Any legal types help with "private" parking rip off fine.

[Old man Jimbo]

Got home tonight and the good lady wife is somewhat upset about a £70 parking fine that come through the post.

Cut a long story short she went shopping at a local retail park and has received a fine saying she was there for nearly 4 hours and shes breached some conditions that are apparently clearly posted and by parking there she agreed to these conditions. They have photos (looked online) I don't know how long she was allowed and she has no idea as she didn't see any signs anywhere.

Anyhow they're demanding £50 if she pays double quick £70 if she pays in the next 12 days or they will charge £70 plus £40 admin charge WTF! sorry but that's one expensive shopping trip! Where do I/she stand the company is TPS Total Parking Solutions acting for Dunelm Mill but the car park is shared by half a dozen or so shops.

So does anyone have any real advice as of course she is shatting herself and wants to pay ASAP. I however am all for letting it go to court as I feel she is being stitched right up...

Help genuine advice??

[VSRI]

Photo evidence will not stand up in court since timestamps can be edited with photoshop.

Unless they have video surveillance showing the car there for 4 or more hours, they have a case.

Ask them from proof as photos do NOT qualify.

If they wont give you evidence, you have no obligation to pay. Its that simple.

The onus is on them to PROVE the car was there beyond the allowed time. Not the other way around. Courts would throw this out all day long.

[Big Knox]

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk...-template.html

Have a search on there for Total Parking Solutions too.

[m8internet]

Do you still have the receipt for any and all visits to the retailers?
If so, then compare the times

Although there may be a "time limit" not everyone can complete their shopping in that "time limit"
Simply copy the receipts, send them by Recorded Delivery

If possible, revisit the car park and photograph the NEAREST sign to where you were parked
Equally, if there are no signs, then take photos of the car park as you can present that in court
Finally, look for the cameras that caught the images
There needs to be a warning notice that CCTV images are being recorded within 250 yards of the camera

Finally, was the car park in Scotland?

[VSRI]

Simply copy the receipts, send them by Recorded Delivery

That tacitly implies you acknowledge "guilt" by trying to prove your innocence.

Simple fact remains until they can provide conclusive evidence, like a picture being parked on double yellow lines, for example, then there isnt a court in the land that would convict based on a static photo that is wholly unable to show how long a car has been parked for.

[m8internet]

Not proving anything, I do agree though the receipts could be used that you were present
Hoewever, the receipts will clearly show the time you purchased the items, but not necessarily the time you left the car park

I've argued this before (with a car park organisation for a car park not in Scotland)
Arrived in car park at 09:03, signs clearly stated "2 hours"
I went to TESCO and obtained a receipt timed at 09:12
I went back in to TESCO and obtained another receipt timed at 11:45

The matter was dropped as copies were also sent to TESCO, and they paid my costs with a £10 gft voucher

I've also had the same twice with B&Q car parks
Again, both were dropped when I sent in the receipts

[m8internet]

Simple fact remains until they can provide conclusive evidence, like a picture being parked on double yellow lines

Double yellows line cannot be enforced in a car park, unless there is a traffic order for them
I've never seen one, thee road markings are simply guidelines
It's the same with any other signage, unless the car park is a legally adopted road, but from memory there are only about three or four of these in the UK (such as the Lakeland shopping centre and Trafford Centre car parks)

[ed taylor]

There was a thread on here where several members "got done" for parking at a meet. I think some of them refused to pay, and from what I remember they heard no more about it.?

[spennny]

There was a thread on here where several members "got done" for parking at a meet. I think some of them refused to pay, and from what I remember they heard no more about it.?

Its here

http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69945

Strange i had it in my favourites lol

[m8internet]

The reason you won't hear any more about it is because the parking fine company simply proceed to court and obtain a CCJ for the outstanding amount