writing a letter to the council (parking)

[killa]

I sent off for parking permits for me and my girlfriend back in late November for the area we live in, i think the 29th or something. Anyway, in the time from then until now i have received THREE bloody fines for parking because i didnt have a clue about where i could or couldnt park near to my flat.
So i called the council and the women explained she couldnt do anything and they have been very busy so thats why i still dont have my permit. She suggested i write a letter and explain what was going on but i have no experience in challenging parking fines like this. Im just wondering what sort of things i should include in this letter, i mean, would it be an idea to explain that i wouldnt have the fucking fines if they had got my permit out in a reasonable time to my address? I have paid for a years parking so in my view i have the permit, just not physically.
Any advice would be brilliant, cheers.
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[s44678]

Have they physically taken payment from you (i.e. out of your account) and not sent the permit? If so, I would say this should form the basis of your appeal.

Otherwise if they have just been slow with the application, they will just say you should have paid attention to the parking rules and parked somewhere where you were allowed while you waited for the permit. Maybe depends as well on how far away the nearest 'non-permit' parking space is from your house. If it's an unreasonable distance, again you might have more of a case. If it's only a 100 yds they will probably tell you to get stuffed.

Also have you paid the fines already? Because that's pretty much admitting liability and it's a lot harder to appeal them once you've paid. But not impossible.

[killa]

There is an area of free parking about 5 minutes walk from my place, i dont know if thats going to give them the right to say get stuffed. I hope not.
I should have rang before i know but i thought id be getting my permit sooner.
I havent paid for the fines yet.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[s44678]

Ok, then I would write one letter to appeal all three fines.

Basis of your argument:

Unreasonable delay on their part in issuing your permit.
They have already taken your payment.
You have been significantly inconvenienced by having to park 400 metres away (exaggerate) because of their delays.
Parking in permit areas occasionally has been unavoidable (pregnant mrs, disabled grandma coming to visit, one legged muslim dog etc) and has resulted in fines.

[Poseidon]

I had a similar problem when I lived near the cetre of york. My street was permit parking only and it took a month to get it said permit. In that time I recieved 6 tickets. I sent each one back and politely informed them that I had proof of postage of my application (with correct monies, photocopy included) and that they have no right to fine me for parking outside my own house when I pay rent and council tax for said property!

They wrote back and said that until I had the permit in my possession I wasn't allowed to park down my own street so the fines still stand, however they were willing to drop them down to the reduced rate of £30.

I told them that if they want my money they will have to take me to court and I also assured them that I would appeal at everystage, even if it meant taking it to my local MP/European court of human rights.

They wrote back and said that the fine stands as my permit wasn't displayed in my vehicle and as I was refusing to pay, they were going to take me to court

I wrote back and pointed out that I had already paid for parking through my council tax/permit fee (bank statement included with payment deducted and proof of postage of application dated before fines were given) and that I would be taking them to court for extortion/harrassment/abuse of my civil rights/being cocks if they didn't drop this matter immediately. I also suggested they they send the fines to the people in the permit office for taking so much time with my application, as it was their fault my permit wasn't displayed properly.

They wrote back and said that court proceedings had been halted whilst they investigated this matter further.

I never heard anything else after that so I consider it a victory!
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