Parking fines FAQ
- My appointment overran at the dentist, doctors or meeting
- I thought I was legally parked but I made a mistake
- I am the owner of the vehicle but it wasnt me who parked there
- I used to be the owner of the vehicle but it has now been sold/disposed of
- I dont know the name and address of the new keeper
- Miss-spelling of registered keeper's name
- Do the attendants have targets for the number of tickets they issue ?
- I have lost the Penalty Charge Notice
- Signs and markings are missing, obscured or broken
- Estate agents
- Plumbers, electricians and gas fitters - emergency call out
- Police officers on duty
- Pregnancy/carers with young children
- Council officers and councillors on duty
- Intervention in appeals processes by Councillors and other
- My vehicle broke down
- I was loading or unloading goods
- I didn't receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) on my vehicle
- The vehicle is owned by a hire/lease company
- I am the driver of the vehicle but not the owner
- How do I dispute the charge ?
- I had a medical emergency
My appointment overran at the dentist, doctors or meeting
You are responsible for making sure that you have paid for enough parking time, therefore you must pay the charge.
I thought I was legally parked but I made a mistake
It is your responsibility to read and obey the signs and line markings, therefore you must pay the charge.
I am the owner of the vehicle but it wasnt me who parked there
If you are the registered owner or keeper of the vehicle then you are responsible for the charge and must pay it. However, you will have the opportunity to notify us of the driver of the vehicle when you receive the Notice To Owner letter from us.
I used to be the owner of the vehicle but it has now been sold/disposed of
Walsall Council will check for keepership details of the vehicle for the day the SCT/NIP was issued with the DVLA in Swansea. The council will pursue the registered keeper given to us by the DVLA. If you have sold your vehicle tell the DVLA about the change in ownership immediately and keep a note of the new keepers name and address for future reference. You will have the opportunity to tell us the new keepers name and address when you receive the Notice To Owner letter from us.
I dont know the name and address of the new keeper
When you sell a vehicle you have a legal obligation to inform the DVLA of the transaction by completing and returning the registration documents to them in Swansea. If their records show that you are the registered keeper of the vehicle on the day of the offence then you are responsible for any parking contraventions. Therefore, you must pay the charge issued by Walsall Council.
Miss-spelling of registered keeper's name
The miss-spelling of the keeper's name and/or address on the Notice to Owner does not invalidate it or discharge the liability of the person receiving it. The onus is still on the genuine keeper to deal with the matter. Such names and addresses are, in most cases, obtained from the DVLA and are supplied by the keepers themselves. It is also incumbent upon the keeper to ensure that these are correct. If any miss-spelling is discovered then alterations will be made immediately to ensure that future notices are sent out correctly.
Do the attendants have targets for the number of tickets they issue ?
No, you may have read this in the press but in Walsall this is not true.
I have lost the Penalty Charge Notice
Phone Car Parks Office on 01922 652525 with the registration number of the vehicle, when the ticket was issued and where the vehicle was parked. We should be able to track the ticket down for you but only from the day after it was issued.
Signs and markings are missing, obscured or broken
Yellow and/or white lines - where it is claimed that a yellow line(s) is worn away or has been covered by a repair, the parking restrictions will be enforced if the parking attendants photograph shows otherwise.
Where weather conditions (i.e., snow) have obscured the lines then each case will be looked at individually.
If it is confirmed that the claim is valid the charge will be cancelled. Where the lines can be clearly seen, even though they may be partially worn, the PCN will be enforced.
Estate agents
Estate agents are not exempt from parking restrictions while visiting a client's property.
Plumbers, electricians and gas fitters - emergency call out
An emergency is considered to last as long as it takes to make the premises safe, i.e., turn off the main supply. After which any vehicle should be moved to a permitted parking place before any subsequent repairs are undertaken. Heavy equipment is dealt with in the same manner as loading/unloading.
Police officers on duty
Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) will not be issued to marked police vehicles when on official duty. Requests for cancellation of PCNs to an unmarked police vehicle must be made by the officer's area superintendent or equivalent. It should contain confirmation that the officer was on official business and that it was inappropriate for the vehicle to be parked elsewhere.
