Dear Dragons Dennis, Unfortunately in this case the OP (me) has not paid the discounted penalty.. as I was told it might be an admission of guilt... EEKS.

Thanks Daniella.. In this case they havent been too helpful.. The best advice they have given is that I should pay before it gets worse.

Dear Green & Mean I was in the AA car.. There was no other parking space to leave the car and the driver felt we might obstruct the road (the road is a small by road)

Thanks for your encouraging response. I turned to two councillors and the head of Redbridge council (Keith Prince) and they were totally apathetic. One Cllr asked me details and then has done nothing. Totally disillusioned by the councils attitude..

My car brokedown on Saturday night (16/01/2011). I called the AA.. They came within an hour.. The agent couldnt fix the car and diagnosed it as a broken timer belt with possibly bent valves. The car was dead and immobile. The car was recovered by tow truck and left outside the garage.. The car was set down by the AA agent in whatever space was available near the garage. He parked it with the two near-side wheels on the footpath. It was dark and raining heavily. The garage was closed on Sunday.. On Monday morning (18/01/2011), I met the garage guys and handed over the keys and they then took a day or so (due to bad weather, incessant rain and lack of staff) to move the car and start work on it.. They had the car for the rest of the week and I picked up the car on the Saturday (22/01/2011). When I picked the car there was a PCN stuck on the windshield. Here I must clarify there was a sign on the pavement, allowing parking on one side of the sign and my car was parked on the other side. This sign at the location indicates, using an arrow, the direction and point from which you can park with wheels on the footway. So in that sense it was a default.. but as I have indicated, the circumstances were not normal. I was not in charge of the vehicle when the alleged violation happened.. The car was dead and wouldn't start.. There was no place to park near the garage. I appealed against the PCN and also had attached the garage bills. Soon after my appeal, I got a letter from Redbridge Parking asking for proof in the form of a letter from the AA. I called the AA and got a letter which I sent to the council. Now I have got a letter from them rejecting my appeal. Redbridge Parking say that they will not cancel the PCN because the AA moved the vehicle to the location where it received the PCN therefore the vehicle should have been parked correctly. I had two options.. Pay the reduced amount £50 within 14 days.. I did not use this option as I was trying to speak with councillors to make them see some sense. I now have received a Notice to Owner (I am Registered Keeper), at the full penalty of £100.00. I have to now make a further representation to the Council’s Appeal Services or pay the full fees of £100. Should my representation not be accepted then I will have the option to make a further representation to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Services (PATAS). My question was: Should I make a fresh appeal and then go to PATAS. Is my case strong enough. If I go to PATAS and lose, do I have to pay the higher penalty of £100 - does the penalty increase further - do I also have to pay damages (court fees, etc) Is the process of second appeal and independent adjudication, time consuming.. I work full time The car was left so that it doesnt obstruct anyone or anything.. if there was no parking place to set my car down in the vicinity of the garage, what are Ihe AA meant to do.. If they leave the car near my home on Lowbrook Road, how am I going to get it to the garage on the next working day..in light of the exceptional circumstance, is it right to uphold the PCN. Rules could be interpreted in the context of the circumstances especially when the vehicle was not obstructing, disturbing or inconveniencing anyone. I did not park the car and go shopping.. There was limited choices.. This treatment seemed a bit harsh and punitive..

My car brokedown on Saturday night (16/01/2011). I called the AA.. They came within an hour.. The agent couldnt fix the car and diagnosed it as a broken timer belt with possibly bent valves. The car was dead and immobile. The car was recovered by tow truck and left outside the garage.. The car was set down by the AA agent in whatever space was available near the garage. He parked it with the near-side two wheels on the footpath. It was dark and raining heavily. The garage was closed on Sunday.. On Monday morning (18/01/2011), I met the garage guys and handed over the keys and they then took a day or so (due to bad weather, incessant rain and lack of staff) to move the car and start work on it.. They had the car for the rest of the week and I picked up the car on the Saturday. When I picked the car there was a PCN stuck on the windshield. Here I must clarify there was a sign allowing parking on one side of the sign and my car was parked on the other side. The sign at the location indicates, using an arrow, the direction and point from which you can park with wheels on the footway. I appealed against the PCN and also had attached the garage bills. Soon after my appeal, I got a letter from Redbridge Parking asking for proof in the form of a letter from the AA. I called the AA and got a letter which I sent them. Now I have got a letter from them rejecting my appeal. Redbridge say that they cannot cancel the PCN because the AA moved the vehicle to the location where it received the PCN therefore the vehicle should have been parked correctly. I have two options now.. Pay the reduced amount £50 within 14 days.. If I do not use this option, a Notice to Owner will be sent to me, the Registered Keeper, at the full penalty of £100.00. I am then entitled to a further representation to the Council’s Appeal Services. Should your representation not be accepted then I will have the option to make a further representation to the Parking and Traffic Appeals Services (PATAS). As I have indicated, the circumstances were not normal. I was not in charge of the vehicle when the alleged violation happened.. The car was dead and wouldn't start.. There was no place to park near the garage. This infuriates me.. This is greed, opportunism and a frantic way by the council to make more money out of me. Any help would be appreciated. Should I fight, what chance to do I have of winning this case with PATAS.. Am I better off paying the reduced amount. Sincerely

Thank you for the warm welcome, Martin I was away for 5-7 minutes g_and_m - it took that long because he was attending to a queue of customers due to the festive shopping (Diwali day) and then he had to look for my package which he had kept aside in the backroom The Postcode is approximately IG1 2LQ and the loading bay is on Madras Road just near the junction with Ilford Lane. And you can also see the shop M.I.M. Superstore where I had to pick up the package. Google Maps image is dated and does not show any signage.. as far as I can remember there is a signboard saying "loading only 20 minutes max no return within 1 hour" I will get some pics in the morning

I live in Ilford, London Borough of Redbridge My wife recently ordered fireworks and because it was heavy could not carry it home.. On my way back, I stopped the car to pick up the pre-ordered firework. I happened to park in a loading bay where 20 minutes of parking is allowed. It was raining heavily on the day and hence I had to park near the shop so that the firework doesn't get wet. I also had to park nearby because I had an accident 2 years ago which has now healed but in winter the pain returns and on the day I was struggling a bit I know loading does not include stopping the car for shopping.. but does it include picking up goods It looks like a street camera photographed me and I received a PCN in my letter box Is there any defence at all. Or do I have to pay up