I took on the council/getting out of parking tickets
I came home late one night after visiting my mate with a brain tumour. I had to park on a single yellow line outside my house as all the permit bays were full.

When I came out of my house to move it at 8.10am, the council had already towed it away - and charged me £180 for the privilege of getting my car back. I appealed as I felt it was excessive and should have been a parking ticket only (no towing) as it was a quiet road.

I appealed. But I didn't get a reply for weeks and wondered what the legal limit was for appeal responses. No one could tell me so I decided to read the Road Traffic Act to find out. The law states that the council HAVE to reply within 56 days from receipt of appeal letter. If they don't respond by then, it is presumed that the council have accepted the appeal and all money should be refunded.

On day 57 I called up Haringey Council and told them I wanted my money back. After trying to tell me that I'd get a response soon, I told them that it was too late and if I didn't get my money back immediately, I would sue them.

They spluttered and then agreed I was right and sent me a full refund.

Hahhahaha up yours Haringey!!!!
( camp freddy well, would you look at that!, Thu 10 Feb 2011, 12:35, 4 replies)

I've appealed a ticket and not had anything back from Haringey, soon be 56 days
FUCK YOU HARINGEY!!11!
( Light In Chains maker of the ikea sofa, Thu 10 Feb 2011, 12:51, closed)

I had
Problems with Haringey over apparently unpaid council tax. Used to live in Hornsey, moved to Brighton and they tried to claim three months unpaid - even after I had proof in writing that I'd settled it with them.

Bunch of James Blunts.
(Deskbound You insignificant speck of dust, Thu 10 Feb 2011, 12:55, closed)

This happened to me almost
Basically they towed my van for being parked next to a raised carriageway which they consider the same as a lowered pavement. It was totally unmarked though and right next to my house. Another car right next to mine had been sat there for 4 months without moving but of course I got the tow. Took me 5 hours to write an appeal letter; now they were technically within their rights but I did enough research and cited enough past cases that they chat themselves and I got a cheque for the full amount back within 2 weeks... HA!
(rampants, Thu 10 Feb 2011, 15:29, closed)

Ah, Harringey council and parking tickets
I got about half a doxen while I lived there, since it was so difficult to get a residents permit.

What I discovered fairly early on is that they would reject your first appeal everytime but if you wrote back a second time, they would overturn the ticket everytime. Weird, but useful to know.
(ScousersPet, Mon 14 Feb 2011, 11:10, closed)