Drivers advised to always challenge their parking tickets

Anyone given a parking ticket they think is unreasonable should ‘‘duke it out’’ with parking companies, the head of Consumer NZ says.

Speaking after Wilson Parking admitted handing out two tickets to a campervan in a free Wellington car park, Sue Chetwin said the cost of any breach notice had to be reasonable, and people should always challenge them.

‘‘We say people should only pay what they think is reasonable, and let them chase you for the rest.

‘‘Keep duking them.’’ it out with

A Wilson spokeswoman said the notices given to Shane Leach for parking in a free lot off Karo Dr in central Wellington were issued accidentally, and it was a human mistake.

‘‘The matter has been addressed and the notices cancelled.’’

The company had not ticketed vehicles in any other Wellington city car parks it did not own. ‘‘However, there was one other incident in Kapiti Coast.’’

All breach notices were cancelled, she said.

Chetwin, the chief executive of Consumer NZ, said on Tuesday that people ticketed by parking companies should contest the charges.

Notices were enforceable, but the charges had to be reasonable. ‘‘If the parking costs $3 an hour, then it’s unreasonable to be charged $65 for being a few minutes late.’’