Unjust Biker parking fine. Off to court?

[@denisg4288]

Go to court. Just be careful they don’t manage to take proceedings without your knowledge. Ask them for confirmation of the date, location and time. I suspect they will drop it as you have a pretty strong case. My guess is they ramp up the pressure hoping you will pay.

[@nige1955]

I had the same thing in Kidderminster. Went to court and explained that I couldn’t put a ticket on the bike due to potential theft. Absolute discharge, costs paid by prosecution.

[@Olipops77]

Great to hear! Cheers

[@fliedaway]

Just Ignore them, they will not take you to court because it's up to them to prove you are in the wrong, and clearly you are innocent. The letters are always threatening with bailiffs, debt collectors etc. The parking "fine" is an invoice, there is no debt owed unless a judge orders it.

[@Olipops77]

That's really useful. I'm hoping that's the case. Cheers!

[@JonAtLarge]

The trouble is the council use dodgy courts to have judges sign off in bulk on their invoices, which is how they do counci tax, and get away with it over and over again. The system is so currupt. Even knowing PCN's are constitutionaly unlwaful they carry on issuing them!

[@nickaxe771]

Please let us know how you go on.....good luck with it all.

[@grahamcliffe8672]

I have had mates who have had similar, and most if not all opted to go to court, but it was dropped before it got that far, it costs the firm a fortune in court costs in a case they most likely will lose the fact is you can prove you had a valid ticket. In my opinion best thing to do initially is attach the ticket to the bike and take photos, and if the ticket get stolen that's their problem not yours.

[@alankemp1970]

I do feel for you- the rules are you have to display a ticket though so why would you go to all the trouble of writing a note and mounting that to the bike when surely it would be better to mount the ticket instead? I had a plastic pouch for a parking permits and tickets for my bike when I was couriering documents back and forth to London many moons ago.

[@ianduffin6938]

I did that. Over the 2years I was working in London, I had 8 stolen, luckily I took photos of the permits. Just because you have a pouch on your screen doesn't make your permit safe from theft.

[@alankemp1970]

@@ianduffin6938it’s easier now as everything is (mostly) done through the registration number so the permits are online- the traffic wardens scan the number plate. You just have to remember to register before travelling 😵‍💫

[@javeedsultan8484]

Just curious as I've never owned a bike Where on a bike are they expecting to display the ticket

[@Olipops77]

Exactly????. Cheers

[@GrumpyRides]

The problem is you didnt display your ticket. This is what they are fining you for. 100% of parking signs say you must display your ticket. This is a big problem with bikes, there is no safe place to put it. I had the same thing happen to me. Bought a ticket, took a picture of the parking ticket. 2 weeks later fine in the post. Took legal advice and was told i broke the T&C of the parking rules of the council. In court the magistrate got the fine knocked down to the original fee of £60. From then i will not park where MC has to pay. Cornwall is the worst for parking fines, they even ticket Blue badge holders.

[@Olipops77]

Thanks for your input. That's useful to know. Shame the 'not cheap' hotel suggested I park there! Cheers 🍻

[@GrumpyRides]

@@Olipops77 If anyone loses in court they maybe liable for court costs

[@kevinshanahan6064]

A colleague got a fixed penalty for “failure to display”. We discussed and asked for the photo evidence. They moaned this was wasting their time but provided. We knew what this would show, as the ticket fell off the windscreen and landed on the steering wheel and slightly curled. The appeal was the warden could see the details from the side mirror had he chose to look. They replied the appeal was accepted “on this occasion” which sounded childish.

[@johnowen9564]

had loads of them bus lane council parking tickets private parking tickets never paid a one had the odd bailiff tell them to do one .dont even respond to them ,

[@cpuuk]

WRITE everything down in chronological order (including unanswered calls), make a note that the company acknowledged your evidence of original payment, phone evidence (itemised billing), photos. You need the documentary evidence as the Magistrate will read it. And remember, they have to prove they sent the email. Similar situation with my daughter, she said "see you in court", they bottled it and dropped the case before the date. Your only mistake was assuming the Parking warden would spend 29 more seconds thinking, than he is usually accustomed to doing.

[@Olipops77]

Thanks, that's really helpful. Will do!

[@tallthinkev]

Record the phone calls

[@norb0254]

The blackbelt barrister had an issue with a parking ticket in his car than had fallen off the dash ,and he took pictures of it where it landed etc and he won ,,He is on you tube ,may be worth having a look at them ,i think it was over a few videos as he updated as something happened ,and i think he explained how he worded his appeal

[@Olipops77]

That's really helpful. I'll take a look. Cheers!

