Parking fine question

[Sammylad]

This morning, I have recieved a letter to so that seeing as I haven't paid my parking fine withing the offer period, it is now �60 rather than �30.

The problem is, this is the first thing I knew of any offence, which was supposedly on 28/2. There certainly was never a ticket on my car, otherwise I would have paid up straight away.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where I stand, or what I should do? Thanks.

[Whickerman]

If it's from a local authority you have to pay it.

If it's from a private company, you don't - bin it. See here:
"Conrad Murray is a lawyer who thinks the public are frightened into paying up when they receive these charges from private firms. Unlike penalty charges from the police or councils, you�re not legally obliged to pay them. He says that if they charge is unreasonable you shouldn�t pay, �If you get a parking charge notice you haven�t broken the law; you�ve committed no offence.�
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/wat chdog/reports/transport/transport_20080225.sht ml

[mattymatt123]

They will have taken a picture of the car, ask to see it make sure it was in fact your car and not a clone!

[north star]

As whickerman says if its from a private company and not from a council or police then ignore it. Lots of examples of this at www.pepipoo.com.

[moomintroll1]

If it is from the council and there genuinely was no penalty charge notice affixed to your windscreen, or you never received one in the post, write them a letter explaining this.

Enclose a cheque for �30, and say that you are quite prepared to pay the discounted sum, but that someone must have removed the charge from your windscreen before you returned to your car.

They should write back to let you know that they have accepted the discounted payment in full settlement of the matter.

[Sammylad]

Thanks very much. What happens if it is a private firm, i.e Parkright, who work on behalf of the local council? I am not trying to avoid paying if I was in the wrong, but don't want to pay the full amount, or pay without some kind of proof.

[north star]

If the letter is from parkright then ignore it. Private firms are not allowed to issue a PCN (Penalty Charge Notice). They often call them a Parking Charge Notice, in the hope that you will just pay up.

Again, I suggest you post a thread on pepipoo.com as they are the guys who know all these scams and can and will offer all the help and reassurance you need. On the chance that this from a council, they may even be able to offer help and advice to allow you not to pay the original fine.