This article discusses the legality of private parking fines and offers advice on how to handle them. It highlights the common practices of private parking companies and provides tips for appealing unfair charges.
Every Tuesday we get an expert to answer your Money Problems. WhatsApp us yours here. Today's question is...I've been receiving harassment from a private car park company regarding a parking fine from five years ago. The incident occurred while I was shopping and I had to assist someone who had collapsed. The shop verified this at the time and I'd let the company know when I was chased at the time. I thought the matter was closed.
What are my rights in defending myself?EllieWe're sorry to hear about your case, Ellie - this matter should have been cancelled straightaway given the clear mitigating circumstances.These kinds of disputes are so common that we think it's worth us outlining the rules about private parking 'fines' in broad terms - answering the specifics of your case along the way.Private companies cannot 'fine' youMoney blog regular Scott Dixon, from The Complaints Resolver, explains: Scott says: 'They look the same, and there's a reason for that. A private parking operator's business model is to extract money from you, and it's estimated that 80% of motorists pay straightaway due to the legalese jargon.'Of course, landowners should reasonably be able to charge people to park on their land, so if you're at fault it might be that the right thing to do is pay up.But if you think what they're charging you in their 'invoice' is unfair, Scott says you could appeal. Some advice online suggests you can simply ignore these 'invoices' - Scott doesn't recommend this but we'll cover this in more depth shortly.Collect evidence for appealsThis will be key to any appeals or court action - so take photos, get witness statements, keep all correspondence and get proof of any mitigating circumstance
Private Parking Fines Rights Appeals Legal Advice
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