Any parking fines experts out there?

[Skipoet]

Hi all
Unfortunately, I've just received a parking ticket :-(( Not a leg to stand on regarding the time - we were 5 mins late back to the car .

However, the ticket states the make of car as a Toyota (I was in my MX5 at the time - I still can't decide whether I'm more upset about getting the ticket or my poor 5 being branded a Toyota :-) ) My question is - does this invalidate the ticket? The registration number was stated correctly on the ticket.

Also, the ticket shows a time period of 14:44 to 14:51. I'm curious as to what this refers to? I'm presuming 14:51 is the time of issue, but our ticket actually expired at 14:46. Or is 14:44 the time the attendant first clocked our car?

My wife says (probably quite rightly) that I'm a grumpy old git and should just pay the measly �30 and forget about it - but I'm just trying to find out if either of the above are suitable grounds for getting this overturned.

Also, if I do go ahead and appeal, are the council obliged to let me pay the lower rate if the appeal process goes over the 14 days?

Thanks for your help guys and gals, interested to hear your replies.

[Ethel]

It's still valid and you will have to pay. You have no grounds for appeal - you stayed 5 minutes too long. The wrong make on the car would be deemed to be insignificant.

14.44 would have been the time when the attendant first saw the car - it was in clear sight for 7 minutes and you were not seen during that time.

And you must admit the Mazda badge is very similar to the Toyota one.

But at least you seem to be keeping your sense of humour. :)

[Toureman]

You should always appeal even though you do not stand much chance, you never know, once you appeal you will still only pay the �30 if you are turned down.

[deggers316]

i understand from an expert on this that everything has to be correct on the ticket
appeal it can do no harm

[pikzee]

Hi - I read very recently a National newspaper that all particulars of the car have to be correct for the ticket to be valid including the make. A search should bring up the ariticle. Was either Sun or Star. One of them how to beat parking ticket guides.

[Grunty]

Pikzee's answer is OK if you normally get your legal advice from The Sun or The Star. Ethel is more likely to be right.

[Skipoet]

Thanks for all the advice people.. Trawling through some of the other stuff on these pages, I must admit I'm more inclined to take Ethels, and my all too often correct, wifes' advice and just pay it. After all, we were late back to our car.
Thankfully, �30 isn't the end of the world for me, but I will be enclosing a letter with my payment requesting a written response to the points that I made.
Anybody like to open a book on whether I get a reply? :-)

Cheers!

[Mrs_Pegasus]

I did a short stint in car parking some years back. One person used to send his appeal in poem format! One of the team would reply in poem format to him but still charge him the fine! I think it made the local news in a positive light. The man always paid and seemed to pick up tickets every other week. I think a few may have been overturned!!

I disagree a Toyota and Mazda badge are similar. These are parking wardens, you would think they would take an interest in their job and actually get to know the different types of car!! LOL

[Sado]

I recently received a ticket whilst I was giving blood. The National Blood Service issue vouchers for the car park adjoining the venue, but this numpty of a warden still issued the ticket!
It was eventualy cancelled, but only after writing to ParkWise, the local council and the NBS.

[trucker 1]

if the make of car on the ticket is wrong, then it is void.
if you go to the parking shop to enquire about it, do not give them the proper details, as they could try and still make you make.
as regards to the times, parking attendants are legally obliged to give 6 minutes grace for the owner to return. check your ticket!
and if the appeal takes longer than the 14 day discount period(which will any way, because you cant appeal untill after the 30 days), and you lose, then chances are, you will have to pay the full amount.