Civil Parking Charges.

[EH6 Hibby]

Sorry, I know this has been covered before, but I think this is slightly different in that I don't think we have done anything wrong.

My friend and I have been meeting on a Friday after school for lunch and parking in the Kirkgate car park. We've been having lunch in South Leith Parish Church, and then taking our two boys to a class in the Community centre which lasts an hour so in total we are parked there for about 2 hours. My friend has now received a Civil Parking Charge of £45 but surely these only apply if you are just parking there because you can't be bothered looking for somewhere else to park not when you are actually using the facilities. :confused:

Is her best bet to write and explain to them or just to ignore it and what will happen if she ignores it? The notice she's received refers to the first week we parked there, so she's panicking that there are a further 3 or 4 still to come.

[Jack]

As soon as a driver enters such a car park they are entering an agreement with the owner of the land who have outsourced their parking arrangements to this company. They don’t care why you are there and explaining is a waste of time and paper. :bitchy:

They will/may contact the owner of the car and as the owner is unlikely to tell them who was driving :wink: , the owner is under no obligation to do so to a private company, a stale mate will arise. :greengrin

They do not know who was driving so they are unable to pursue that contract. :thumbsup:

These companies have deceiving people down to a fine art. :grr:

My advice is.

Do not enter into any correspondence with them whatsoever. Do not reply to letters or demands of any sort. They may look official local authority or even police demands – look closely everyone to ensure they are not – certainly not in this case.

Do not telephone them and if they telephone you do not confirm anything – not even your name. You should NEVER give personal details out to an unknown/unsolicited caller anyway.

They will go away. :bye:

[degenerated]

Jack's solutio is probably the most sensible but i get a deep satisfaction from returning correspondence like that with this picture attached and it generally has the same effect :greengrin

http://willpen.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/middle-finger.jpg

[EH6 Hibby]

As soon as a driver enters such a car park they are entering an agreement with the owner of the land who have outsourced their parking arrangements to this company. They don’t care why you are there and explaining is a waste of time and paper. :bitchy:

They will/may contact the owner of the car and as the owner is unlikely to tell them who was driving :wink: , the owner is under no obligation to do so to a private company, a stale mate will arise. :greengrin

They do not know who was driving so they are unable to pursue that contract. :thumbsup:

These companies have deceiving people down to a fine art. :grr:

My advice is.

Do not enter into any correspondence with them whatsoever. Do not reply to letters or demands of any sort. They may look official local authority or even police demands – look closely everyone to ensure they are not – certainly not in this case.

Do not telephone them and if they telephone you do not confirm anything – not even your name. You should NEVER give personal details out to an unknown/unsolicited caller anyway.

They will go away. :bye:

Thanks for that, I thought explaining that we had every right to be there might help but doesn't sound like it will.


Jack's solutio is probably the most sensible but i get a deep satisfaction from returning correspondence like that with this picture attached and it generally has the same effect :greengrin

http://willpen.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/middle-finger.jpg

When I first read your reply I thought you were referring to the picture in your signature, I wondered why you would send people a picture of FJK. :faf:

[Betty Boop]

Jack's solutio is probably the most sensible but i get a deep satisfaction from returning correspondence like that with this picture attached and it generally has the same effect :greengrin

http://willpen.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/middle-finger.jpg

Loving your signature picture! :greengrin

[Woody1985]

As soon as a driver enters such a car park they are entering an agreement with the owner of the land who have outsourced their parking arrangements to this company. They don’t care why you are there and explaining is a waste of time and paper. :bitchy:

They will/may contact the owner of the car and as the owner is unlikely to tell them who was driving :wink: , the owner is under no obligation to do so to a private company, a stale mate will arise. :greengrin

They do not know who was driving so they are unable to pursue that contract. :thumbsup:

These companies have deceiving people down to a fine art. :grr:

My advice is.

Do not enter into any correspondence with them whatsoever. Do not reply to letters or demands of any sort. They may look official local authority or even police demands – look closely everyone to ensure they are not – certainly not in this case.

Do not telephone them and if they telephone you do not confirm anything – not even your name. You should NEVER give personal details out to an unknown/unsolicited caller anyway.

They will go away. :bye:

A common trick that they apply is to send you a letter from a 'debt collector' after you ignore the initial correspondence. If you look closely it is likely to be the same business address / similar contact numbers. They employ this tactic to make it look as if things have been escalated when really they just use more threatening letters with no substance.

[Jack]

Ooh! What a coincidence!!

I get an regular email from Martins Money Saving Expert site, its very good for all manner of things http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

In the newsletter this week I spotted a link for Private Parking Tickets
(http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets)http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets

Overall its what I said above although it’s a bit more tactful than saying just ignore them (that’s still my advice :greengrin ).

Interestingly (well it was to me sort of!!!) there is chat about a ‘former’ lawyer who took on 2,500 Private Parking Tickets, only two made it to court, in both these cases the motorist won.

[bawheid]

You should NEVER give personal details out to an unknown/unsolicited caller anyway.

On a similar (but different) note, I received an odd call yesterday.

Me: Hello.

Caller: Hello is that Mr Bawheid?

Me: Yes it is.

Caller: This is so-and-so from the national crime prevention survey (or something like that), would you mind if I asked you a few questions?

Me: Go on.

Caller: Do you live in a flat or a house?

Me: A flat.

Caller: Do you have a home security system fitted?

Me: No.

Caller: Ok, thanks for your time.


What's all that about???? :paranoid::paranoid::paranoid:

[ArabHibee]

On a similar (but different) note, I received an odd call yesterday.

Me: Hello.

Caller: Hello is that Mr Bawheid?

Me: Yes it is.

Caller: This is so-and-so from the national crime prevention survey (or something like that), would you mind if I asked you a few questions?

Me: Go on.

Caller: Do you live in a flat or a house?

Me: A flat.

Caller: Do you have a home security system fitted?

Me: No.

