Car Park trap. Fine imminent?

[nuyorican]

I got lost driving around the llyn peninsula the other day trying to find a beach. Didn't want to stop in the middle of a single-track lane with no visibility so ducked into a carpark so I could try and work out where I was. Parked up, tried to look on Google Maps but couldn't get signal, sat for a bit thinking what to do as it was raining hard. Decided I'd go for a walk anyway, so wandered over to the machine to buy a ticket. Coins only machine, so back to the car to hunt for shrapnel. None to be found, back to machine again to read the small print and notice it says you must buy a ticket within ten minutes of entry. Well I'd already been there for probably quarter of an hour faffing about. I then notice small cameras above the entry. I decided just to leave as I couldn't pay for parking, and I had no signal so couldn't even ring the helpline number.

I've never experienced this kind of carpark before. So I'm assuming I'll now receive an invoice/invitation to pay/faux penalty charge in the post? I'll happily pay the minimum £2 per hour charge for my twenty minutes stay if requested. But I'm guessing they're going to want to pull my trousers down?

[Nomme de Plum]

nuyorican said:

I got lost driving around the llyn peninsula the other day trying to find a beach. Didn't want to stop in the middle of a single-track lane with no visibility so ducked into a carpark so I could try and work out where I was. Parked up, tried to look on Google Maps but couldn't get signal, sat for a bit thinking what to do as it was raining hard. Decided I'd go for a walk anyway, so wandered over to the machine to buy a ticket. Coins only machine, so back to the car to hunt for shrapnel. None to be found, back to machine again to read the small print and notice it says you must buy a ticket within ten minutes of entry. Well I'd already been there for probably quarter of an hour faffing about. I then notice small cameras above the entry. I decided just to leave as I couldn't pay for parking, and I had no signal so couldn't even ring the helpline number.

I've never experienced this kind of carpark before. So I'm assuming I'll now receive an invoice/invitation to pay/faux penalty charge in the post? I'll happily pay the minimum £2 per hour charge for my twenty minutes stay if requested. But I'm guessing they're going to want to pull my trousers down?

Why didn't you take some pictures and sort after the event. There should have been signs saying who to contact.


Not much you can do now other than try and find the car park via Google.

[nuyorican]

Nomme de Plum said:

Why didn't you take some pictures and sort after the event. There should have been signs saying who to contact.

Quite.

In hindsight I should have of course. I dunno, not having experienced that type of carpark before and being a bit flustered with being lost and the weather etc.

[Pica-Pica]

You’ve never experienced a car park where you use coins? Seriously?

[Speed Badger]

Why were you going to the beach in the rain?

[Every day a journey]

Pica-Pica said:

You’ve never experienced a car park where you use coins? Seriously?

In his/her defence there has been a massive swing to card/app payments.

Can’t actually remember the last time I paid for parking with actual cash

[nuyorican]

Pica-Pica said:

You’ve never experienced a car park where you use coins? Seriously?

No,

The kind where you have ten minutes to pay. Unless they're all like that but It's never before been an issue as I don't normally sit around trying to get signal on my phone for ten minutes first, and I usually have some change in the ashtray or can pay by card/phone.

There was only about two cars in the entire desolate carpark with no tickets being displayed. A bit naive of me I guess to think 'no harm done'.

Edited by nuyorican on Wednesday 28th August 18:30

[nuyorican]

Speed Badger said:

Why were you going to the beach in the rain?

M'lud,

I had driven many hours to the area, and had been lost for some time. I wanted to salvage what I could from the trip. I was determined to set foot on said beach, weather be damned.

[Pica-Pica]

Every day a journey said:

Pica-Pica said:

You’ve never experienced a car park where you use coins? Seriously?

In his/her defence there has been a massive swing to card/app payments.

Can’t actually remember the last time I paid for parking with actual cash

I only ever pay with cash at car parks, ‘massive swing’ or not. I would be stumped if it was an app only payment. My so-called ‘twin cupholder’ has pound coins in one, and 50 pence pieces in the other.

Edited by Pica-Pica on Wednesday 28th August 18:38

[Nomme de Plum]

nuyorican said:

Nomme de Plum said:

Why didn't you take some pictures and sort after the event. There should have been signs saying who to contact.

Quite.

In hindsight I should have of course. I dunno, not having experienced that type of carpark before and being a bit flustered with being lost and the weather etc.

I never carry cash in my wallet but in do have a little container in my car with about £10 in coins. Live and learn.

Manycar parks now operate app parking. it is brilliant and you don't need to do at immediately. A few hours later is fine.

I'd really try to find out how to contact them rather than wait. Always be on the front foot.

Good luck.

[Nomme de Plum]

Pica-Pica said:

I only ever pay with cash at car parks, ‘massive swing’ or not. I would be stumped if it was an app only payment.

Why?

It is so easy

[Scrump]

It was a trap because it only took cash as payment?

[nuyorican]

Thanks.

The ashtray in my car is usually full of coins for just this situation. Sod's law. I'd been on a long tour of Wales and had clearly exhausted my supply.

[Pica-Pica]

If it was Gwynedd Council, you could pay by app or cash.
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Parkin...

[Pica-Pica]

Nomme de Plum said:

Pica-Pica said:

I only ever pay with cash at car parks, ‘massive swing’ or not. I would be stumped if it was an app only payment.

Why?

It is so easy

Not if you don’t have a smartphone.

[nuyorican]

Pica-Pica said:

If it was Gwynedd Council, you could pay by app or cash.
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Parkin...

Thanks.

It was in a caravan park from memory, so private. I'm just trying to locate it via Google maps and hopefully email them and offer my £2.

[skyebear]

It's a shame pepipoo disappeared but you could try a web archive as there was a stock answer to reply to private parking charges with.

There also seems to be a new site which is Fairly Tricky Like Actually to find that seems to be frequented by the same names. I always found them helpful when I needed advice.

IIRC correctly, their advice was to reply to, rather than ignore, an unsolicited invoice with a particular format.

[mac96]

Was it a trap because Hell's Mouth?

[Simpo Two]

Pica-Pica said:

Nomme de Plum said:

Pica-Pica said:

I only ever pay with cash at car parks, ‘massive swing’ or not. I would be stumped if it was an app only payment.

Why?

It is so easy

Not if you don’t have a smartphone.

Quite. I had to make a phone call to get a car park ticket last year - luckily someone answered. And with a smartphone, what if no signal or battery flat? There has to be a back-up method; the obvious answer is card payment.

[hidetheelephants]

skyebear said:

It's a shame pepipoo disappeared but you could try a web archive as there was a stock answer to reply to private parking charges with.

There also seems to be a new site which is Fairly Tricky Like Actually to find that seems to be frequented by the same names. I always found them helpful when I needed advice.

IIRC correctly, their advice was to reply to, rather than ignore, an unsolicited invoice with a particular format.

According to this thread on MSE it's been recreated here.