Thank you for the reply. I have submitted an appeal on the basis that the contravention did not occur (text below). Strangely, Islington do not seem to let you do informal appeals? The only button on the website says to make a "Challenge", which presumably is a formal appeal. It says on the back of the ticket that they will restart the 14 days reduced amount if the appeal fails, but the page on the council website does not seem to make that clear:
https://www.islington.gov.uk/parking/parking-tickets/challenge-a-penalty-charge-notice
I am writing to challenge the above Penalty Charge Notice on the ground that the contravention did not occur.
On the date in question, I parked in a paid parking bay on Cowcross Street. This was my first time parking in Islington, and I was unfamiliar with the RingGo system. I asked a nearby Civil Enforcement Officer for help, who advised me to use the RingGo app and location number 61336. I downloaded the app, but it would not find the location. The officer remained with me and also attempted to use the app, but it did not work. I have screenshots showing this.
I therefore paid by telephone using the RingGo automated service. I verbally gave my vehicle registration as GK18 XXF, along with the make and colour (red Toyota). Due to very windy conditions and a loud event nearby at Smithfield Market, it was difficult to hear the automated voice clearly. The system repeated the registration back to me and confirmed that it matched the vehicle make and colour, so I believed it had been entered correctly.
I later discovered that the system had recorded the registration as GK18 XXS rather than XXF. The vehicle with registration GK18 XXS is the same make, model, and colour as mine, meaning RingGo’s verification process did not identify the error. This was very bad luck, what are the chances? I paid £9.67 for one hour of parking and received confirmation that payment had been successful. When I called the service again, it confirmed that parking was already paid for at that location.
I genuinely believed I had paid correctly and had taken reasonable steps to comply, including seeking assistance from a Civil Enforcement Officer and completing payment before leaving the vehicle. The confirmation email arrived after I had left, and as this was my first time using this system, I was not aware to check for it.
As payment was made for the relevant time and location, I submit that the alleged contravention did not occur. Furthermore, the council is not out of pocket for the parking space since I did pay for the space I took up. I am attaching the receipt for the payment. I can provide more supporting evidence including, more screenshots, and a recording demonstrating the difficulty in distinguishing the automated pronunciation of the final letter of the registration.
I respectfully request that the Penalty Charge Notice be cancelled.
Yours faithfully,
Show Posts
