Gemini Parking Solutions Appeal – Should you Pay?

Are you unsure about a private parking fine from Gemini Parking Solutions? Wondering whether to pay or appeal? You’re not alone. In fact, over 130,000 people visit our website every month for advice on fines and parking tickets.

Which? found that unclear rules and various payment methods in private car parks are partly to blame for an increased number of fines.¹  But don’t worry; we’re here to help you navigate through this confusion and understand your options.

In this straightforward guide, we’ll cover:

•  Who Gemini Parking Solutions are.
•  Why you might receive a Parking Charge Notice.
•  Whether a Parking Charge Notice is enforceable.
•  How to appeal a parking fine from Gemini Parking Solutions.
•  The effect of a County Court Judgement (CCJ) on your credit history.

We understand the worry and annoyance a fine can cause. But remember, we have plenty of useful tips and examples to help you make an informed decision.

Gemini Parking Solutions fine – should you appeal or pay?

Always check that the Parking Charge Notice is correctly issued and yours before you pay it. Once you pay, you cannot appeal the fine!

You could appeal the parking charge if you have enough evidence to support an appeal.

However, you may be better off paying the charge within 14 days to pay the lesser amount if you don’t have supporting evidence.

But don’t ignore the parking ticket or correspondence you receive because the operator will keep chasing you for payment. Moreover, they could escalate the matter to the courts, and you could get a CCJ.

It’s best to file a Gemini parking solutions appeal which stops the operator from escalating things until a decision is made.

Is a Parking Charge Notice enforceable?

Yes, but only when a judge issues a court order for you to pay the fine.

Parking Charge Notices should not be confused with Penalty Charge Notices. They are invoices raised by an operator on behalf of a landowner. A private company like Gemini Parking Solutions is authorised to issue fines when motorists commit parking violations.

However, a private operator cannot demand you pay unless there’s a court order for parking fine is issued.

In short, Gemini Parking Solutions will have to take you to court and win the case for the fine to be enforceable. That said, never ignore a Parking Charge Notice because it could get messy and expensive. Plus, if an operator fails to follow the Code of Practice, you could have legal grounds for appeal.

Why would you get a Parking Charge Notice?

You could get a parking fine for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it can be for a minor parking violation, and other times something more serious.

Whatever the reason, don’t automatically believe you need to pay straight away.

First, make sure the fine is yours and that it’s been issued correctly. Then decide whether you want to appeal or pay the fine.

Some of the more common reasons why a private operator, such as Gemini Parking Solutions or Link Parking, may give you a ticket are because you:

• Forgot or didn’t pay the fee
• Returned to your vehicle late
• Parked in the wrong bay
• Used a bay reserved for families and the disabled

How do you appeal a Parking Charge Notice?

You can appeal a Parking Charge Notice issued by Gemini Parking Solutions on their website.

In addition, there’s a page dedicated to appealing a fine to the operator. Make sure you follow the operator’s parking charge notice appeal process.

You’ll need to provide the following information:

• Your car details – registration
• The number on the parking fine

Appealing a Parking Charge Notice is free, and you have the right to when you believe it’s wrong.

I would suggest contesting the fine if:

• You broke no rules in the private car park
• The fine arrived in the post over 14 days after you used the car park
• There were no apparent signs or road markings in the car park
• The payment machines were broken
• Your fine was over £100 (fines issued by private operators are capped at £100)
• You had a good reason for not getting back to the car park in time
• You are disabled, pregnant or had a young child with you
• You were waiting for a vehicle rescue truck to come and tow your car away
• You got back to your car under 10 minutes after the allotted time but still got a ticket
• The Parking Charge Notice came in the post. However, no signs saying there was surveillance technology in operation

» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer

Appeal Process Steps

I understand that the appeal process can seem a bit confusing. But don’t worry! I’ve put together this table that explains all the steps you should take. If you have any doubts or simply want to learn more, be sure to read our specialized guide.

Process:	Steps you should take:
When you receive the ticket…	You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued.
If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car…	You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given.
If it was posted to you…	You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given.
If the informal appeal is rejected…	You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms.
If the formal appeal is rejected…	You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal.
If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal…	You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity.

Keep in mind that if the operator upholds your appeal, the ticket will be cancelled. However, if they reject it, Gemini Parking must provide information on how to escalate your appeal to POPLA.

When you appeal a Parking Charge Notice, it prevents further action until a decision is made!

What sort of evidence do you need? 

Although you don’t need to provide proof, it helps if you do.

An appeal stands a better chance of being upheld when you can provide:

• Photos showing you were correctly parked, had paid enough, returned on time etc
• Correspondence from the operator and correspondence you sent them
• Receipts from a vehicle recovery company if your car broke down
• Witness statements if anyone can corroborate your version of events 

What is a 10-minute grace period?

The BPA’s code of practice states that private operators should allow you a ten-minute grace period when you return to your car. In short, you should not get a ticket if the 10 minutes has not expired.

However, if you are 11 minutes late, the operator has the right to issue a Parking Charge Notice!

What happens if you don’t pay the parking ticket?

Gemini Parking Solutions could take you to court.

Furthermore, they may instruct a debt collection agency to recover the amount. You’ll receive more threatening letters from the operator.

Debt Collection for unpaid fines is quite common. So, I suggest you pay or appeal the fine.

However, do NOT ignore it because it may become an expensive mistake.

You could be given a County Court Judgement (CCJ). In addition, this will remain in your credit history for six years, making it harder to get future credit.

Gemini Parking Solutions Contact Details

Post:	PO Box 815 Wigan WN1 9WX
Phone:	0208 418 0948
Email:	[email protected]
Website:	https://www.geminiparkingsolutions.com/

References

1. Which? – The rise of private parking fines