Pregnancy/carers with young children
Generally, pregnancy is not considered to be a disability. Delays caused by young children will not normally lead to the cancellation of a charge. However, minor medical emergency may be considered with supportive evidence. Each case will be treated on its own merits.
If the delay was caused by the carer not allowing enough additional time to deal with young children (or their own condition in the case of pregnancy) both of which they are fully aware of, then the PCN will be enforced.
Council officers and councillors on duty
All council officers and members on duty, are expected to fully comply with parking regulations.
Parking in council car parks - staff or members using their own cars to carry out their official council duties must comply with the parking regulations by purchasing a pay and display ticket or displaying a valid permit. Failure to comply will result in an PCN being issued.
Request for cancellation of PCN - this will only be considered when supported by written confirmation from the relative head of service or appropriate manager.
Intervention in appeals processes by Councillors and other
The process of dealing with challenges and representations against the issue of PCNs is well documented and will be carried out in a fair, unbiased and equal manner. To preserve the integrity of these procedures they will be managed and carried out by the Parking Appeals Team and no undue external pressure shall be brought, by either members of the council or other senior officers, designed to unduly influence the decisions by virtue of their position alone.
My vehicle broke down
A parking attendant may not be able to tell that your vehicle has broken down. If you received a PCN in this circumstance, write to us at the address below and include a garage invoice or work sheet as proof that your vehicle required work.
Contact us
Parking Services
Walsall Council
Civic Centre
P O Box 5373
Walsall
WS1 9HN
Telephone 01922 652525
Fax 01922 612608
Email parkingoffice@walsall.gov.uk
Our opening hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm Friday.
I was loading or unloading goods
A parking attendant will observe a vehicle for five minutes to establish whether it is being used for loading/unloading purposes. If no activity is seen around the vehicle during the five minute observation period then a PCN will be issued. If you feel the parking attendant issued the PCN wrongly you may write to us at:
Contact us
Parking Services
Walsall Council
Civic Centre
P O Box 5373
Walsall
WS1 9HN
Telephone 01922 652525
Fax 01922 612608
Email parkingoffice@walsall.gov.uk
Our opening hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm Friday.
A delivery note may be accepted as proof that loading/unloading was taking place.I didn't receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) on my vehicle
Write to us at the address below explaining the situation. We will check digital photos of your vehicle and the parking attendant's notes and let you know our decision.
Contact us
Parking Services
Walsall Council
Civic Centre
P O Box 5373
Walsall
WS1 9HN
Telephone 01922 652525
Fax 01922 612608
Email parkingoffice@walsall.gov.uk
Our opening hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm Friday.
The vehicle is owned by a hire/lease company
If you are an employee of a hire/lease company, write to us at the address below explaining the situation and send a copy of the rental agreement in which the hire/lease company has accepted liability for parking penalties.
If you were hiring the vehicle or it is on long term lease to you, you are responsible for paying the charge.
Contact us
Parking Services
Walsall Council
Civic Centre
P O Box 5373
Walsall
WS1 9HN
Telephone 01922 652525
Fax 01922 612608
Email parkingoffice@walsall.gov.uk
Our opening hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm Friday.
I am the driver of the vehicle but not the owner
If you were driving the vehicle at the time the PCN was issued, you must either pay the charge or write to us at the address below. If you do not do one of these within 14 days, the owner of the vehicle becomes responsible for the full penalty charge.
Contact us
Parking Services
Walsall Council
Civic Centre
P O Box 5373
Walsall
WS1 9HN
Telephone 01922 652525
Fax 01922 612608
Email parkingoffice@walsall.gov.uk
Our opening hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm Friday.
How do I dispute the charge ?
Please visit our disputing charges page.
I had a medical emergency
Write to us at the address below explaining the situation and include a letter from the hospital or doctor as proof.
Contact us
Parking Services
Walsall Council
Civic Centre
P O Box 5373
Walsall
WS1 9HN
Telephone 01922 652525
Fax 01922 612608
Email parkingoffice@walsall.gov.uk
Our opening hours are 8.45am to 5.15pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.45pm Friday.