Hello
I received the attached PCM for parking in a residents or shared use parking place or zone without a valid virtual permit.Facts were as follows:
On 17 July 2022, I purchased an annual residents permit via the Ringgo app. The permit was registered to my vehicle at the time with registration number YA14 USX. The permit was valid from 00:00 27 July 2022 until 23:59 26 July 2023.
On 20 March 2023, I bought a new vehicle. At some point prior to or following this date I spoke with someone at the Council who advised that vehicle changes could not be dealt with over the phone and all changes could be made via the app and would be effectively immediately. I don't have a record of this call.
On 25 March 2023, I picked up the new vehicle in part exchange for my old car. On the same day I logged into via the app to process the change. When you click on the “Change Vehicle” button on the app this brings up an error message which says “Cannot Change Vehicle. Sorry vehicles cannot be changed for permit sessions via the app. Please login to your MyRingGo.co.uk account to make changes”.
I then duly logged into the app and clicked on the permits page. The page says :
“To change your address or vehicle please click edit”.
Having clicked on the “Edit” button this then took me to the “Edit Application” page. The instructions are set out at the top of the page before the form to be completed. The instructions say:
“Resident parking permits are now e-Permits, there is no need to display a physical permit. A benefit of moving to an e-permit is that you are able to start parking your vehicle straight away.” and "You need to prove your eligibility before you purchase a parking permit. Your application may be approved by our automatic checks. If this is not possible, you will be asked to upload documents in support of your application”.
On 4 May 2023, nearly 6 weeks after having completed the form, I received the PCN at 12.07.
I immediately called parking services at 13.08 to enquire why I had received the ticket. After much searching by their (unhelpful rep) it was established that the permit was still registered to my previous vehicle. I explained to the agent that I had transferred the permit to my new vehicle. The agent advised that this had not taken place. The edit vehicle function was ONLY for courtesy vehicles and would expire automatically after 21 days. She said the only way to register a new car is to cancel the old permit and apply for a new one with evidence that I own the vehicle. I explained that this contrary to the information previously provided by Merton Council and the information provided on the Ringo app and website but she said that basically wasn't her problem. Unless I could prove that the information provided by Merton Council was wrong the PCN would be upheld. I said I didn't think this was the case as by making this statement the Council was fettering its own discretion.
Nevertheless the agent then arranged for the current permit to be cancelled and arranged for a refund. I then had to go back to the app to purchased a new permit. All was done within 2 hours of the original PCN.
In short the information provided by the Council and on the app is ambiguous and I've no idea how for 6 weeks I escaped without a ticket. There are always wardens coming down the street and the agent said I was 'lucky'.
I drafted an informal representation (attached) and have now received the attached response. Is this worth pursuing or should i give up and pay :-(
