Parking tickets are the bane of many a driver’s life.
There are few moments which cause the heart to sink like returning to your car to see a parking ticket slapped on the windscreen, especially if it’s the result of an honest mistake.
Appealing the ticket can remedy the situation, but success is not guaranteed.
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Consumer advice service Which? offers support for people who are unsure what to do if their appeal is rejected.
Which? received a message from a driver who received a penalty charge notice for £25 from her local council.
Vicky was confused by the fine because she recalled paying £2 for a four hour ticket.
However, when she found the ticket she saw that she had entered her registration plate incorrectly at the pay and display machine, which she had to use as the parking app was not working.
She appealed the decision but was unsuccessful and was told that she ran the risk of her fine doubling if she appealed again.
Which? offered Vicky help with her second appeal, which she won.
Lauren Deitz, Which? consumer rights expert, said: “We helped Vicky appeal again, and using our free template letter she was able to explain the circumstances around this mistake: the parking app wasn’t working and feeling pressured to pay for parking immediately she tried using the ticket machine instead.
“Vicky told us that the second appeal was successful.”
Which?’s guide to appealing a parking ticket
Which?’s template letter, which assisted Vicky, is available to download here.
However, the consumer advisers state that if you have a genuine reason to challenge a parking fine, you should include evidence which helps your case.
Evidence that could assist any appeal includes:
Photographs of any unclear road markings or signs
Photographs of the ticket machine if it was not working
Statements from witnesses
Evidence to show that there were mitigating circumstances, such as screenshots of a parking app not working correctly.
Crime reference number, if the vehicle was stolen
Which? adds that people should bear in mind that councils, police forces and private companies can all issue parking tickets. Official tickets can be a ‘Penalty Charge Notice’, ‘Excess Charge Notice’ or ‘Fixed Penalty Notice’.
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