Parking fine at Fistral Beach

[Kazrd]

I was on holiday in Cornwall and received a parking ticket- can anyone advise if I can contest it or not?

I went in and circled and sat waiting for a space for approx half an hour. When one came up, I parked and got a space. I didn't have change so used their phone payment option and paid for three hours. I know I was back at my car for the expiry time as I had set the timer on my phone. We cleaned the sand off my son and got him changed and left.

After getting the ticket and seeing my photographs of the in-time and out-time I checked my text message to see my end time (because I had paid over the phone, I had a text confirmation) My ticket expired at 16:50 and the car was photographed leaving the carpark at 17:10pm so it looks like it took me 20 minutes to leave. I have since read on these forums that you get 10 minutes to leave. I guess this is the reason I have a ticket?

Would this fine be contestable or do I need to swallow my fury and pay it?

[ostell]

Re: Parking fine at Fistral Beach

They have probably taken the entry time and the exit time and worked out, incorrectly, that this is the time you should be paying for. This situation at this car park has already been to court and the judge ruled that moving around looking for parking was not parking. I can't remember the case details.

The 10 minutes is the minimum time. If the car park is busy, and it sounds as though it was, then it may take more than 10 minutes to leave. You paid for 3 hours parking time, the time between the cameras is not parking time.

[Kazrd]

Re: Parking fine at Fistral Beach

Thank you Ostell. So you think I should be able to contest this ticket? The car park was busy. I presumed when I saw the camera pictures of entering and exiting, it must have been time in the car park rather than time parking.

[ostell]

Re: Parking fine at Fistral Beach

Found mention of that case here

Perhaps mentioning that case in any appeal you make might make PE think hard.

[Kazrd]

Re: Parking fine at Fistral Beach

I have read it all including the comments thanks for finding it. However the more I have read the more I am thinking to pay it and be gone with it as I don't know the first thing about making a case and where to start! I don't even know what signage they have and whet it says. I have to say I just parked, paid and left. And now I am home in Scotland I am too far away to go back and look.

[ostell]

Re: Parking fine at Fistral Beach

Wait for others to comment but is could be awkward for them to take it to court as you live in Scotland.

There will probably be Fistral signs in other threads, there is a video of someone leaving at a busy time and an appeal on the facts that the cameras were not recording on private land but on the roads leading up to the car park.

Modify your posts so that the driver cannot be inferred. Use "the driver did this....", "the driver did that...." so you will be appealing as the keeper.

If you are taken to court as the keeper then all you are liable for is the amount of the PCN when issued +£25 court costs +£50 legal fees if they add them.

[Kazrd]

Re: Parking fine at Fistral Beach

Thanks for this info. It's much appreciated to be given help and advice.

[Winfistral]

Hi all, many thanks for all the above information! I have also received a parking invoice (fine) from the crooks known as Initial Parking Ltd. Long story short, I paid and displayed a ticket with the wrong number plate on the pay and display ticket. All was not lost though as I did keep the said ticket. So like a good law abiding citizen, I approached Initial Parking to inform them of the minor blunder. Needless to say, they where only interested in me handing out £60. So appeal it was! I appealed to POPLA, who after about 2 months came to the right conclusion that I had paid and therefore was entitled to park there. WIn WIn WIn!!
Im now looking to point poor unsuspecting victims in the right direction. I’m new on this forum, but will in a short time upload all the information I used to successfully win this appeal. Including photos and text. No need to thank, it’s really my pleasure!! I be back on soon when I’m in front of my computer.