"Parking Charge Notice" fine whilst sat in car waiting to pick up friend

[ade_mcfade]

HI everyone

 

I've got a parking notice from a ANPR camera on a private car park - they're asking for £90 (£75 if paid by the 25th).

 

They have a photo of my car entering and leaving with a gap of 43 minutes between.

 

I've read about the "ignore everything from PCNs" concept, but may have a case for appealing, so thought I'd run it past you before saying anything.

 

Here's what happened.

 

I went to pick up a model (I'm a photographer) from some flats where he lives

He wasn't ready - so I pulled up in the car park at the front

We went to the security guard's desk to ask about parking - he was not there

Because of the parking notice signs, I stopped in the car so if a parking attendant came, I could explain why I was waiting

When we finally left, 43 minutes had elapsed.

 

 

ALSO.... interestingly

 

That night there was a crane washing the windows - its clearly visible on both photos

It could probably obscure the camera's view of the car park

 

 

Anyway - what option would you suggest:-

 

1 - Pay £75 and avoid the £90

2 - Write an appeal based on the fact I was waiting for someone

3 - Write an appeal based on the fact that the camera was obscured by a crane

4 - Totally ignore everything and the resulting hassle from them

 

Cheers

[padja]

I would just ignore it but keep correspondence, if you go into and dialogue with this company they will pursue you for payment. It is an invoice and a speculative one at that. So ignore it keep the correspondence. so I pressed option 4 totally ignore

[sailor sam]

Hi and welcome to CAG

 

Option 1 NO

Option 2 waste of stamp, there is no appeal process

Option 3 see above

Option 4 YES

 

Presumably it was a free car park so as they can only really claim 'losses or damages' if they take you to court, what do you think their claim will be? They cannot recover a penalty charge by law and it wouldn't take much to convince a judge that £75 was just that.

[honeybee13]

Yep, option 4. If you contact them they will think they can browbeat you into paying.

 

My best, HB

[ade_mcfade]

Wow - thanks for the incredibly fast replies everyone.

 

Must admit, I've never had one of these (I've had ones from the council - but not private ones) so was wondering whether appealing was worth the effort.

 

I guess doing that would admit that I was driving and muddy the case somewhat.

 

So basically ignore absolutely everything that comes - but keep it on file - that's the best way to proceed?

[ade_mcfade]

oh - its from

 

"h i g h v i e w p a r k i n g"

 

if that's relevent?

 

 

Its a residents only car park with no gate or payment

[sailor sam]

oh - its from

 

"h i g h v i e w p a r k i n g"

 

if that's relevent?

 

 

Its a residents only car park with no gate or payment

 

No.

 

Do nothing until you get a stamped County Court doc drop through your letter box. But do not hold your breath on that happening. Come back here if it does.

[Conniff]

There is NO appeals process