Caller: Ok, thanks for your time.


What's all that about???? :paranoid::paranoid::paranoid:

You now need to become a recluse and never leave your house. Either that or you're getting burgled.

[down-the-slope]

Sorry, I know this has been covered before, but I think this is slightly different in that I don't think we have done anything wrong.

My friend and I have been meeting on a Friday after school for lunch and parking in the Kirkgate car park. We've been having lunch in South Leith Parish Church, and then taking our two boys to a class in the Community centre which lasts an hour so in total we are parked there for about 2 hours. My friend has now received a Civil Parking Charge of £45 but surely these only apply if you are just parking there because you can't be bothered looking for somewhere else to park not when you are actually using the facilities. :confused:

Is her best bet to write and explain to them or just to ignore it and what will happen if she ignores it? The notice she's received refers to the first week we parked there, so she's panicking that there are a further 3 or 4 still to come.

My wife got one 3 weeks ago in Lidl in Dalkeith(Kirkgate is Lidl controlled as well)...over 1.5 hours...but this was in the evening :confused: they are using VNPR technology to enforce which is really sneaky

[down-the-slope]

As soon as a driver enters such a car park they are entering an agreement with the owner of the land who have outsourced their parking arrangements to this company. They don’t care why you are there and explaining is a waste of time and paper. :bitchy:

They will/may contact the owner of the car and as the owner is unlikely to tell them who was driving :wink: , the owner is under no obligation to do so to a private company, a stale mate will arise. :greengrin

They do not know who was driving so they are unable to pursue that contract. :thumbsup:

These companies have deceiving people down to a fine art. :grr:

My advice is.

Do not enter into any correspondence with them whatsoever. Do not reply to letters or demands of any sort. They may look official local authority or even police demands – look closely everyone to ensure they are not – certainly not in this case.

Do not telephone them and if they telephone you do not confirm anything – not even your name. You should NEVER give personal details out to an unknown/unsolicited caller anyway.

They will go away. :bye:

I can assure you they won't go away..they have access to DVLA records and owner is responsible as its not a driving offence....so owner will be pursued regardless of who was driving. Fine will be doubled to £90 if not paid within 2 weeks

[down-the-slope]

Ooh! What a coincidence!!

I get an regular email from Martins Money Saving Expert site, its very good for all manner of things http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/

In the newsletter this week I spotted a link for Private Parking Tickets
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets

Overall its what I said above although it’s a bit more tactful than saying just ignore them (that’s still my advice :greengrin ).

Interestingly (well it was to me sort of!!!) there is chat about a ‘former’ lawyer who took on 2,500 Private Parking Tickets, only two made it to court, in both these cases the motorist won.

Thats misleading as he deliberately parked in council controlled areas where they were failing to singpost lawfully just so he could get ticketed and then goto court to make the point...so not relevent to his

[Jack]

I can assure you they won't go away..they have access to DVLA records and owner is responsible as its not a driving offence....so owner will be pursued regardless of who was driving. Fine will be doubled to £90 if not paid within 2 weeks

Sorry, I disagree with that.

Yes they do have access to the DVLA records but only in cases where the parking is controlled by the local authority or police is the owner liable.

In cases like this on private land the driver is responsible as it is the driver who has entered into the contract by parking wherever. As I said earlier if they don’t know who the driver is they are unable to establish who the contract is with and the owner of the vehicle is not required by any law to tell them who was driving.

[Woody1985]

Sorry, I disagree with that.

Yes they do have access to the DVLA records but only in cases where the parking is controlled by the local authority or police is the owner liable.

In cases like this on private land the driver is responsible as it is the driver who has entered into the contract by parking wherever. As I said earlier if they don’t know who the driver is they are unable to establish who the contract is with and the owner of the vehicle is not required by any law to tell them who was driving.

That part is incorrect, the private companies can and do obtain access from the DVLA as the government/local authority recognise the need to try and control parking in the city centre without affecting residents.

I parked in the car park at the pleasance behind the buildings next to the lesiure centre and the wrote to my home address. I agree with the rest of your point though, don't pay them.

I would just write to them saying that there are 4/5 people insured to drive your car but you do not know who was driving then they can't do nout.

[EH6 Hibby]

My wife got one 3 weeks ago in Lidl in Dalkeith(Kirkgate is Lidl controlled as well)...over 1.5 hours...but this was in the evening :confused: they are using VNPR technology to enforce which is really sneaky

Surely Lidl don't control the whole car park for the Kirkgate, we were in the church hall and were parked just outside there and then we went to the community centre, I just don't see how we have done anything wrong, she's now had a second letter for the following week and there could be another 2 still to come. :paranoid:

[Aaron]

Surely Lidl don't control the whole car park for the Kirkgate, we were in the church hall and were parked just outside there and then we went to the community centre, I just don't see how we have done anything wrong, she's now had a second letter for the following week and there could be another 2 still to come. :paranoid:

Lidl do. They purchased the land when they opened their new store. There is a sign when you enter the carpark telling you how long you can park before being fined.

[Hibs07p]

Try these links.
I received these letters after parking at LIDl's in Dalkeith. After entering into correspondance with them i realised it was a waste of time trying to reason with them. I received a letter saying they would send a field agent to my address to discus this with me. I told them their field agent would get hit about the head with a big stick, and have heard nothing for the last 2 years. The company I was dealing with were from Boreham Wood.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=97582

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/parking-traffic-offences/125304-company-car-pcn-lidl.html

[northstandhibby]

Sorry, I know this has been covered before, but I think this is slightly different in that I don't think we have done anything wrong.

My friend and I have been meeting on a Friday after school for lunch and parking in the Kirkgate car park. We've been having lunch in South Leith Parish Church, and then taking our two boys to a class in the Community centre which lasts an hour so in total we are parked there for about 2 hours. My friend has now received a Civil Parking Charge of £45 but surely these only apply if you are just parking there because you can't be bothered looking for somewhere else to park not when you are actually using the facilities. :confused:

Is her best bet to write and explain to them or just to ignore it and what will happen if she ignores it? The notice she's received refers to the first week we parked there, so she's panicking that there are a further 3 or 4 still to come.

