Removals guys got a parking ticket, do I pay?

Posted by IvivAitylin@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 31 comments

Hi all, got a small issue and figured I'd pop in here for a second opinion.

I just bought a small flat in london, as part of the sale the seller arranged for a removals company to come in and get rid of the fitted units and the other stuff that was left in the flat. They got a quote, but it was agreed that the cost would be taken off the sale price and I would be the one to pay them as they would be doing the work post-completion.

Anyway, that all happened, they actually ended up removing more than had been planned which was great for me, however they also got a parking ticket for parking in a residents bay and this is where my question comes in.

There are a few public parking spaces on my road. I had assumed they had parked in one of those because they didn't say anything about having to park in a residents bay, or asking if there was somewhere else to park, they just came in and got on with the job. Then shortly after I left they called to say they had a parking ticket and wanted me to pay it, and when I headed out there were 2 public parking spaces available. Obviously this doesn't mean they were available when the builders arrived.

Maybe it's just a London thing, but I would have expected them to at least tell me they had to park somewhere they were risking a ticket, at which point I'd probably have walked around the block to see if there was somewhere else they could have parked in one of the adjacent streets, gotten everything ready from the flat and then brought their truck up to load up, as it would have been ok to park directly outside while loading. And worst case if there wasn't anywhere else to park, I would have at least been aware of the situation, could have checked outside occasionally to see when one of the public spaces did become free for them to park in, assuming they hadn't already been ticketed at that point.

While I can see their argument, my main issue is that I didn't get told of the issue in advance. Though in the worst case scenario there I would have settled with paying the ticket, so should I just suck it up and pay? What would you guys do?

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Many_Ad_4130@reddit

I always offer traders a visitor parking permit. If they don’t take the offer, it’s on them if they get a ticket.

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Watchkeys@reddit

It's not your vehicle, you weren't driving it, and you didn't know where it was parked.

How could anybody claim you had any input here, let alone any responsibility?

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IvivAitylin@reddit (OP)

Yeah, that's my gut feeling. Their response when I queried this was:

There were no bays available, so we had no choice but to park where we did.

I'm afraid all parking tickets are down to the client.

Which is why I came here for a second opinion to see if that sounded correct or if they were just trying to chance it.

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JonTravel@reddit

I'm afraid all parking tickets are down to the client.

Does it say anything like this on the contract or agreement you (presumably) signed or in their 'tetms and conditions?

If you didn't agree to it, how can it be your responsibility?

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IvivAitylin@reddit (OP)

It's a very awkward situation. Originally it was going to be paid for by the sellers of the flat, however because it involved the removal of some fitted units that were attached to the wall, they didn't want to do it until post-completion, presumably so I didn't pull out of the purchase and leave them with a totally empty room.

But because of this, the seller arranged for the removal company, just instead of them paying the quoted cost was removed from the sale price, meaning they were technically paying but I would actually be handing over the money. I never spoke with the removal company before they arrived.

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Watchkeys@reddit

That's nuts. Imagine performing any other role at someone's house, and trying to get them to pay if you got a parking ticket!

Did you agree to it at all? Small print in a contract you've signed, or anything like that? If not, they need to be responsible for where they park like the rest of us. I mean, are they going to give you the points on their licence if they get a speeding ticket from rushing on the way over?!

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space_absurdity@reddit

This is the baseline argument. You are not responsible for their parking.... However, if you feel you gained significantly on the work they did to offset the cost then perhaps help them out by paying or at least contributing. Better to make friends than bad cause animosity if the figures work out. Good luck

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WaltzFirm6336@reddit

Hhahaha. Reply “The holder of a driving licence made a decision to park in a restricted bay and did not inform me of this at the time.

I’m afraid all parking tickets are the responsibility of the driver who parked the vehicle.”

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JustUseDuckTape@reddit

Sounds like they were careless and want you to foot the bill for it. As you say, it would be different if they'd mentioned it, but they took a chance and it didn't work out - I wouldn't be paying up.

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moanybastard@reddit

The number of people saying they wouldn't pay.

I suspect they're the same people who moan that they can't get tradesman or that people won't service their area.

