How private parking firms issue THOUSANDS of unfair £100 tickets because they think you won’t bother to fight them
New figures show firms either lost or backed down in more than half of appeals
DODGY parking firms are issuing thousands of unfair tickets only to back down when drivers appeal.
New figures released by parking authority Popla show firms either lost or backed down in more than half of all appeals last year.
The news has sparked fresh calls for a crackdown on cowboy firms "trying it on" with unwitting customers.
Szilvia Booker QC, a criminal barrister from Hertfordshire, was among those to fight her parking fine - and win.
She had parked up outside Reading Crown Court when she received a £100 fine.
Private firm Premier Parking Solutions told her she had taken "an extensive amount of time" to get her ticket.
But she told investigators she had been trying to pay the £4 charge for two hours' parking - and their machine wasn't working.
After a six-week ordeal, Popla ruled in Szilvia's favour.
She told the Sun: "These utterly dishonourable actions need revealing - they are absolutely scandalous.
"The letters they send out are written in such a complicated, intimidating way, I'm sure most people end up paying just out of confusion.
"It took me bombarding them with emails and phone calls, they made it as difficult as possible.
"If it wasn't for my legal background, I'm not sure I wouldn't have been taken in myself.
"I'd be happy to offer my services to anyone fighting dodgy parking firms pro bono - they can't be allowed to get away with it."
Reports show one firm, Smart Parking, cancelled an unbelievable 6,772 out of 8,900 tickets last year - a whopping 75 per cent.
Parking watchdog Popla said that overall 37 per cent of appeals saw firms back down - with a further 13 per cent ruled in favour of the customer.
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Sir Greg Knight, Tory MP for East Yorkshire, told : "There is no doubt about it that there is an element of 'trying it on' in some of these car parks with expectation that the motorist won't challenge the ticket."
A spokesman for the British Parking Association said: "The high number of withdrawn appeals in 2017 was investigated by the BPA and appropriate action taken.
"Quite often it is because more evidence is presented at the appeal stage."
HOW TO APPEAL A PARKING TICKET
There are two types of parking tickets: those issued by the council or police, and others issued by private companies.
Council and police tickets are Penalty Charge Notice, Excess Charge Notice or Fixed Penalty Notice. These are very difficult to fight.
A Parking Charge Notice issued by a private company is much easier to tackle.
Remember you can fight any parking ticket if you think it has been unfairly charged BUT the fine may increase if your appeal is unsuccessful.
If a Penalty Charge Notice was issued by the local council, unless you have grounds to appeal, you should pay up.
You'll normally get a half-price discount if you pay within 14 days.
A Penalty Charge Notice means you've broken the law.
But if you do have a persuasive reason for appealing, the council can use its discretion to decide whether to cancel the notice.
If you get a ticket from a private firm, find out what company has issued the ticketJust like Szilvia, you could take them to Popla and there's a chance they will find in your favour.
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