My friend who has a disabled blue badge has just received the Lidl kirkgate fine letter for overstaying by half an hour. First time they parked there and did not see the sign stating one and a half hour only.

Could you let me know what happened to others in this situation please?

They are a bit distressed by it.


GGTTH

[overdrive]

My friend who has a disabled blue badge has just received the Lidl kirkgate fine letter for overstaying by half an hour. First time they parked there and did not see the sign stating one and a half hour only.

Could you let me know what happened to others in this situation please?

They are a bit distressed by it.


GGTTH

I got one earlier in the year. In fact I didn't get the original one at all but got a reminder (which was the first I had heard of it) then a final demand then a further demand. Ignored them all and not had anything from them in about 3 months.

[SunshineOnLeith]

Ignore them and do not enter into any correspondence, even just to tell them to jog on.

If they send anything which is in any way threatening, or appears to be from/on the authority of an official body (e.g. the police, council etc), tell the police.

[lord bunberry]

I've had loads of letters for parking in that car park. My daughter goes to the dancing school in the community centre in the kirkgate and it goes on for over 3 hours. What am I meant to do? I just put the letters in the big green filling cabinet that sits outside my front door.:greengrin

[Frogga]

Hi guys,

Is Lidl still doing this?

I left my car in that car park tonight (to watch the Hibs game). It wasn't till I came back that I noticed all the signs and special cameras.

I thought it'd be ok since it was evening!

[High-On-Hibs]

Hi guys,

Is Lidl still doing this?

I left my car in that car park tonight (to watch the Hibs game). It wasn't till I came back that I noticed all the signs and special cameras.

I thought it'd be ok since it was evening!

All civil parking fines can be ignored. It's a load of bollocks.

[cabbageandribs1875]

unless it's council-owned land thus a traffic warden slapped it on your windscreen, or the polis put it on..then ignore, and also ignore all future letters, even the ones where they want to be kind to you and as a special offer they want to reduce the fine to a £1 :greengrinignore all





yikes, just realised the OP was from over 7 YEARS ago :eek: no matter, the advice is still the same...ignore, and, as i have a cousin who is a church elder in South Leith Parish Church(and a few other family members there) can i thank you(on her/their behalf) for your custom :cb

[Danderhall Hibs]

Apparently the important thing (in Scotland anyway) is that you do not tell them who was driving the car.

I got one earlier in the year and ignored them but my wife was getting on at me about it so I complained to Tesco (not the fine issuer) and said i was disappointed to receive it as a loyal customer and I assume their CCTV wasn't working properly as the car had entered the car park twice that day but they'd only captured the 1st entrance and the 2nd exit. They waived it.

[overdrive]

What’s the latest thinking on this? I see someone in Dundee was made to pay her unpaid charges to a private parking firm (though it was £24.5k). Was it just because this was such a large amount which made it worth their time going to court?

My wife had a colleague over the other night. We have private parking which is managed by a private firm. The lady asked if she needed our visitors permit and my wife couldn’t be bothered getting the permit out and said that it should be OK. To be fair, in the 5 years we’ve been here we’ve never seen anyone check the cars and only ever seen one fine on a car despite seeing lots of cars with no permits on them.

When she went back to her car there was a fine on it. My wife obviously feels partly responsible about it and her colleague is worried.

Is the advice still to ignore it?

[Speedy]

What’s the latest thinking on this? I see someone in Dundee was made to pay her unpaid charges to a private parking firm (though it was £24.5k). Was it just because this was such a large amount which made it worth their time going to court?

My wife had a colleague over the other night. We have private parking which is managed by a private firm. The lady asked if she needed our visitors permit and my wife couldn’t be bothered getting the permit out and said that it should be OK. To be fair, in the 5 years we’ve been here we’ve never seen anyone check the cars and only ever seen one fine on a car despite seeing lots of cars with no permits on them.

When she went back to her car there was a fine on it. My wife obviously feels partly responsible about it and her colleague is worried.

Is the advice still to ignore it?

If that was me I'd pay it for the colleague.

[Moulin Yarns]

What’s the latest thinking on this? I see someone in Dundee was made to pay her unpaid charges to a private parking firm (though it was £24.5k). Was it just because this was such a large amount which made it worth their time going to court?

My wife had a colleague over the other night. We have private parking which is managed by a private firm. The lady asked if she needed our visitors permit and my wife couldn’t be bothered getting the permit out and said that it should be OK. To be fair, in the 5 years we’ve been here we’ve never seen anyone check the cars and only ever seen one fine on a car despite seeing lots of cars with no permits on them.

When she went back to her car there was a fine on it. My wife obviously feels partly responsible about it and her colleague is worried.

Is the advice still to ignore it?

Ignore all correspondance. Never admit who was driving the car at the time and you will be fine (excuse the pun) Your wive's colleague will get progressively stronger letters, but she needs to be strong and put them in a drawer until it all blows over. The woman in Dundee was taking the piss by parking without a permit for a long time.

[snooky]

A friend of mine parked in the B&Q carpark at Hermiston Gait from 7pm to midnight a few years ago. She receive a 'fine' letter. She wrote to them enclosing a receipt for a purchase she'd made during that time at the store and complained that it was a poor way to treat a regular customer. They waived the 'fine' iirc.

[Danderhall Hibs]

Ignore all correspondance. Never admit who was driving the car at the time and you will be fine (excuse the pun) Your wive's colleague will get progressively stronger letters, but she needs to be strong and put them in a drawer until it all blows over. The woman in Dundee was taking the piss by parking without a permit for a long time.

You can do that and I believe it works, however to save the wifie any stress could you not phone the company and say it was your visitor and explain about the visitor permit?