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Worth_Kangaroo_6900@reddit

My experience of removal companies is that they apply for mitigation / approval to park (as spaces blocked off to ensure they can park outside) or if ok to just have a space, then you pay. But … it’s discussed and agreed! Someone else has said that there are loading exemptions they can argue however if they were fine and then got the ticket when doing your extra work would just pay it.

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InvestigatorSoft3606@reddit

I don’t think you owe them this - either morally or legally (not a lawyer btw - just common sense that the driver is responsible for parking legally)

So you are well within your rights to pay the bill as agreed and not the parking ticket.

However if they were otherwise great, you could look at it as a “tip” if you wanted to thank them for a job well done.

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snarkycrumpet@reddit

offer to split it. in future pay attention to where people park, or at least say "be careful where you park as the wardens are busy round here" and then no one can accuse you of not giving them notice. I suppose it's possible this crew weren't from the area and didn't think about it, then you didn't say anything, perfect storm.

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YouveEatenMySausage@reddit

not your problem. they chose to park where they parked. either ignore them or tell them to get f’ed.

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Fancy_Toe1451@reddit

And that is how you get blacklisted. You think people in industries do not talk and gossip about "bad" customers? Or if not blacklisted, consistently given the premium price for unliked customers.

OP might be under no strict legal requirement to pay, but it is considered a professional courtesy to do so.

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YouveEatenMySausage@reddit

how are they a bad customer because of the tradespersons own incompetence? they chose to park somewhere there would be signs up to say they’d get a ticket and somehow that’s the customers fault?

they knew what they were going to be paid so the fact they removed more than they were asked to is irrelevant really.

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IvivAitylin@reddit (OP)

Yeah, thing is it is central London and I appreciate that parking is a nightmare. If they are correct and there weren't any of the public spaces available then there wouldn't have been any option which is why I'm hesitant about flat out denying it.

And more generally, I'm also asking to get an idea of etiquette. It's not a situation I've been in before, especially since I think there are situations where people do tip tradespeople, but I have no clue when or how much. So sounding it out against people in here is helping me confirm I think I'm right in standing my ground.

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IvivAitylin@reddit (OP)

Yeah, that was also part of my thinking. Admittedly I doubt I'm going to need them again as I'm planning on staying here for a good while, but in the end they did do a good job.

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Fancy_Toe1451@reddit

It is not just them, and not just removals, but they'll have friends and families in other trades. Plumbers, sparkies, decorators, glaziers, chippies, specialist delivery guys, all the guys you might need down the line. They all drink at the same pubs, move in the same circles. Trust me, been there, you don't want to antagonise the tradies community. Especially over a minor thing like that.

Just recognise they did their bit for you, and you'll do a bit for them; even if you didn't have to. In fact, especially if you don't have to, because they gossip about the good customers even more than the bad. If you've got a rep as a good customer, and you need something done in a hurry, and it is a choice between you and one of those "hur-de-hur not my problem matey" customers, which one would you drop and which would you pick?

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Wise-Independence487@reddit

So they can park where they like and sod the consequences? I take it you’re in the trade with your response.

Let them blacklist if they are that petty

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SeamasterCitizen@reddit

Were you driving? No? Not your circus

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PoshTurtl3@reddit

You say it's a residents bay? Which organisation is enforcing the parking charge (not fine). Speak to the building manager, say that it was a misunderstanding and assure them it won't happen again. See if they can help.

Your assessment is probably right. I might offer to pay half because I've not paid for the removals service anyway but that's your decision and it's pretty shitty of them to blame you.

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IvivAitylin@reddit (OP)

You say it's a residents bay? Which organisation is enforcing the parking charge (not fine)

Local council, it's on-road parking with resident bays.

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PoshTurtl3@reddit

Ah damn it is a parking fine then. Still worth putting in a soppy appeal promising to be more careful in the future. Might get lucky. The person who got the fine would have to do it though.

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_Cridders_@reddit

I wouldn't pay it.

I'm a gas engineer working a lot in East London, and half the time I'm illegally parked. It's basically a risk I have to take. But it's a risk I'm taking, not the customer. Anyone operating anywhere near London should know you can hardly park anywhere, and if they don't want ti take that risk then they need to ask you to get a permit or agree to any fines upfront.

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