Poem: Letter of Complaint to Parking Control
Oh No! Not Another Parking Ticket or PCN!
Do you ever despair and think the Parking Wardens are out to get you?
I write many letters of complaint about parking tickets (the formal name is Parking Control Notice, or PCN for short). My appeals are always rejected initially by the local Council Parking Office, but almost always when I appeal to the Parking Tribunal, the parking fine is dismissed.
Usually the Council Decides Not to Fight it Out in Court
As I have never yet had to attend Court over a parking fine, I have not discovered whether it is because the Council take the view that it's not worth the time and expense going to Court, or whether my written representations are so moving that my light shines out like a beacon.
But it still annoys me, and here's one letter of complaint to Parking Control, in the form of a poem, which I didn't send.
Are You Aware That Unpaid Fines have Dire Consequences?
They will seriously affect your precious credit rating!
These Are Some of the Indirect Consequences That May Arise From Unpaid Fines
Picture the scene:
You are upset and angry because you think you have been treated unjustly, so you refuse to pay your fine.
Did you realize that if you ignore or refuse to pay a parking fine, this will be entered on your credit rating score?
The local authority first sends a letter threatening you with the bailiffs, and we all know what that means.
But thinking it through, what happens when you need to apply for a mortgage? Why, the prospective lenders check your credit rating of course.
What happens if you apply for a job where upright character is imperative? They check virtually everything known about you. This doesn't mean they won't employ you, but they would certainly weigh it up with other factors. Hence my allusions in the poem below to the Police and MI5.
Now you're not laughing so much, are you?
Just for elucidation in the poem:
- A "Blue Badge" is a badge indicating that the car owner is disabled, and is therefore permitted to park their car free of charge for up to 3 hours in restricted areas where other drivers may not park at all or may have to pay for parking.
- "OAP" is the English initialism for "Old Age Pensioner".
My Poem: Letter of Complaint to Parking Control
Letter of Complaint to Parking Control
To Parking Control:
I parked my car at night
With my blue badge displayed
In a disabled bay
Wouldn't you think it was all right?
No?
You'd be right if you thought it was wrong
So what was my heinous crime?
I omitted to second guess you
And didn't display the time.
First you charged me, an OAP,
A hundred pounds, which I wouldn't pay
So you doubled it,
Simultaneously threatening
The bailiffs and
A county court judgment
Which you warned would affect my credit
Shredding my reputation.............
So my punishment would be
A fine greater than my weekly income
Invasion of my castle and
Inability to raise a loan
Or volunteer for the Police force
............Or MI5
If you could impose the death penalty
Would I still be alive?
© Diana Grant 13 September 2009
Further Links about Parking Control
- Woman threatened by bailiffs for unpaid parking ticket after abandoning car in heavy snow
She says despite appealing the ticket, she has done all she can to pay off the fine and sent numerous cheques to the council. But the council has referred the issue to bailiffs, who want £384 and have threatened to take her car if she doesnt pay. - Private Parking Company PCN information
This hub is a guide to what to do if you receive a Parking Charge Notice. A PCN issued by a PPC is NOT legally enforceable (despite what they may tell you). PPC's know this, but rely on the fear-factor to scare people into paying.
Some Useful Advice If You Get a Parking Ticket in a Private Car Park (i.e. Off the Road)
See My Zazzle Design About Anger
Do You Ever Vent Your Anger and Annoyance in Writing?
Have You Ever Written a Poem or Article Inspired by Fury?
© 2010 Diana Grant
Vent Your Anger Or Any Feedback Here--What Are Your Gripes?
I write letters of complaint quite often if I feel really annoyed about something. I often feel that in this country we do not complain often enough. I only ever once wrote a poem and it was after seeing a representative on television explaining how their organisation was not responsible for the deaths of children in a fire, even though that organisation had been very vocal on a certain subject. The sight of that creep explaining the indefensible provoked an outpouring in the form of a poem. Unfortunately, it was lost when my computer crashed years ago.
Huh, well today I feel somewhat mellow so I'm not yelling too much. But I sure do think it's good to write letters of complaint if it's done reasonably and presents a good argument. Interesting topic.
I'm sure it's the beacon reason :)
you are a no good parking ticket. how dare you fine a disabled!! great job on the poem
I enjoyed it so keep at it. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
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