Britannia Parking Scam?

[david small]

My wife paid for parking at the machine. First attempt her money was rejected,second attempt she got her ticket receipt. Forward 12 days. Parking ticket for £60. She tried telephoning, no answer. She tried communication via email, no response. Her only recourse is a letter of appeal. This smacks of intentional fraud. Unfortunately after twelve days she cannot find her ticket receipt. I find it suspect that you are unable to contact anyone to discuss this obvious machine malfunction. Any suggestions?

[chelle7272]

You can appeal on their website?

The website this customer service number has a 24 hours answer phone service - is it the one she used? 01202 555888

Not sure what else she can do if she has tried all methods of communication, except keep trying

[roadman]

I suggest do NOT pay the fine. What will they do? Will the company pay to put your wife through court?


This screams Scam and I would be very angry.

[roadman]

https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/private-parking-tickets/

Please please read this article

[roadman]

DO NOT PAY Britannia is a PRIVATE parking company you do NOT need to pay

"private companies can’t fine you – they’re just sending you notice of what they see as a breach of contract"

what further action will they take?

[roadman]

where is newjudge when you need him hello newjudge

[david small]

Thanks roadman I have read the article. My wife is appealing by letter as this is her only option. This does reek of a scam by negligence to me though.

[barry1010]

roadman, private parking companies can and do sue people in court - and it often ends up costing the individual lots of money.

[roadman]

they can provide the CCTV footage of Davids wife paying for the ticket and then they can see if they win the court case

[roadman]

it's important to know that private companies dont have a legal right to demand payment from you

[barry1010]

But they do have the legal right to pursue payment through the courts and the courts are now more sympathetic with legitimate parking companies than they used to be

[chelle7272]

Barry si right, we have to sue parking management where I work as we have so many commuters taking up space in a community centre. They have successfully sued many people through the courts, and you may end up with a CCJ which affects your credit.
You have the right to appeal and may well be successful if they cannot prove anything
Was the info above from the website no help?

[roadman]

but Davids wife paid for a ticket... I dont see how the parking company will win. Pull the CCTV etc.. they will see Mrs small going and getting her ticket

[chelle7272]

yes roadman, so the appeal is the right way to go, rather than out and out non payment which may lead to court.
I agree a lot of times these are a scam so to be wary of just paying up.

[Jackdaw33]

A useful warning about CCJs. They not only affect your credit score, they ruin it. They stay on your credit record for six years, whether paid off or not. In the meantime you can say goodbye to any future loans, credit cards, phone contracts and the like.

[jno]

no chance she paid with a card, I suppose?

[barry1010]

david, your wife should go down the appeal route explaining that she did pay. Hopefully, the parking company will accept that - it would be unreasonable to expect anyone to keep a parking ticket for two weeks.

[bhg481]

Why was she given a "fine". Did she display the ticket in the correct place on the windscreen? Did she put the correct registration number in (if it was required)? Did she stay for longer than the time she paid for?

[david small]

She was fined for not buying a parking ticket. She did buy one, so I assume that the machine would record it as she was issued a ticket, now lost. She has written a letter explaining this, so it’s in the lap of the Gods of greed and exploitation.

[bobbinwales]

Must be for nor displaying not not buying

[bhg481]

Why did the parking company think she didn't buy a ticket? You said she bought one and had a receipt, so did she display it? Car parks have different systems for proving that you've paid; how does that car park work?