Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser has urged residents in Perth and Kinross to read newly published legal advice from Citizens Advice Scotland which lays out the specifics of challenging a privately issued parking charge notice.
Citizens Advice has seen a 45% rise in the number of people seeking their help to challenge a private parking issue and the number of users of their self-help website has increased from 4000 in 2013 to 25,000 as of March 2015.
CAS legal advice indicates that any charges must be clearly sign-posted and must not be excessive. The British Parking Association recommends a maximum fine of £100 but many private car parks charge in excess of this even if a motorist outstays their welcome by just a few minutes.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said:
“This new legal advice from CAS will hopefully provide a clear path showing exactly how you can challenge inappropriate tickets issued from private car parks.
“Many people using the Kinnoull Street car park in Perth city centre have been hit by parking charge notices and threatening debt collection letters and this advice will hopefully give clarity to their appeals.
“Private car parking firms who use threatening debt collection letters and pressurised tactics to force residents into paying should be weeded out and this legal advice will hopefully clear the waters and help motorists realise exactly where they stand.”