Page 1 of Smart Parking Limited also trading as Town & City Parking- Parking Charge Notice

Hi,

My partner got a  Parking Charge Notice via post for parking at an Asda store from Smart Parking Limited also trading as Town & City Parking for parking just under 3 hrs, the limit is set at 1.5hrs.

The exit camera shot is just pitch black apart from the  number plate, which could be just pasted as the picture has no details-just pitch black.


The entry picture has clear image of the car details.

They say if it is paid before before 14 days, than the charge is £40, but after that & before 28 days is £ 70  & after that there will be an extra charge of £10 admin charge.

Has anyone here had to deal for this type of charge  or can offer advice on these matters?  

Thank you

This item was edited on Saturday, 16th February 2013, 21:22

Yes!

The only parking charge you have to pay is an official PCN one issued on behalf of the police or local council. Private car parks have absolutely no legal right to take money off you.

So just ignore it, and the subsequent letters that you'll get which will threaten to increase it to £140, and then threaten to pass it over to a debt collection agency, and then be from said debt collection agency which is really just another company run by the same people, who will then pass it back after a few letters, and then you'll never hear anything again.

The whole thing is designed to threaten and intimidate you into paying money they have no legal right to take from you. It's nothing short of extortion.

If they take you to court, the only thing they can get off you is the loss of income from the space you were consuming, which is whatever they actually charge people to park in that space normally.

If you want to read more:
http://www.myreviewer.com/Forums/General/t830214/Legality-of-a-parking-fine-in-a-supermarket-car-park/page1


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As Rob has said they are not issued by a law enforcement agency or third party acting on their behalf, therefore it is a civil debt.  

You dont say actually how long the car was there... are you disputing the `over stay`, if there is signage stating 1.5 hours maximum stay and you stayed there longer, they are allowed to recover loss of revenue, their costs, this is where the huge bills rack up, all that admin etc... 

Have you appealed to the supermarket concerned?   

Quote:
marksparks999 says...
"they are allowed to recover loss of revenue, their costs, this is where the huge bills rack up, all that admin etc... "
I'd add here that the revenue they are allowed to recover is the actual loss to them of you overstaying in that parking space. That does not include any fines they arbitrarily add on top.


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I`ve got a similar one of these going on at the moment but not to do with a car park.
A similar organisation seem to have control over Liverpool Airport and issued a fine from camera info which relates to what I would call a public road into the airport.

The airport wishes to make as much money as possible from those calling at the airport so allow only five (yes that`s 5) free mins in the car park which is the drop off and pick up area. As people tended to wait outside the area they obviously have introduced the cameras and attempted fines. Very small print on the signs announcing this, pretty well unreadable unless stationary.

After Googling the organisation and checking out a thread on Money Saving Expert I`ve been ignoring them. I`d be interested if anyone thinks this is more or less enforcable than the car park fines. Took them over three months to send the first follow up letter BTW.

Snaps

Every Third Car

Count ya`self lucky, Snaps - Bournemouth airport charge you £2.50 a time to pickup & drop off - no pedestrians allowed on the approach road either, so parking up down the road is a no-go.

Money grabbing scheisters!

She did overstay, just under 3 hrs (2hr 58mins) The max limit is 1.5hrs.

I am just going to ignore judging by the comments on the net. Not contacted the store, as I have read that they normally wash their hands & suggest to contact the Parking Enforcement company.

The exit camera was just a pitch black image with number plates as if they had been photoshopped.No image details of the car itself, just a pitch black box.

The entry camera image was clear as you can see the car & its details.    

If they take us to court, I will show the court the exit camera image, which could just as be a photo of a black board.

I will just ignore their mail unless, I get a court summons.

Thanks to everyone for your tips. 

Keep my fingers crossed!!!

Keep us posted! You never know when people on google will find stories like this and take heart from them. :)


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I am now just waiting for the bullying tactics.


I will sure keep you posted.

She got a letter from them, asking to pay £70.00. "Failure to pay within 14 days will result in an addtional fee of £10 and may result in civil recovery action being raised."

Now waiting for another bully letter after 14 days.

Will keep you posted.