TWO pensioners are protesting the £60 parking charge notices they were slapped with when visiting Trowbridge.
Helen Martin, 66, from Hilperton, accused UK Parking Control Ltd of using “bully boy” tactics to prevent her from appealing her PCN to POPLA, the independent parking on private land appeals service.
She received the PCN for failing to clearly display her ticket at the St Stephen’s Place car park near the Odeon Cinema on February 3.
Mrs Martin, of St Mary’s Gardens in Hilperton, said she had obtained a ticket for three hours free parking and placed on her dashboard.
“I returned less than two hours later, and once home disposed of the ticket not wanting to clutter up my car with litter or expect to need evidence for a free parking stay.
"I was both mystified and shocked to receive a parking fine the following week.”
She told UKPC: “The photographic evidence provided by your operative clearly shows my parking ticket on the dashboard.
“When I zoomed in, it became apparent that the ticket was facing downwards, but the return time and date were still discernible.”
Mrs Martin added: “I have appealed twice, but both times have had this rejected, the reason given the second time being that I had not clearly displayed a parking ticket, which I had.
“I am now faced with the choice of paying the “reduced” fine of £60, or appealing to POPLA, which means if they rule against me, I will have to pay £100. I consider this to be a “bullyboy” tactic, aimed at preventing people appealing.
“I regard a £60/£100 fine a draconian measure for what should have been less than two hours of free parking simply because my parking ticket was facing downwards.
“I am a law-abiding pensioner, who will really struggle to find this money, and have been very upset by this issue.”
Meanwhile, Patrick Rodrigues, 72, from Wyville Road in Frome, says Park Maven Ltd, the operator of The Shires shopping centre car park, won't give him a refund despite paying a £60 PCN and despite having paid £1 to park his car.
The retired plasterer said: “I went to The Shires on March 8 to conduct some business at the Halifax Building Society and was there for one hour and 15 minutes.
“When I came out, I paid the £1 fee for going over the one hour’s free parking but before I could ask for a receipt the ticket machine moved on to ‘Next Customer’.
“Four days later I received a PCN for £60, which goes up to £100 if I don’t pay within 14 days, so I have paid it.
“I tried to contact Park Maven and have emailed and texted them on at least ten occasions but have had no response. They have not replied to any of my emails.
“The lack of response from them is just atrocious.”
Mr Rodrigues added: “I was very angry and annoyed and will be asking them to look at this again because I had already paid. I don’t think I will ever see my money back.”
UK Parking Control has been approached for a comment.
Park Maven’s website says: “Unfortunately, due to legal procedures we're unable to adjudicate appeals over the phone.
“We have a one-stage appeals process only, once you have received your appeal outcome if you wish to appeal our decision you must appeal to POPLA.
“Please note, we will not review an appeal for the same PCN twice. Any further communications will not be considered an appeal and your PCN will not be placed on hold.”
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