Martin Lewis Dispels Parking Ticket Myths And Why You Shouldn't Ignore Them

Most people reading this will, at some time or another, returned to their car only to find they have been hit with a hefty parking fine.

And while you will always get people offering their wisdom, whether that's 'Oh, just ignore it, that's what I do' or 'pay it straight away, don't risk it', there's only one man who really knows the score.

That man is, of course, Martin Lewis.

The Money Saving Expert has come to our rescue once again with his advice for exactly what you should do if you're slapped with a fixed penalty notice.

Speaking on This Morning, Martin responded to a question from viewer Vicky.

She said: "I've had a parking ticket sent to me in the post from a private company, my dad said that he'd heard that as it's private I don't have to pay it. Please can you give me some advice?"

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To which the 47-year-old said: "That's incorrect information. We did it on this show a few years ago, someone mis-heard, did a Facebook post about it that was then shared 300,000 times - and I've been trying to correct this one ever since."

So what's the truth?

Going on to explain, Martin said: "Private parking tickets are invoices. So if they're unfair invoices you don't have to pay them.

"But I would always inform them that you believe they're unfair, if they have an appeals system go back through the appeals system.

"If they don't, write back and say it's unfair, and why you think it is."

But one thing Martin wouldn't do is forget about them.

He warned: "I would not ignore them, and I have never taken that stance."

Earlier this year, a mum who parked illegally outside a hospital was spared the wrath of the traffic warden after people nearby recognised she was trying to help her poorly daughter.

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Sarah Moore had rushed daughter Lacie-Christina to Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancashire, after the two-year-old split her head open.

A worried Sarah had ditched her car on double yellow lines outside the building so she could race inside with Lacie-Christina.

But rather than returning to her vehicle to find a parking ticket or an angry note, Sarah was surprised to find a kind handwritten message.

It turned out staff from the North West Private Ambulance Liaison Service (NWPALS) had noticed what was happening and had managed to 'sweet talk' a traffic warden into not issuing her a ticket.

Topics: This Morning, UK News, Money Saving Expert, Martin Lewis, ITV

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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