Am new to this site so sorry if I'm boring you. I got a PCN in January in a council Car Park in Burnley - even though I pay for (and was displaying) a Parking Permit. I have appealed to Parkwise who manage parking in Burnley on behalf of the Council but they refused my appeal because they say that the permit did not conform to the Terms and Conditions, and that their decision was final and they would not enter into any further discussion on the matter - after one appeal. They further informed me that if I wanted, I could contact the Council, which I did. The Council told me I should apply to Parkwise - is it me or is there a process flaw here? I have e-mailed Parkwise Enquiries for a copy of the Terms and Conditions but so far after three weeks, I have not had a response - so much for their ten working day policy.
As I was displaying my permit I feel that the ticket should not have been issued. I have refused to pay the fine which has now escallated and am now in a position where I risk having the car clamped very soon and pay £385 for its release.
Since I work for the Council (though not in the Streetscene department I hasten to add), I have raised the matter with the management and threatened to go to the newspapers about it. I got a carefully camouflaged response that if I did then as an employee there is acode of conduct, and a breach of this could result in diciplinary action. This so-called senior manager got short shrift from me by telling him that once I was clocked out of the place, I was a ratepayer like anyone else (more than he can say) and if I wanted to publicaly complain I will.
I have obtained the photograph of my windscreen that the Parking Attendant took clearly displaying my permit where you can see the issue number, registration number of my car and expiry date, but still they will not recind the ticket. The only portion that it does not show is the particular car park, but that is because of the angle of the photo.
I don't know what to do now because I can't afford to pay £385 if the car gets clamped and I've enquired about getting an injunction against the council (and its agents) preventing any further action, but that would cost me £1,000. I just don't see why I should pay this fine.
My message is where ever you want to go, don't visit Burnley. Parkwise will make your visit as miserable as an episode of Eastenders and the Council couldn't give a toss about visitors experience - and they wonder why visitor numbers are down!