We got our parking charge dropped after overstaying at a motorway service area.
You may be interested in my experience with CP Plus when they fined me for overstaying my time at a service station on a motorway. They wrote that the DVLA had told them either I was the registered keeper at the time of parking or that the registered keeper had named me as the driver at the date and time of the event. I replied that I was indeed the keeper, but I could not remember who had been driving at the time. It was either myself or my husband, but neither of us could remember which one. It was possible that one of us drove in and the other drove out.
When threatening letters later arrived and the penalties increased, I reminded them of my original letter and told them that, as they were ignoring it, they had no cause to increase any charges. I was prepared to get as threatening as they were, but this was not needed. After returning three letters to them with comments on the bottom saying "refer to my letter of (date)", I received a letter from them stating that they were not proceeding with the fine. If any of your readers have confusion about who might have been driving their car, they ought to pursue this line. Hope this helps someone.
When threatening letters later arrived and the penalties increased, I reminded them of my original letter and told them that, as they were ignoring it, they had no cause to increase any charges. I was prepared to get as threatening as they were, but this was not needed. After returning three letters to them with comments on the bottom saying "refer to my letter of (date)", I received a letter from them stating that they were not proceeding with the fine. If any of your readers have confusion about who might have been driving their car, they ought to pursue this line. Hope this helps someone.
Asked on 12 October 2013 by JBT, via email
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Well done. I think the real reason they chickened out was because this was a motorway service area. If service rest area operators penalise drivers for resting more than two hours at service rest areas they could be in danger of losing their franchise for contravening government instructions: "Tiredness can kill. Take a break". There are prominent notices at Chieveley Services on the M4 and A34 allowing a free “rest period” of only two hours, but I think they can get away with this because the Services are off the motorway at J13 and there are plenty of alternative places nearby where drivers could take a longer nap.
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Apropos of one of your recent letters topics - see this from the BBC: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-21752893
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