[@davidhoward1235]

Where can you securely put a ticket on a motorbike very bizarre go to court I say that and then they might have to drop it ❤

[@Olipops77]

Thanks. Hopefully so!

[@6panel300]

I would say go to court. But seek legal advice first just in case.

[@Olipops77]

Will do. Thanks for your support!

[@jamesbrundret1726]

Go to court. you have the documentary photo evidence from the day. Presumably you will be able to show the court that you contacted the company (via email which is traceable?) as soon as you were aware of the unjust request for payment of a fine for an offence that wasn't actually committed. I think then that there will also be a burden of proof from the parking company to show the claimed appeal process that didn't happen, which obviously they won't be able to produce and let the court decide who's telling the truth!. To my mind you made every effort to prove there was no offence. For what it's worth, I wouldn't pay the effing fine either, they can't be permitted to bully people with the intention of extorting money from them. Good luck.

[@Olipops77]

Cheers. Thanks for your advice and support. Really don't appreciate unjust crap out of the blue. Defo not paying!

[@haddenhamvillagesociety8415]

No brainer - go to court. They probably won’t even show up.

[@peters6188]

CBF1000 nice bike, what year? Is this same engine on Fireblade? By the way you have loads of supporting evidence present it clearly and you should have no issues.

[@Olipops77]

Hi. It was a 2008. Low miles, black, full fairing, full Maxton suspension, loads more extras. Px'd it against a 2016 Multistrada 1200s. In retrospect, I probably should've kept it but too tempted by the Multis 160hp. Multis gone now too Lol. Cheers for your support 👍

[@johndaniell887]

my mate had a fine in his own town 6 years ago and never paid it to this day never idmit to and he just throws the letters away and deletes all phone calls and messages and e mails end off and he never paid a penny to them

[@Olipops77]

Cheers! Good to hear!

[@jameslatest960]

Write a really stern letter to the local / county council explaining the situation, attach copy of tickey & note, berate them to drivng away tourists etc. Send copies to your MP, their local MP and Minister of Tourism. They all need to put pressure on the land owner and the !parking company". Good luck & best wishes.

[@Olipops77]

Great suggestions! If I hear any more, I'll crack on with them. Many thanks!

[@gm-ew5ms]

Thats an annoying situation and unfair. You can't leave a ticket on a motorcycle it will either blow away in the wind or get pinched. Try looking up the n.i.c.e parking regulations. They govern the way these company's conduct themselves and will decide if the company behaved reasonably or not. If they find in your favour the parking fine will be squashed without the need to attend court. If it really gets that far take the n.i.c.e decision to court as further evidence. Well done for standing up to them mate. Keep it up.

[@Olipops77]

Thanks for your advice and support! Really appreciate it! Cheers!

[@Ian-lt6wp]

Go to Court just make sure you know where and when you will be fine.....

[@Olipops77]

Cheers for that!

[@michaelwade1092]

I would go to court, i cannot see anyone siding with a bully firm that buys peoples debt etc off councils. oh n if i lost i would definitely do damage to either the parking firms property ie car. tbh I dont even think they will apply to the courts and if they do, i just cannot see them winning.

[@Olipops77]

Yeah. Thanks. Dumb crap no one needs. Could be a bit of fun if it went to court. Defo not paying! WTF was I supposed to do!Cheers matey!

[@Andrew-n7r6l]

Easy take your number plate off

[@Olipops77]

Hahaha! Good call!

[@iaing9028]

Years ago my mate had his number plate held on with Velcro!

[@RichardWilliams-kf5vw]

I agree with what people are saying. They’re just trying to invoice you, don’t pay. One query though. I was in Looe last September (2023) on my first bike tour. There was a car park in the centre with free motorcycle parking. Couldn’t you have used that?

[@Olipops77]

Hi. Yes, if I'd have known about it. We messaged the hotel before our visit and they suggested where we parked. It seemed a good idea as it was so convenient. Cheers!

[@RichardWilliams-kf5vw]

@ Fair enough. Anyway, stand firm, don’t pay.

[@bailey-cj2pl]

Heres some advice. Ignore EVEYTHING they send, post or message. The world will not end, you have behaved appropriately and they will desist. Get on with your life and enjoy it. From someone who knows from experience.

[@Olipops77]

Cheers for that! Some of these companies should be under far more scrutiny!

[@daveswhite90]

Appeal to the parking ombudsman, local council won’t care. The parking firm do this all the time, you’ll end up with a CCJ if you’re not careful. You may not even get a notification of a court date, act now.

