Civil Enforcement Ltd parking charge notice

[nuggs40]

Hi I have received a parking charge notice from Civil Enforcement Ltd stating that I overstayed the maximum free parking of 3 hours, the times stated are from 10:43:02 to 13:54:13 which equates to 11 minutes and 11 seconds.

The car park is at Maidstone Leisure Centre and I am a fully paid member, the parking terminals are relatively a new thing there, it has always been a FREE car park however the leisure centre has this statement posted on their web page:

Car parking will remain free of charge to all our customers, but you will have to register your car details upon each visit at our new parking terminals in the Centre if you plan to stay for longer than 3 hours.
Terminals are located either side of the bridge and on entrance to the gym.
Any customers or members visiting for 3 hours or less do not need to do anything.
Our staff are on hand to answer any queries you may have.
Please note that any person using the car park from 1st May 2014 who is not a Leisure Centre customer and who has not registered for parking for over 3 hours will incur a £100 charge, reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

I have recieved this notice and what I would like to know is if I should pay it? Is it legal? And what course of appeal should I take if any? Considering that I was using the facilities in the centre that I pay for monthly.

It does seem an outrageous amount considering that it is a free car park so how can this charge be proportionate?

In advance thanks for helping.

[mystery1]

Re: Civil Enforcement Ltd parking charge notice

Essentially it is an invoice. The best thing to do is appeal and if that fails appeal to popla which is currently a great way to get it cancelled. Also contacting the leisure centre is a good idea.

Dear Sirs,




I, as registered keeper, wish to invoke your appeals procedure. The driver is a paid up member of the centre and was using the facilities.In any event your charges are penal in nature and not a genuine pre estimate of loss.


I am under no statutory obligation to name the driver and will not do so.


If you reject my appeal please supply a popla code.




Yours etc




If they supply a popla code please return and i'll sort out a popla appeal for you.




M1

[nuggs40]

Re: Civil Enforcement Ltd parking charge notice

Thanks M1 I will send the letter and see what happens, I have sent an email to the leisure centres Manager as well highlighting how much they will lose if we remove our membership and go elsewhere because of this.