Contesting a parking fine - any way out in this case?

I parked in a hospital car park controlled by Parking Eye about 18 months ago (I was a visiting doctor driving 2 colleagues to a regional meeting some distance away). Pay and display was full, no parking on the road so parked in staff car park where there was plenty of space (parking eye signs weren't obvious otherwise I wouldn't have parked there). We put an ID badge on dash board and a note. I received a fine of 70 pounds. I wrote explaining the situation and offered to pay the equivalent of the afternoon's parking in the pay and display. I was refused and asked to provide a letter showing I had permission to park there. Unfortunately the other doctor running the meeting (who could give me a letter) has since moved abroad and having heard nothing else from Parking eye for one year I forgot about it. Then I received a debt collectors letter in the post this week asking for 120 pounds and if not a court summons. Do I have any way out here? I think it's all so unreasonable. Should I just pay it? It's the principle of it all that angers me! Any help greatly appreciated, many thanks.

Asked on 8 October 2015 by garagedoctor

Answered by Honest John
Extremely unreasonable, but unfortunately the Appeal Court has agreed with Parking Eye that such charges are "reasonable" and that is now the law. The relevant case went to the Supreme Court in July and we are expecting a ruling any day by the Law Lords but, until we get that ruling, the Appeal Court ruling stands.
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