage, photocopies etc) and time consumed fighting such a cut and dried case?

[buzby]

None that I am aware of. Even for those that sued for the recvery of fines unjustly charges, they only had to replay the fined amount - no interest or expenses. (This was in relation to their non-compliant tickets issued a few years ago.

[Fright-Flight-Fight]

Is it any wonder these SHARKS get away with so much ... ****in disgrace!

[laguna]

Is there any recourse for expenses (postage, photocopies etc) and time consumed fighting such a cut and dried case?

 

 

Funny enough i was going to ask them about that in the letter I am thinking about sending them.