Parking fine. Had paid in Parking Tag app, but wrong car

jconlon

I got a €40 parking fine in Dublin but had actually paid for the parking through the Parking Tag app.

Problem is that I was in my wife's car and the app defaults to the last car you use (i.e. my normal car). So I had paid, but accidentally paid against the wrong car.

I ran up the road after the warden to explain the problem who said there shouldn't be a problem but that I'd have to write in and appeal the fine. The appeal has come back saying that the fine stands and that I would have had to confirm the car at the final step of the app. What with a 7 week old baby in tow that day, and tiredness I missed that confirmation pop up message.

Any idea what I can do here. I did pay for parking albeit by accent against the wrong car on my account. Out of principle I feel like I should dig in here and just not pay at all.

The app defaults to the last car you use if you have multiple cars on account. Arguably it should first ask what car you are using if there are multiple cars in account.

Any thoughts on this please?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

Carawaystick

Fred Swanson wrote: »

It will cost you more than €40 to fight these. Easier just to pay up rather take a stand on a principle.

If you do decide to pay, only send in a cheque for the 40 less the amount you paid already.
Chance of system not accepting it and returning cheque

L1011

Carawaystick wrote: »

If you do decide to pay, only send in a cheque for the 40 less the amount you paid already.
Chance of system not accepting it and returning cheque

And of the fine being re-issued for the full amount (which will probably be higher by then) as they aren't going to accept the payment against another car as part-payment as you can't prove the car wasn't actually parked. The zones on parking tag can be massive and multi-sited, particular the Corpo ones as they're just colours which are used in many places.

jconlon

L1011 wrote: »

And of the fine being re-issued for the full amount (which will probably be higher by then) as they aren't going to accept the payment against another car as part-payment as you can't prove the car wasn't actually parked. The zones on parking tag can be massive and multi-sited, particular the Corpo ones as they're just colours which are used in many places.

Thanks for the reply. The app actually took my geolocation and its payment record proves that my payment was on the same road the fine was issued on. Very annoying there's no leniency given here. We clearly tried to pay. Better app interface design and this wouldn't have happened.

Do you think a judge would see this view if I stick to my guns?

jconlon

Carawaystick wrote: »

If you do decide to pay, only send in a cheque for the 40 less the amount you paid already.
Chance of system not accepting it and returning cheque

Good thought. Would definitely consider if I had to eventually pay.

Senna

jconlon wrote: »

Good thought. Would definitely consider if I had to eventually pay.

If you are just looking for ridiculous answers, then steal the traffic wardens hat and ransom it back for €40.

L1011

jconlon wrote: »

Do you think a judge would see this view if I stick to my guns?

Personally, no, I think they'd assume you're wasting their time.

There is nothing to stop you paying for parking for a car miles away with the same zone.

Fred Swanson

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hullaballoo

You can appeal further to the independent parking appeals officer on "compassionate grounds", setting out how the error was made simply by virtue of the level of stress due to the new arrival and the attendant rush etc to try and not kill this person for whom you are suddenly responsible.

If that doesn't work, then either pay the fine or await a summons and chance you're arm with a judge that s/he will be more sympathetic. That can be a bit of an unlucky dip, though.

bucketybuck

jconlon wrote: »

Arguably it should first ask what car you are using if there are multiple cars in account.

Any thoughts on this please?

It does ask you to confirm the car.

You state you want to fight this on principle but the fact is that you didn't pay parking for the car you were in, an honest mistake perhaps but a mistake you did actually make. There is no principle here beyond "damn, I messed up but don't want to pay this". Maybe you had other things to focus on but if that was a valid excuse everybody would be using it.

My opinion is that it would be a waste of everyones time, yours included, to fight this. Its €40, pay it and move on.

Stheno

jconlon wrote: »

Thanks for the reply. The app actually took my geolocation and its payment record proves that my payment was on the same road the fine was issued on. Very annoying there's no leniency given here. We clearly tried to pay. Better app interface design and this wouldn't have happened.

Do you think a judge would see this view if I stick to my guns?

The very last step you go through before the payment is processed says you are paying for parking for car reg xx-x-1234 is this correct?

You have to confirm that so I would say no to be honest.

I use the same app all the time and have two 04 reg numbers on it and regularly have to check it's the right car.

jconlon

Thanks for the replies.

Will go the second level appeal route.

I assume their main doubt is around that point raised on our second car potentially being in use. My wife was still recovering from a caesarean at that point and couldn't drive/wasn't covered until her consultant appointment a week after the parking fine. I'm hoping that proof of that appointment will suffice and that there's somebody reasonable in there.

Thanks again.

Peppa Pig

jconlon wrote: »

Will go the second level appeal route.

I assume their main doubt is around that point raised on our second car potentially being in use. My wife was still recovering from a caesarean at that point and couldn't drive/wasn't covered until her consultant appointment a week after the parking fine. I'm hoping that proof of that appointment will suffice and that there's somebody reasonable in there.

Doubt it - someone else could have been driving the car

RossieMan

I don't see why they'd drop it to be honest. Parking was not paid on the car you had parked, it's a simple mistake by yourself, ID be paying it and learn for future. 40 euro really isn't worth the hassle and potential for a bigger fine when you lose. Judges don't deal in sympathy, they'll look at the facts and have you paying a bigger fine in 2 minutes of hearing your case.

Icepick

You made a mistake, you pay, next