[Moulin Yarns]

You can do that and I believe it works, however to save the wifie any stress could you not phone the company and say it was your visitor and explain about the visitor permit?

If the 'offence' was not displaying a valid permit then the driver is guilty in the eyes of them. No amount of we just forgot will wash.

[sleeping giant]

If that was me I'd pay it for the colleague.

As would I .

If you invite someone to your house and tell them to park somewhere and can't be arsed to get the permit for them, you are completely responsible and the correct thing to do would be to pay it for them.

Do the right thing Overdrive :greengrin

[Speedy]

As would I .

If you invite someone to your house and tell them to park somewhere and can't be arsed to get the permit for them, you are completely responsible and the correct thing to do would be to pay it for them.

Do the right thing Overdrive :greengrin

Worth giving them a phone as DH suggests but failing that, pay up.

[Hibs Class]

What’s the latest thinking on this? I see someone in Dundee was made to pay her unpaid charges to a private parking firm (though it was £24.5k). Was it just because this was such a large amount which made it worth their time going to court?

My wife had a colleague over the other night. We have private parking which is managed by a private firm. The lady asked if she needed our visitors permit and my wife couldn’t be bothered getting the permit out and said that it should be OK. To be fair, in the 5 years we’ve been here we’ve never seen anyone check the cars and only ever seen one fine on a car despite seeing lots of cars with no permits on them.

When she went back to her car there was a fine on it. My wife obviously feels partly responsible about it and her colleague is worried.

Is the advice still to ignore it?

The Dundee woman was subsequently bankrupted. Details in linked article below, but maybe more relevant was the Sheriff's finding that the charges were enforceable.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-41608064

[Hibbyradge]

What am I missing? There have been a few threads about how to avoid fines etc, but I don't understand the issue.

If there are signs up saying "No parking", why do folk insist of ignoring them?

Presumably there are good reasons for controlling the parking in the given area, so why don't people accept that and go elsewhere?

I know the case of the visitor being told it wasn't necessary to use the visitor pass is different, and in that case I'd appeal, but prepare to pay the fine for her.

[Jack]

The Dundee woman was subsequently bankrupted. Details in linked article below, but maybe more relevant was the Sheriff's finding that the charges were enforceable.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-41608064

I don't think there's been much debate about them being enforceable. The debate is about how they can enforce them.

The charge is due to be paid by the driver of the vehicle. The company seeking the invoice to be paid can only find out who the owner is. The owner is under no obligation to tell the company who the driver was at the time. Impasse.

In cases like the Dundee case the same car was being parked all the time in the same place and the company was then able to identify the woman and prove she was the driver.

In cases like this there will come a time when it's worth the effort and expense to the company to chase up these cases.

[lord bunberry]

What am I missing? There have been a few threads about how to avoid fines etc, but I don't understand the issue.

If there are signs up saying "No parking", why do folk insist of ignoring them?

Presumably there are good reasons for controlling the parking in the given area, so why don't people accept that and go elsewhere?

I know the case of the visitor being told it wasn't necessary to use the visitor pass is different, and in that case I'd appeal, but prepare to pay the fine for her.
You could apply that logic to many other things as well. Speeding for example. People are aware you can park in these places and not have to pay the fine. It’s not always completely obvious that you’re not allowed to park in these car parks.
My daughter goes to a dance school on a Saturday morning in leith community centre. I took her one week and parked in the car park at the kirkgate. A few weeks later I received a fine as apparently that car park is only for Lidl customers. The car park has been there for years, long before Lidl opened.

[Bristolhibby]

You could apply that logic to many other things as well. Speeding for example. People are aware you can park in these places and not have to pay the fine. It’s not always completely obvious that you’re not allowed to park in these car parks.
My daughter goes to a dance school on a Saturday morning in leith community centre. I took her one week and parked in the car park at the kirkgate. A few weeks later I received a fine as apparently that car park is only for Lidl customers. The car park has been there for years, long before Lidl opened.

Difference there is if the cops catch you with a camera it’s a criminal offence not to tell them who was driving.

The cases we are talking about is technically contract law, and therefor a civil issue.

J

[lord bunberry]

Difference there is if the cops catch you with a camera it’s a criminal offence not to tell them who was driving.

The cases we are talking about is technically contract law, and therefor a civil issue.

J

I know but my point was more around the fact that it isn’t a criminal offence to park in one of these car parks. If there was a legal way of getting out of paying speeding fines, I’d be prepared to bet that most people would take it.

[Jack]

I know but my point was more around the fact that it isn’t a criminal offence to park in one of these car parks. If there was a legal way of getting out of paying speeding fines, I’d be prepared to bet that most people would take it.

It's civil law not criminal law.

[Hibbyradge]

It's civil law not criminal law.

Speeding is definitely a criminal offence.

[Jack]

Speeding is definitely a criminal offence.

Sorry I misread, I thought we were still on about parking.

[Moulin Yarns]

Ha ha. I got a second one. Same place, parked on the public road. Different parking company though.

Ok, so 2 weeks running I got tickets in the same pace, while parked on the public road. long story short, I emailed them, and the BPA, and eventually the property factor, and have had the tickets cancelled. Helps that I knew the road was adopted and maintained by the Council.

[ACLeith]

You could apply that logic to many other things as well. Speeding for example. People are aware you can park in these places and not have to pay the fine. It’s not always completely obvious that you’re not allowed to park in these car parks.
My daughter goes to a dance school on a Saturday morning in leith community centre. I took her one week and parked in the car park at the kirkgate. A few weeks later I received a fine as apparently that car park is only for Lidl customers. The car park has been there for years, long before Lidl opened.

I don't think it's a LIDL car park, any fines I have heard of are for exceeding the 90 minutes. There are only cameras on the car park entrance and exit so as the entrance to LIDL is out of sight of the car park they can't check on you. I have parked there literally hundreds of times and have only used LIDL on a tiny number of occasions.

