Out of control

Having already received a ticket for this sort of problem and having had that cleared, I managed to make the same mistake again. When the permit holder failed to do its job, I did not take great enough pains to ensure that the permit would be in view of the inspector. Despite having parked in the same place in the same car park for three years with a permit, the idiot in question issued a ticket. I appealed, of course.

Ultimately, this appeal failed and it cost me twenty pounds. Part of the reason for failure was the tone of my letter and part of the reason was that the parking control staff felt that I could have ensured the permit was on display.

To this day, I am still irritated that they were able to demand a ticket payment after being paid, under contract, for a permit - at no point were they deprived any due payment. I half-wish I had let this go to the magistrates' court.

13th August 1999

Newcastle City Parking Control
P.O.Box 2BL
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE99 2BL.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Parking ticket 91238140

I received the above ticket for my car G194 MUB on 9th August. This car has been parked at Manors Multi Storey Car Park every day for the past 3 years with a parking permit, which is provided by yourselves.

Back in June, I received a ticket (against which I have appealed in an earlier letter) because the ticket holder had fallen from the windscreen and was not visible to the ticket inspector. When I explained this to one of your staff over the telephone, I was told (rather rudely in my opinion) that I must be using it wrong and attaching the wrong side to the windscreen. I was also chided for describing it as adhesive. The fact that the badge had been tested against the windows in your office was also asserted.

I accept that the ticket holder uses no glue and should be smoothed onto the windscreen with the longer side against the glass, since that is how most other similar devices work (including the one for my tax disc). I also believe that it is plainly obvious that the longer side is the one which attaches to the window, since it comes attached to a bit of cardboard to keep it dust free. However, at the time, I ignored the insult to my intelligence and promised to try and do better when I affixed the new badge to my windscreen for the next quarter’s subscription.

Clearly, the tests in your office did not account for the possibility of there being some sunshine. In fact, when it gets hot, the plastic of your badge holder starts to warp – especially when inside a confined space like my car (which is always parked on the roof of the car park). The badge holder now resembles an autumn leaf.

It is due to the badge holder now being virtually unusable that my permit once again found its way onto the floor of my car. And it is due to this circumstance, which was beyond my control, that I am writing to appeal. I would greatly appreciate it if you would cancel the ticket, especially since the parking fees due have been paid and this problem is a genuine accident.

The system for appealing against these tickets is a nuisance. Rather than just quoting the contract number for my badge, I have been told to send in a photocopy (enclosed). This meant that I had to take a half-hour out of my busy week to go to the car, pay for a ticket for an hour (lest I should be ticketed for not showing my badge again) and pay for photocopying. I believe it would be a good gesture on your part to refund my parking fees for that hour and so I enclose that ticket too.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best regards,

Ashley Frieze.