MrNoisy

iTrader: (28)

I wanted to see if other people had experienced this sort of outrageous behaviour from parking companies.

In the past month, the wife's received two parking tickets; the first was for parking for more than 2 hours in McDonalds car park; this, despite the fact that she had eaten in the restaurant and then returned to her car for a work related call.... - this cost her about £80 in fines.

Then yesterday, she got another ticket for £60 (and this was the "earlybird discount") for being 15 minutes over her 2 hour ticket in an NCP.

Now not so long ago, these fines used to be £30 - so what the hell is going on here? Why has the government allowed these companies to rip off the public so badly. Is there no law regarding capping such fines? This seems totally illegal to me.

Anyone tried to fight one of these claims?

fatherpierre

They're not enforceable anyway.

shaggy6

iTrader: (2)

Yeah i thought that the fines only asked you to pay and in theory you dont have to pay.. their was a program on it afew months ago! but they are theiving scum!!
fight it dude!

fatherpierre

Have a look on here:

Parking / Traffic Offences - The Consumer Forums

apples24

iTrader: (1)

dont pay them but do expect some serious letters made to persuade you to pay

chrisUK300

iTrader: (10)

As far as Im aware any parking ticket from a private firm (anyone other than police or council) is just an invoice not a fine. The link fatherpierre posted has some very good advice on it.
I had a similar one to your wife, over stayed in a retail park, got numerous letters all with various threats etc, after a few months they just gave up. IMHO they know they are unenforceable and rely on intimidation to get people to cough up.
Be interesting to know whether these private parking companies have ever succeeded in court, at a guess I would say not.

warrenm2

why isnt it breach of contract? you imply consent to the contract by parking?

SunnySideUp

Even if they don't get you to pay up .... I bet you now think twice about parking?

Maybe they think that is a success?

Terminator X

iTrader: (7)

NEVER pay fines relating to private parking companies, just ignore them. They'll need to take you to court to prove the offence & never do.

Local Authorities on the other hand have the Law on their side so never ignore them albeit always challenge them.

All parking companies rely on 99% of people just paying up

TX.

john_s

iTrader: (1)

As I understand, the implied contract is considered unfair under the Unfair Contract Terms Act, so the contract is unenforceable.

Further, any contract which may (or may not) exist is with the driver. The parking thieves can only obtain the details of the registered keeper, who is under no obligation to identify who was driving at the time.

Loads of info about it on Pepipoo... well worth a read.

boomer

Yup, see PePiPoo, in particular Private Parking Companies/Charges (everything you need to know)

mb