[lord bunberry]

I don't think it's a LIDL car park, any fines I have heard of are for exceeding the 90 minutes. There are only cameras on the car park entrance and exit so as the entrance to LIDL is out of sight of the car park they can't check on you. I have parked there literally hundreds of times and have only used LIDL on a tiny number of occasions.
I got a fine from there and it clearly stated it was for Lidl customers.

[overdrive]

As would I .

If you invite someone to your house and tell them to park somewhere and can't be arsed to get the permit for them, you are completely responsible and the correct thing to do would be to pay it for them.

Do the right thing Overdrive :greengrin

I'm all for that as well - it was what I suggested when she told me. My wife is being rather stubborn about it (as usual) which I can't understand, especially since although she considers the woman a good friend, she is technically my wife's boss, so it could cause issues.

[ACLeith]

I got a fine from there and it clearly stated it was for Lidl customers.
Interesting. I am parked there right now beside one of the notices and it only mentions the 90 minute time period, nit LIDL. Not doubting you fir a moment LB but you maybe would have had grounds for challenging it from what you say.

[overdrive]

Interesting. I am parked there right now beside one of the notices and it only mentions the 90 minute time period, nit LIDL. Not doubting you fir a moment LB but you maybe would have had grounds for challenging it from what you say.

Yep, the notices don't say anything about Lidl but as LB says, the letter you get clearly says it is for Lidl customers only. I got one over a year ago for going over the time limit - I was shopping in Lidl but then had an opticians appointment in the Kirkgate which went on longer than expected. I'm not sure how they can prove you weren't shopping in Lidl as well though.

[Coco Bryce]

Without trawling through this whole thread can someone tell me if it's still OK to park in the Tesco car park at the bottom of ER. Never usually take my car to the games but gonna have to take it tonight? I noticed they have signs up stating 3 hours max. How strict are they with this??

Thanks in advance :wink:

[brianmc]

Without trawling through this whole thread can someone tell me if it's still OK to park in the Tesco car park at the bottom of ER. Never usually take my car to the games but gonna have to take it tonight? I noticed they have signs up stating 3 hours max. How strict are they with this??

Thanks in advance :wink:

That's where I always park. Never had an issue.

[Coco Bryce]

That's where I always park. Never had an issue.

Thanks for the quick reply Brian. Have you ever stayed over the 3 hours?

[Chuck Rhoades]

Bump on this one.

My wife received a parking charge notice for parking in Aldi car park for over its time limit. She wasn’t in Aldi.

I remember previous posts and other threads stating these hold no jurisdiction in Scottish law - is that still correct? Previously I’ve ignored these (had 2 since 2010). They’d rear their heads occasionally, get worded more strongly and eventually come to nothing.

Can I do the same here and bin?

Something is coming to mind that the goalposts moved and they do now need paid.

[McSwanky]

Bump on this one.

My wife received a parking charge notice for parking in Aldi car park for over its time limit. She wasn’t in Aldi.

I remember previous posts and other threads stating these hold no jurisdiction in Scottish law - is that still correct? Previously I’ve ignored these (had 2 since 2010). They’d rear their heads occasionally, get worded more strongly and eventually come to nothing.

Can I do the same here and bin?

Something is coming to mind that the goalposts moved and they do now need paid.Have a look at https://www.reddit.com/r/glasgow/comments/phwspy/are_parking_tickets_from_horizon_parking_legit/

There's a piece of text in there you can copy and paste and send to the parking company.

I got a letter recently for parking in a Tesco car park for too long, sent the company (Horizon) the spiel and the ticket was cancelled tout suite.

I think the Tories (Murdo Fraser) are trying to change the law so the keeper is liable, but for now in Scotland there's no keeper liability. They could theoretically take you to court to find out who was driving, but they'll not bother for £40 or however much they want off you.

I'm not comfortable ignoring the things, so the standard reply is my preference. Others may disagree.

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

[Moulin Yarns]

Bump on this one.

My wife received a parking charge notice for parking in Aldi car park for over its time limit. She wasn’t in Aldi.

I remember previous posts and other threads stating these hold no jurisdiction in Scottish law - is that still correct? Previously I’ve ignored these (had 2 since 2010). They’d rear their heads occasionally, get worded more strongly and eventually come to nothing.

Can I do the same here and bin?

Something is coming to mind that the goalposts moved and they do now need paid.

A good place to start

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/

[McSwanky]

A good place to start

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/private-parking-tickets/Be a wee bit careful with that as most of it refers to England and Wales.

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

[Moulin Yarns]

Be a wee bit careful with that as most of it refers to England and Wales.

Sent from my YAL-L21 using Tapatalk

There is a Scottish part somewhere but I was in a hurry.

[Moulin Yarns]

https://www.lawscot.org.uk/members/journal/issues/vol-68-issue-03/parking-about-this-ticket/

Go past the Dundee case to the section 'Some Answers'

[Just Alf]

As for as I'm aware the legislation here in Scotland hasn't changed. As far as 'Parking Tickets' are concerned.

There is a caveat that if the property owner can provide evidence the car park was full and therefore legitimate use was being prevented then you can get done for that, not sure the exact law though.


Edit: MY's post above is much clearer!

[Paul1642]

As long as it’s private and not from the local authority don’t even respond. Responding, even to dispute the fine, is an admission that you were the driver at the material time.

They can’t get a penny out of you without taking you to court which won’t happen. I got one from Moxy hotel at the airport a few years for sitting in an access road prior to their car park (along with a dozen other cars doing the same thing) whilst waiting for someone to get through the airport to pick them up.

I just ignored their letters, about ten in total making various threats of debt collection. What the scaremongering letters failed to mention is that they can’t take a penny from you without taking you to court.

The letters eventually stopped and I haven’t heard from them in over a year.

[Just Alf]

As long as it’s private and not from the local authority don’t even respond. Responding, even to dispute the fine, is an admission that you were the driver at the material time.