[@Olipops77]

Thanks for the advice!

[@robmcpherson1616]

Sue them for what they are wanting from you times 18 months and see what they say

[@Francis-xl2gu]

Go to court, doubt they will go through with it, intimidation is all this is

[@Olipops77]

Thanks for your support!

[@volt8684]

Cameras on car parks are catching bikers all over the place. These companies that run these scams should be dissolved

[@Olipops77]

Totally agree! Cheers

[@davefearon1620]

Court please Then do them for stressing you out

[@Olipops77]

Cheers. That crossed my mind. You get to a stage in your life when you think just.....off!

[@Guardian2003]

That would be contravention code 83. It isn't that you didn't pay, the contravention is that it was not clearly displayed. I would have appealed and asked where they would like the ticket displayed, given that it would have been easy for someone to nick it, in which case you'd be back to square one. No CEO would go to the hotel to check as notes are normally ignored. Anyone with an ounce of common sense would have accepted your appeal and ripped it up - unless they were just being greedy.

[@Olipops77]

Hi. Thanks for the useful input and support!

[@tomvalentine4928]

All the people saying the ticket could be nicked should realise that the ticket has the bike's registration printed on it so it would be pretty pointless stealing it.

[@Guardian2003]

@@tomvalentine4928 not always. Not all machines require you to input the VRN

[@tomvalentine4928]

@@Guardian2003 But this one did. Look at the photograph.

[@Guardian2003]

@@tomvalentine4928 yes it does but unfortunately a moot point. If it was Contravention 83 (for an off-street carpark) or 06 (for on-street) it purely relates to whether a PD ticket, voucher, permit, blue badge etc was clearly displayed. At the time the vehicle would have been observed (minimum period is 5 minutes), if there was no PD ticket to see, regardless of whether there is proof of payment, the PCN would be upheld. However most Council operated carparks (though sadly very few privately run carparks) would look at the appeal, see the proof of payment, understood that sticking a ticket to a motorcycle leaves it open to theft/blowing away etc and just ripped the PCN up. The fact that they didn't is just despicable. @Olipops77 you definitely need to contact the debt collection agency and ask them for a copy of the contract it is alleged you have breached. Debt Collection agencies buy debts from many sources, any potential debt is with the council or parking company running the carpark not with a debt collection agency ;) .

[@zonzeven]

If you go to court, cut that washing label off your hat, or better, don't wear it at all.

[@Olipops77]

Cheeky bugger! Hahahaha!🤣

[@PK-dt3xf]

That’s not a label, it’s a pay & display ticket.

[@PK-dt3xf]

That’s an expensive price to pay to park a motorcycle so I’m guessing you paid the same as a car. Even in expensive places like London you can usually find free motorcycle parking. It’s a shame they’re so greedy that they want to pursue you even though you already paid for parking. I hope you don’t pay, and if they do go down the CCJ route you fight them at court. Good luck!

[@Olipops77]

Cheers! Thanks for your support!

[@glennmaxfield6618]

You have to display the ticket you have paid for parking. They won't go hunting around in the reception of the hotel so you were in default of the parking regulations. You should have stuck the ticket onto the bike and risked it getting ripped off. I even leave my disability badge on the screen of my bike with the time clock next to it when I park my bike and it's always been there when I get back.

[@marksaunderson3042]

It’s easy where I live. They know you can’t put a pay and display ticket on a motorcycle, so it’s free. Yes, free. Helped by the fact the local traffic enforcement officer is, guess what? A biker. Park on yellow lines and you get done, park in the p&d car park and you get ignored. Plus I park in a corner next to a pole, the space just about big enough for me. I am not taking up room a car could use.

[@normanboyes4983]

Just go to Court and explain what happened. The key thing is no one, not even a lawyer, can predict if you will be successful in getting the case kicked out - BUT - you are in with a good chance as long as you remain calm and go down the ‘reasonableness’ angle - you did pay, had a receipt and provided it in evidence. I think your belief you have some sort of grievance with the hotel is unfair and you are being unreasonable in thinking so.

[@Olipops77]

Hi. Thanks for that. If I came across as if I was annoyed with the hotel that was not at all my intention. Cheers

[@johnawalker9261]

Did you get in touch with the parking ombudsman? If not, why not? He, more than likely, found in your favour.

[@Olipops77]

Hi. Thanks for your comment. Maybe that's something to do if this escalates?? All the best!

[@johnobiro5202]

Go to court fella. Make sure you sue them for the grief. Make THEM pay you. Good luck.👍

[@Olipops77]

Cheers! Ridiculous situation!