Pay or Appeal Horizon Parking Fine in Scotland?
Did you receive a Horizon Parking fine in Scotland? You might be feeling worried and unsure about what to do next. But don’t fret – every month, over 32,000 people visit our site looking for guidance on parking tickets and fines.
In this article, you’ll find useful information to help you understand:
- Who Horizon Parking Scotland is and why you might get a fine from them.
- How much a Horizon Parking fine might cost.
- How to challenge a ticket you think is wrong.
- What can happen if you don’t pay a fine.
- When and why you should pay a fine within 14 days.
I understand that getting a parking fine can be stressful, especially if you’re not sure about the rules. That’s why I’m here to help you make sense of it all. Let’s begin, and we’ll go through this process together.
Do You Have to Pay?
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor feeds, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
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Why would you get a Horizon Parking Scotland fine?
You could get a parking charge on your car’s windscreen, or the fine could arrive in the post. That said, Horizon Parking could fine you for the following reasons:
- You parked badly across two bays
- You left your car in a bay reserved for the disabled or families with young children
- You failed to pay to use the car park
- You overstayed an allotted time
The operator may have installed ANPR or CCTV in a car park. If so, the parking infringement is recorded, and you’d get the fine in the post a little while later. Horizon Parking accesses the DVLA database to find your details if you’re the registered keeper.
They get the information from the DVLA because they are BPA members!
How much is a Horizon Parking fine in Scotland?
A Horizon Parking fine in Scotland could set you back as much as £100. But it depends on the seriousness of the parking infringement and how much the operator charges you.
That said, the government has put a hold on a cap which won’t come into effect until 2023. It’s claimed further discussions are needed before any legislation can be reinstated.
The good news is that private operators can’t clamp your car in Scotland!
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
Should you pay a Horizon Parking fine within 14 days?
There are certain advantages to paying a Horizon Parking fine within two weeks. First, you avoid all the hassle of challenging the parking charge. Second, you get to pay a discounted fine of as much as 40% less!
However, don’t pay the fine until you’re completely satisfied the charge is yours and the operator served it correctly. So, I suggest you check the following before paying:
- Are the parking charge details correct?
- Were you allowed a grace period before the fine was issued?
- Did you park correctly and pay the right fee?
- Was the parking fine served correctly?
- Did the fine arrive in the post more than two weeks after you parked?
If any of the above apply, you could challenge the parking charge. Make sure you follow the operator’s appeals procedure, though!
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
Is it worth filing a Horizon Parking Scotland appeal?
Yes. It’s always worth appealing a Horizon Parking fine in Scotland. First, it prevents the operator from taking any further action. Second, you gain time. Also, if Horizon Parking rejected your appeal and you filed it within 14 days, you’d pay the lesser fine!
Make sure you’ve got enough evidence to support your appeal, though.
What happens after you appeal a Horizon Parking Scotland fine?
Horizon Parking typically responds to appeals against parking charge notices within 56 days. After that, everything goes on hold until they decide whether to accept or reject your appeal.
Once a decision is made, the operator will:
- Accept your appeal and cancel the parking charge
- Reject your appeal and send you a letter of rejection
You then have two choices. You can:
- Pay the fine within a set time
- Escalate your appeal to an independent appeals service
Horizon Parking must provide information on how to do this in their rejection letter. In short, the operator must tell you how to escalate your appeal to the Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA). It’s a free service, meaning everything remains on hold until a decision is made.
Moreover, POPLA’s decision is final. So, for example, if POPLA accepts your appeal, the operator cancels the parking charge. But if the appeals service rejects your appeal, you’ll have to pay the operator the full fine!
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How to avoid paying Horizon parking tickets
If you want to avoid paying a Horizon parking ticket then you’ll need an airtight appeal.
The best way to perfect your appeal is getting a little advice from a Solicitor. I’d 100% recommend spending a fiver to get a trial of JustAnswer.
You can explain your situation in their chat and they’ll connect you with a Solicitor who can advise you and give you the best chance to win your appeal. For £5 it’s actually amazing value.
Click here to get the trial offer with JustAnswer.
Can you ignore parking charge notices in Scotland?
No. It’s not a good idea to ignore a Horizon Parking fine. First, the operator could take you to court. Or Horizon Parking could ask a debt collection agency to chase you for the payment. Either way, it’s not a pleasant experience.
What happens when you don’t pay a Horizon Parking fine?
Things get more complicated and expensive when you don’t pay a Horizon Parking fine within 28 days!
First, however, the operator sends out lots of payment reminders. Payment demands follow these before things start to really escalate. You could receive a Letter Before Action, and it’s best not to ignore it!
Horizon Parking has two options. First, get a debt collector to chase you for the money. Second, take out legal proceedings, which are not the best experience.
Plus, if you lose in court and ignore things, a County Court Judgement is recorded on your credit history. It’ll make it very hard to get credit, a loan or a mortgage further down the line.
Moreover, enforcement agents/bailiffs could be instructed to contact you and could seize some of your possessions. Like this, they recover the amount owed on an unpaid parking ticket which is now a ‘debt’!
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
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