They can’t get a penny out of you without taking you to court which won’t happen. I got one from Moxy hotel at the airport a few years for sitting in an access road prior to their car park (along with a dozen other cars doing the same thing) whilst waiting for someone to get through the airport to pick them up.

I just ignored their letters, about ten in total making various threats of debt collection. What the scaremongering letters failed to mention is that they can’t take a penny from you without taking you to court.

The letters eventually stopped and I haven’t heard from them in over a year.To be fair, you weren't stopping the access road being used (I'm assuming!) So the case would fail the test of "depriving the owner the use of their property"

[hibee]

My son got one for using a hotel car park at the airport for a few minutes, it was his mistake as he went into the wrong hotel in error.

I advised him just to pay the £30, to me it wouldn’t be worth the hassle of all these letters just to save £30 especially if you know you used the car park and didn’t even use the business that owns the car park .

[Paul1642]

My son got one for using a hotel car park at the airport for a few minutes, it was his mistake as he went into the wrong hotel in error.

I advised him just to pay the £30, to me it wouldn’t be worth the hassle of all these letters just to save £30 especially if you know you used the car park and didn’t even use the business that owns the car park .

Screw that. Paying a multi millionaire company your money because you accidentally drove into their mostly empty car park for a few minute. I’ll save my money and shred a few letters.

[speedy_gonzales]

As long as it’s private and not from the local authority don’t even respond. Responding, even to dispute the fine, is an admission that you were the driver at the material time.

They can’t get a penny out of you without taking you to court which won’t happen. I got one from Moxy hotel at the airport a few years for sitting in an access road prior to their car park (along with a dozen other cars doing the same thing) whilst waiting for someone to get through the airport to pick them up.

I just ignored their letters, about ten in total making various threats of debt collection. What the scaremongering letters failed to mention is that they can’t take a penny from you without taking you to court.

The letters eventually stopped and I haven’t heard from them in over a year.

Whilst the general advice is to ignore all correspondence, I do have an issue when folk tell others that "they can't be taken to court, there's nothing they can do" kinda chat.
Whilst generally they won't, if the nuisance parking is enough of an issue, a landowner/parking co can make a civil claim against the driver. Currently the pursuers can only find out the registered owner (I personally have an issue with 3rd party companies being able to pay for this info) but if they have the appetite and identify the driver then they can, within their rights claim for losses.
Personally, if someone innocently receives an invoice, then I think the best approach is to address it with the tennant of the land. Corstorphine Tesco has a great reputation for cancelling tickets that are handed out (legitimately out otherwise). If they're ignored, and the driver has broken the posted parking restrictions, there is a slim chance they can be pursued. Not zero.

P.S that Moxy access catches loads of folk out, maybe even myself 🙄

[Paul1642]

Whilst the general advice is to ignore all correspondence, I do have an issue when folk tell others that "they can't be taken to court, there's nothing they can do" kinda chat.
Whilst generally they won't, if the nuisance parking is enough of an issue, a landowner/parking co can make a civil claim against the driver. Currently the pursuers can only find out the registered owner (I personally have an issue with 3rd party companies being able to pay for this info) but if they have the appetite and identify the driver then they can, within their rights claim for losses.
Personally, if someone innocently receives an invoice, then I think the best approach is to address it with the tennant of the land. Corstorphine Tesco has a great reputation for cancelling tickets that are handed out (legitimately out otherwise). If they're ignored, and the driver has broken the posted parking restrictions, there is a slim chance they can be pursued. Not zero.

P.S that Moxy access catches loads of folk out, maybe even myself 🙄

I probably should have worded it better. It is a possibility however an extremely small one. The point about contacting the landowner is an interesting one however if doing so i would be very vague in term of wording and ensure that you give no indication as to who was using the vehicle at the time.

[Moulin Yarns]

I probably should have worded it better. It is a possibility however an extremely small one. The point about contacting the landowner is an interesting one however if doing so i would be very vague in term of wording and ensure that you give no indication as to who was using the vehicle at the time.

As you say, these companies can only pursue the registered owners of a car, always useful to have another driver on the insurance so you can say that you don't know who was driving if it ever goes to court.

Also, these companies are all English and refer to crown court, not the sheriff court.

[McD]

As you say, these companies can only pursue the registered owners of a car, always useful to have another driver on the insurance so you can say that you don't know who was driving if it ever goes to court.

Also, these companies are all English and refer to crown court, not the sheriff court.



In an instance I’m aware of, the letters also aren’t registered delivery, so the company can’t even know if the owner has received the letters

[superfurryhibby]

I've had a few over the years, including two relating to parking on the road leading to the Moxy. Never answered any, never been pursued.

[Moulin Yarns]

I've had a few over the years, including two relating to parking on the road leading to the Moxy. Never answered any, never been pursued.

A heads up on the road parking, is it a private road or do the council own it? Check the register of public roads on the council website.

[AltheHibby]

DO NOT contact them for a Parking Charge Notice in Scotland. Go to the MSE forums for advice, which is usually, "completely ignore them." And that includes the red writing and toothless court threats.

[AltheHibby]

In an instance I’m aware of, the letters also aren’t registered delivery, so the company can’t even know if the owner has received the letters

Receipt can, I believe, be assumed. However, in Scotland I'm sure that you can completely ignore these ****panies.

[McD]

Receipt can, I believe, be assumed. However, in Scotland I'm sure that you can completely ignore these ****panies.



I didn’t realise that, thanks :aok:

[Just Alf]

I didn’t realise that, thanks :aok:Read all of the info on the link in MY's post above.

While you can't get 'done' for a simple parking ticket in Scotland (currently, although the Lib Dems are trying to get the Scottish Parliament to pass legislation for it).
You CAN get done for restricting the use by the property owner/authorised user.

Case in Dundee ended up with lassie technically bankrupt.

[Moulin Yarns]

Read all of the info on the link in MY's post above.

