Free Traffic Legal Advice

Hi, I parked my car and attempted to use the ringo app to pay which I always do but it wasn’t working. As soon as it loaded I added my full parking session (free 3 hour session due to the time). However, by the time I reached my car about half an hour after I managed to start the session I had already been given a ticket. I don’t know how I can prove the app wasn’t working but it just kept saying ‘loading’. They’d probably argue I could have called but I always use the app, and it wasn’t possible for me to call at the time. When they issued the ticket (and only waited 1 minute) the charge would only have been maximum £3, so how can they justify charging £160 or £80 if paid early?! Please can you help and advise, thanks!

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the charge would only have been maximum £3, so how can they justify charging £160 or £80 if paid early?!

Those are penalties, and in London they are double the rest of the UK, (don't ask why, ask your MP !). They are fixed and set in accordance with regulations peculiar to London. In the rest of the country, the government have powers to set them. In London the government can object to the level of the penalties, but never do so.

Hi, I’m going to appeal against this within that 14 days as there used to be machines available and since the app wasn’t working as soon as it was I can prove I processed the parking request and it was for a free period anyway. Any further tips? @stamfordman @Hippocrates @Incandescent Thanks in advance!

Hi @stamfordman @Hippocrates @Incandescent No I don’t have any proof I was there for an hour. The ticket was issued for 5.20-5.21pm and I started the session at 5.38pm. I have proof of the session I ended up starting, and due to the time it ended up starting, even if I selected one hour, as their controlled hours finish at 6.30pm it was free till the next morning. I have been away and just seen a letter received while away rejecting my appeal and that I need to pay the reduced fee by today unless I want to appeal further (but if refused the fine goes up from £80-160), so please could you let me know this afternoon if there is any good chance or not to get out of this. It seems very unreasonable to purposely remove pay and displace machines for which you previously just pressed one button to get a free ticket, but now have to use the app or call ( I didn’t call because it asks you for some PIN number for them which I didn’t know and it’s not user friendly at all). Thanks in advance!!!

Their reply:

Hi @stamfordman ! Thanks…

My appeal was this:


This is the parking session:


An example of the app not working:


Just keeps saying loading sessions!

I went to some shops, but no time proof.

Let me know what you think. If you saw Redbridge have been caught out before and high chance of success of getting out of this on grounds of parking during free session for less than one hour I’ll appeal, but from what their reflection says that’s not good enough so maybe best to pay. If I lose independent appeal won’t I have to pay higher amount?

Thanks again!

Hi all! UPDATE:

I received an email from London Tribunals a couple of weeks ago saying my appeal had been refused. However, I had requested a personal hearing and never received any notification of the hearing date.

I then requested a review and a new personal hearing on the grounds of procedural unfairness, as I was never given the chance to attend or present my case.

The review was refused, claiming that a hearing notification was sent by email. I have checked thoroughly and never received this email. Had I received it, I would of course have attended the hearing I requested. Also, the councils evidence pack was written as sent on 11/2/26 but only received it over a week later just before the hearing so not even enough time to review this.

They are now trying to enforce a £160 penalty for what should have been a free one-hour parking period, which is completely unreasonable.

Has anyone dealt with something similar or can advise on next steps? Any help from your expertise would be greatly appreciated, thanks!!!

Adjudicator decision page 1:


Page 2:


Page 3:


My email sent on 23/2/26


Their response:

Ok thanks for the advice anyway! Anyone else know if a complaint to the London councils, MP or anyone else would be work, or even threaten exposing this to media?

As far as I recall I always responded and appealed within 14 days, so shouldn’t I still get the chance to pay 50% of the fee. If this went to court wouldn’t the court throw this out? £160 for a free one hour parking period surely would be deemed unreasonable?

All you can do is to tell them you didn't get the email and see if they'll reconsider. But the the decision will stand in my view - you are best paying.