‘They’re bogus’… warning over fake £70 fines put on cars to stop drivers parking outside their home
FURIOUS locals have left fake £70 fines on cars to stop drivers parking outside their homes.
Drivers have spotted cheeky parking notices stuck on their windshields in Bridgend, Wales.
The fake tickets have appeared placed on people’s cars at Green Street near the town centre.
Motorists suspected the notices couldn’t be official as the area isn’t a residents only street for parking.
Council officials had to intervene after the notices caused a huge stir among drivers.
At first glance, the paper claims to be from the council, but words appear with spelling errors.
The letter claims immediate action is required and is asking the driver to “refrain from parking in a resident-only area”.
It also threatens with a fine of up to £70 or even “further enforcement action”.
The fake notice reads: “The warning serves as an official notice regarding the break of parking regulations.
“Please take immediate action to familiarize [sic] yourself with and adhere to the parking regulations within our community.”
Bridgend County Borough Council warned car owners the tickets could have been left by a residents trying to scare drivers away.
A council statement read: “Often fake notices contain spelling mistakes and may not include information such as the specific charge for example.
“Whether the fake ticket has been created to prevent people from using a particular parking space or used as a practical joke it could still be construed as attempted fraud and could have very serious consequences.”
The council is urging anyone who has received a fake notice to contact them.
It comes as fuming drivers blasted “parking vigilantes” issuing fake tickets in a Scots neighbourhood.
Fed up locals in Edinburgh have been placing stickers on windscreens in an attempt to deter non-residents from stopping on Westfield Street in Gorgie.
Meanwhile, drivers were warned after a huge parking ticket scam has been spotted happening at a popular holiday destination for Brits.
The dodgy scandal has tricked unlucky car owners in Toulouse, France.
How to appeal a parking ticket
A 2021 Sun investigation found that roughly half of drivers win parking fine appeals, so if you believe you have been wrongly charged, it’s likely worth taking action.
Top reasons to appeal include errors on the ticket/fine notice, signage being obscured, unclear or incorrect or the vehicle not being under your ownership at the time, including for cars reported stolen.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to appeal:
- Read the information on the ticket to see how long you have to challenge the fine.
- Make an initial claim to the company that issued the ticket, including supporting evidence
- Don’t pay straight away – just be aware that the fine may increase while your appeal is being considered
- If your initial claim is rejected, you can make a formal appeal to the local council, which has 56 days to respond
- If your fine is issued on a private site, like a supermarket or retail parks, you will have to appeal via the Independent Appeals Service instead.