While you can't get 'done' for a simple parking ticket in Scotland (currently, although the Lib Dems are trying to get the Scottish Parliament to pass legislation for it).
You CAN get done for restricting the use by the property owner/authorised user.

Case in Dundee ended up with lassie technically bankrupt.

The case in Dundee, she was stupid. She had the opportunity to get a permit but didn't bother.

She believed the hype that she was immune because she was in Scotland but by repeat offending she made it worth their while to pursue her in court. A one off parking charge is very different. I've successfully fought a few.

[AltheHibby]

The case in Dundee, she was stupid. She had the opportunity to get a permit but didn't bother.

She believed the hype that she was immune because she was in Scotland but by repeat offending she made it worth their while to pursue her in court. A one off parking charge is very different. I've successfully fought a few.

Her big mistake was to identify the driver. In England and Wales they can go for the registered keeper. In Scotland, they have to know who the driver is. If you don't contact them then they don't know who the driver is and they are stuffed.

[Moulin Yarns]

Her big mistake was to identify the driver. In England and Wales they can go for the registered keeper. In Scotland, they have to know who the driver is. If you don't contact them then they don't know who the driver is and they are stuffed.

I've contacted them without disclosing the drivers name. Also having more than one person on the insurance helps.

[AltheHibby]

I've contacted them without disclosing the drivers name. Also having more than one person on the insurance helps.

The only reason I suggest no contact is that, unlike you, people might disclose the driver.

[Allant1981]

I just got one again yesterday, they have been sending me letters since 2019 now, I parked in a doctors surgery on Saturday when it was closed so wasn't taking any patients spaces etc, was in about 5 mins and they are trying to get me to pay £170, letter went straight in the bin

[overdrive]

My wife has been getting letters for a PCN for parking in a hotel car park, that we stayed at, in the space they told us to park in and where we validated the registration. She has ignored the letters as per the general wisdom. It has recently escalated to the stupid fake solicitor (i.e. debt recovery company) letters. Again, ignored.

However. they've just texted her a copy of the last letter. How have they got her phone number? I've looked it up and it is only the name and address of the registered keeper that DVLA give out. A bit concerning that it seems they've somehow stitched data together from separate sources.

She's wanting to pay it. I'm not convinced. It is a pay in 14 days or we'll pass it on to a real solicitor type letter.

[lapsedhibee]

My wife has been getting letters for a PCN for parking in a hotel car park, that we stayed at, in the space they told us to park in and where we validated the registration. She has ignored the letters as per the general wisdom. It has recently escalated to the stupid fake solicitor (i.e. debt recovery company) letters. Again, ignored.

However. they've just texted her a copy of the last letter. How have they got her phone number? I've looked it up and it is only the name and address of the registered keeper that DVLA give out. A bit concerning that it seems they've somehow stitched data together from separate sources.

She's wanting to pay it. I'm not convinced. It is a pay in 14 days or we'll pass it on to a real solicitor type letter.

Did you give it to them when you booked the hotel room? :dunno:

[Berwickhibby]

as you say, these companies can only pursue the registered owners of a car, always useful to have another driver on the insurance so you can say that you don't know who was driving if it ever goes to court.

Also, these companies are all english and refer to county court, not the sheriff court.

ftfy

[overdrive]

Did you give it to them when you booked the hotel room? :dunno:

I booked the hotel. Even if we did, that would show that we registered the vehicle with the hotel!

[Just Alf]

I booked the hotel. Even if we did, that would show that we registered the vehicle with the hotel!What's the hotel saying? Surely they just contact their parking provider and tell them to cancel?

[Gettin' Auld]

I booked the hotel. Even if we did, that would show that we registered the vehicle with the hotel!
I'd imagine it would also breach the Data Protection Act

[AltheHibby]

If you're in Scotland, they're stuffed. Your best help is the link below. If a poster called Coupon Mad gets involved, do exactly what you are told. She knows exactly what she's doing.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/categories/parking-tickets-fines-parking

[Aldo]

My wife has been getting letters for a PCN for parking in a hotel car park, that we stayed at, in the space they told us to park in and where we validated the registration. She has ignored the letters as per the general wisdom. It has recently escalated to the stupid fake solicitor (i.e. debt recovery company) letters. Again, ignored.

However. they've just texted her a copy of the last letter. How have they got her phone number? I've looked it up and it is only the name and address of the registered keeper that DVLA give out. A bit concerning that it seems they've somehow stitched data together from separate sources.

She's wanting to pay it. I'm not convinced. It is a pay in 14 days or we'll pass it on to a real solicitor type letter.

I wouldn’t pay and wouldn’t make any contact with them at all as you are already doing. Ultimately you have no received anything from them and they have no way of knowing if these letters have been delivered etc.

They send letters with bold red capitals about debt collection and solicitors however in Scotland only Sheriff Officers/Baliffs (court appointed officers) can attend homes and collect.

It’s becoming more and more common for companies to own car parks at hotels and manage them incorrectly then use aggressive /threatening type letters in an attempt to get money from people who have used the parking correctly.

Reassure your wife that no one is coming to the door, delete the text, chuck out the letters and wait for the next one which will have even bigger font and repeat the process.

This happened to me many years ago and I’m still awaiting their solicitors to get in touch!

[J-C]

If you get in touch, you're accepting responsibility for the car and its parking.

[blackpoolhibs]

Not a civil parking charge, but i got a parking ticket in Blackpool last Sunday. I parked up and put £1.50 in the machine at the side of the road, it made a noise as if it was dispensing my ticket, but nothing came out.

I looked in the bit where the tickets come out, and someone had put a piece of paper saying machine not working, not giving tickets.

I then went to the cafe for my breakfast, came back about 45 minutes later and a ticket was on the car.

I did take a photograph of when i had arrived at the machine with the time displayed, but obviously no ticket.

I appealed the ticket, explained the machine was not working and asked them to go check the machine.

I've not heard anything back yet, it was only Sunday gone, but was there anything else i should have done, and will i just have to bite the bullit if they insist on me paying?

