Issued wrong Visitors Parking permits but received a PCN!

[roytheboy]

Hi all,

 

I wonder if anyone can help me?

 

I was issued some visitor parking tickets by Newham council and which were Zone U and should have been Zone S- I was sent the wrong ones. I put one of these on my girlfriend's car when she came to visit me and she got a PCN, because the tickets were for the wrong Zone. I do not drive and it was the first time I was using one of these, so I expected the tickets to be correct as I gave the council my correct address Stratford that I needed the tickets for.

 

Disgusted, I took all the remaining tickets to the local council office and they swapped these for the correct ones and also put in writng on the accompanying form that I had been issued the wrong tickets. I also explained about the PCN we had received and they reassured me that it was their fault and because of my appeal (which I had sent the very next day of the incident) I wouldn't have to pay.

 

Lo and behold the council officer I saw informed me that it was not the ticket issuing officer at fault but the council had the Stratford area down as Zone U instead of Zone S! So when the issuing officer looked on the system to issue my tickets she issued them as Zone U and I and my girlfriend being novices at this didnt realise they were incorrect as I now know the hole punch next to the letter designates the zone they are valid for.

 

Two days ago I received a letter from Newham council saying I would have to pay the penalty charge. Surely this is not right. The local council office were adamant I would not be charged.

 

Do I have a case? Should I appeal again?

 

Any help in this matter would be great!

Edited April 12, 2013 by roytheboy
needed extra words

[Michael Browne]

Two days ago I received a letter from Newham council saying I would have to pay the penalty charge.

 

Is this a letter rejecting your appeal or a Notice to Owner?

 

they swapped these for the correct ones and also put in writng on the accompanying form that I had been issued the wrong tickets.

 

Do you have a copy of this or do you still have the visitor permit you used (this will have a number on it that Newham can trace back to your original request for permits)

[roytheboy]

Hi Thanks for the reply.

 

Its a letter rejecting my appeal.

 

Yes, I have copies of all. Visitor Permit, letters, etc. The local officer did say that they could track my request. I'm just miffed because she said they would see this and all would be ok!

[Michael Browne]

You can try sending in another appeal (with copies of permit etc), but most councils will ignore second informal appeals.

 

Otherwise you will have to wait for the NTO and make a formal appeal. But knowing Newham, they will reject that too and you will have to appeal to the adjudicator

[roytheboy]

Hi Michael,

 

Thanks for the advice. I am going to the local council office again to see if they have anything to offer which they probrably wont. Like you said there is no point in making another informal appeal.