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Issued with parking ticket whilst broken down at motorway services - can I contest this?
Last Monday our car broke down in the car park of a Welcome Break motorway services on the M5. I called out the AA and they told me it wasn't safe to drive the car. After an hour and a half under the bonnet they found the problem and I eventually drove home (very slowly) to get my car fixed. However, yesterday I received a parking fine from the services because I was in the car park for more than two hours (it was two and a half hours). I'm not sure what my rights are (I honestly didn't notice the signs about the two hour maximum stay, probably because I was so worried about the car), but it really added insult to injury to be issued with a fine of £100, or £60 if paid within 14 days. I want to appeal the fine but just wondered if you had any advice on what my rights are? We bought coffees, sandwiches and oil while we were there if that helps.
Asked on 5 January 2013 by LH, via email
Answered by
Honest John
My take on it is here: www.honestjohn.co.uk/faq/private-parking-penalties/
There was a very good feature on BBC Watchdog Daily on 15 November. Worth a look on BBC i-player. It's obviously completely ridiculous to hit you with a penalty for using a motorway service area as a refuge while your car is broken down so as well as following the appeal procedures you should write to Rod McKie, CEO, Welcome Break Ltd. I would suggest that if both the appeal and the POPLA adjudication both fail you should challenge the parking enforcer to take you to court for the penalty where you can prove that your overstay was unavoidable and you were using the service area for the purpose it was originally built.
There was a very good feature on BBC Watchdog Daily on 15 November. Worth a look on BBC i-player. It's obviously completely ridiculous to hit you with a penalty for using a motorway service area as a refuge while your car is broken down so as well as following the appeal procedures you should write to Rod McKie, CEO, Welcome Break Ltd. I would suggest that if both the appeal and the POPLA adjudication both fail you should challenge the parking enforcer to take you to court for the penalty where you can prove that your overstay was unavoidable and you were using the service area for the purpose it was originally built.
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