I hate paying these bloody tickets. :greengrin

[Edina Street]

I am not saying that any advice given on this thread is wrong. However be careful when taking advice because there is now a spate of people that thought that Private Car Parking Companies have no power, and became notorious offenders just to prove a point.

However landmark court rulings have left chronic offenders that listened to the advice of anonymous internet Forum users in financial disaster.

Below is one example.




A MOTORIST has been hit with more than £24,000 in parking fines after ignoring hundreds of tickets from private firms for parking outside her parent's home. Carly Mackie, 28, ripped up more than 200 of the almost-daily parking charge notices on her windscreen thinking they were unenforceable in Scotland.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/787487/Driver-fined-thousands-parking-outside-parent-home-private-company-Scotland

Anyone that is going to take their chances and follow the advice of people on internet forums should maybe hire those people as their legal lawyers in court, as they may be able to provide a better argument than what Carly Mackie's lawyer did.

But why bother taking your chances? Just don't park in Private Car Parking spaces at-all, and that will see us back to the good old days of Public Parking as no-one will be interested any more in investing in Private Parking.

[Moulin Yarns]

I am not saying that any advice given on this thread is wrong. However be careful when taking advice because there is now a spate of people that thought that Private Car Parking Companies have no power, and became notorious offenders just to prove a point.

However landmark court rulings have left chronic offenders that listened to the advice of anonymous internet Forum users in financial disaster.

Below is one example.




https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/787487/Driver-fined-thousands-parking-outside-parent-home-private-company-Scotland

Anyone that is going to take their chances and follow the advice of people on internet forums should maybe hire those people as their legal lawyers in court, as they may be able to provide a better argument than what Carly Mackie's lawyer did.

But why bother taking your chances? Just don't park in Private Car Parking spaces at-all, and that will see us back to the good old days of Public Parking as no-one will be interested any more in investing in Private Parking.

You do realise that the link is 7 years old. As someone who has successfully fought illegal parking charge notices from these cowboys I will continue to park legally.

[Edina Street]

You do realise that the link is 7 years old. As someone who has successfully fought illegal parking charge notices from these cowboys I will continue to park legally.

Has anything changed in the last seven years?

And unless you are willing to divulge what argument you used to fight them it is pointless simply claiming that you have successfully fought parking charges as you have no proof to support this claim.

And please don't be offended by the fact that I neither believe you nor disbelieve you.

You should not expect someone that does not know you beyond your username to immediately believe and trust everything you claim.

Also where did you commit those offences? It was not in England by any chance? Because if it was, it is not because you won or that they accepted whatever argument you made in your representation that they stopped chasing you, it is because it costs English based companies more to take Scottish citizens to court in Scotland than what they would ever get back by continuing to court.

I personally have evaded many tickets in England. However I still would not advise this tactic, as I have also encountered companies that 'will' take me to court in Scotland just to make an example of me. Southwaite Services for one. Closed my eyes for fifteen minutes and woke up four hours later.

So all in all, I am probably breaking even given that for every twenty notices I ignore, there is one huge penalty that I do still have to foot as it becomes evident that they are going to take me to court even if it means them losing hundreds of pounds themselves.

However, I am always dubious when I hear claims on the internet that they 'won'.

What are the circumstances of those people that 'won'? Are they bad credited already? In which case they did not 'win', the company simply looked in to them and decided that someone had already beaten them to screwing them over and they can't be screwed over any further so just let them go.

It can be very dangerous when people with a lot to lose listen to some of the advice on the internet without knowing the circumstances of those giving the advice.

[Stairway 2 7]

The papers do their job and report on the
Few fines there is and usually ridiculously high offenders like above. Most other people will read the fine put it into the bin and not think about it. I'm not telling people to do that as I don't care but I will be, I'll report back if I get done for that or IPTV

[Moulin Yarns]

Has anything changed in the last seven years?

And unless you are willing to divulge what argument you used to fight them it is pointless simply claiming that you have successfully fought parking charges as you have no proof to support this claim.

And please don't be offended by the fact that I neither believe you nor disbelieve you.

You should not expect someone that does not know you beyond your username to immediately believe and trust everything you claim.

Also where did you commit those offences? It was not in England by any chance? Because if it was, it is not because you won or that they accepted whatever argument you made in your representation that they stopped chasing you, it is because it costs English based companies more to take Scottish citizens to court in Scotland than what they would ever get back by continuing to court.

I personally have evaded many tickets in England. However I still would not advise this tactic, as I have also encountered companies that 'will' take me to court in Scotland just to make an example of me. Southwaite Services for one. Closed my eyes for fifteen minutes and woke up four hours later.

So all in all, I am probably breaking even given that for every twenty notices I ignore, there is one huge penalty that I do still have to foot as it becomes evident that they are going to take me to court even if it means them losing hundreds of pounds themselves.

However, I am always dubious when I hear claims on the internet that they 'won'.

What are the circumstances of those people that 'won'? Are they bad credited already? In which case they did not 'win', the company simply looked in to them and decided that someone had already beaten them to screwing them over and they can't be screwed over any further so just let them go.

It can be very dangerous when people with a lot to lose listen to some of the advice on the internet without knowing the circumstances of those giving the advice.

You don't half use a lot of words to say nothing.

In one case I was parked in a parking space in a housing development where the parking people issued a fine but I was able to prove that the parking space was adopted by the council.

Happy now?

[AltheHibby]

I haven't read all the thread, so this is probably already here:

The MoneySavingExpert parking forums are by far the best place to get advice on parking company invoices (not fines - they can't fine you).

[Moulin Yarns]

I haven't read all the thread, so this is probably already here:

The MoneySavingExpert parking forums are by far the best place to get advice on parking company invoices (not fines - they can't fine you).

So long as you read the Scottish related forum.

Don't say the name of the driver, always refer to the registered owner and never admit to parking where they say and you should be OK.



Specifics, give me a pm