Hey team,
So the station car park has recently gone through some changes and the parking provider has changed, it is now Brittania Parking. They operate a "Pay on Exit" system. There used to be barriers and card machines at the exit.
Vehicle parked on level 2, in a disabled bay displaying a blue badge (this isn't a blue badge issue). Level 2, as we found out, does not have a lift to it and the ramps are not safe, there are even signs to say that they are unsuitable for disabled users. So at the beginning of the shopping trip, fresh legged, stairs are ok.
At the end of the shopping trip, we used the stairs to return to vehicle, and tried to pay using the app. The app did not recognise the location, could not find the location and had no idea where we were, I assumed signal was bad. There was a sign that said payment kiosks were on another floor. Which meant more steps and by this time after sitting down, the legs were seizing up. So I thought we can pay on the machines near the exit as there used to be machines there or I can get outside and get more signal and pay then.
As we got to the exit, there were no machines to pay anymore and the barriers were gone so no option to pay at the barrier anymore. We drove out as we had someone behind us and were going to stop and sort it but then there was nowhere to park, lots of signs saying "no stopping/no parking", no refuge area, and lots of police cars parked up (presumably British transport police or a local police spot for vehicles) so no stopping anywhere on exit, then stuck in traffic and a ramp with nowhere to pull over. We tried the app again but no luck. Pretty annoyed at this point, happy to pay but unable to, I gave up and was going to call Brittania. I did not, and then forgot. It was new years.
Quite a while later we received debt collection notices from DCBL for £170. I called them to ask what it was about and they explained. They were polite enough considering what I've had to deal with in the past. I said I hadn't received any notices and they sent me the letters from Brittania.
We moved last May 23, I hadn't updated the V5C. We had a redirect in place. This is my fault. But I never received the letters from Britannia via the redirect which I found odd. DCBL found me through the electoral role fine though.
I didn't admit to anything but said I wanted to appeal, they said I couldn't as the time had passed and needed to pay £170 for what should have been a £6 parking fee. I said I'd be discussing it with Britannia before paying them and at any rate I'm not paying the additional £70.
DBCL started calling at stupid o clock and I blocked their number. I've been doing a load of research on the issue and where I stand. Sadly I still don't know.
Would like to have it off my plate and we do hold some blame. Despite the lack of disabled access, lack of machines, app not working - knowing parking wasn't paid for, I was willing to pay the £100 increased fine. Not the additional £70 for DCBL. Today I went onto the Britannia website and plugged in my PCN number and it said it couldn't find the ticket...
Now I am totally lost. I don't trust these people. And I don't want the cogs of a court summons going on in the background. Can anyone advise?
Thanks for your time.
Oh and I have now updated the V5C. Also we did park there again, it is the closest to the station and I can't walk far. I tried to use the app again and it needed a 50mb update. There is no signal there so gave up and found a payment kiosk. Which worked fine. I had parked on a different floor, with a lift. The technology does seem to be more prohibitive than in used to be.
