I received a ticket at LAX for missing front license plate on 04/12/09. The fine was $25 dollars. No problem - I'm happy to pay. The day after, I log in to the online payment system given on the ticket (www.lacity-parking.org) and attempt to pay my ticket, but the system responds that it's unable to find my ticket. I then try the pay by phone option also listed on the ticket and when I key in my ticket number, the automated system replies "Your ticket has been closed".
Thinking that this doesn't seem right, I way a little over a week and on 4/22/09 I attempt to pay again with the same two methods, but receive the same results. After that, I assume there was an error with the ticket and accept the system's message "The ticket has been closed".
In May (the exact date escapes me), I receive a letter from the Parking Violations Bureau (PVR) that I now am late in paying the ticket and the $25 has now grown to $66 due to late fees.
On 6/8/09 I contest the late fees (but not the $25 fine) online. I attempt to pay the $25, but the only option is to pay the entire $66.
On 6/10/09 The PVR sends me a letter stating that they have received my complaint and that they (purusant to the vehicle code) can reduce the fine from $25 to $10 if I send proof of compliance. The Late Fees still apply. There is no mentioning about the issue I complained about.
On 7/7/09 I call the PVR and I'm told the same thing. I request to speak with a supervisor but am told that none is available - but one will call me back within 48 hours. No one ever calls.
On 7/23/09 I call back again. I'm told the say story again and also told that a supervisor did call me back (there is no record on my phone or voicemail of this call). I ask for a supervisor to call me back again.
On 7/24/09 I receive a call from a supervisor, who states that they have no records of my attempts to pay (all four of them) and that no matter what their systems said, it is my responsibility to pay. I'm also reminded that late fees will continue to be added to my ticket as long as it isn't paid. The supervisor does mention that it sometimes takes a long time for the tickets to show up in their systems, which would cause the messages I received - but that I should have paid using one of the other available methods (mail and in person).
How is it that their clearly erroneous system now becomes my problem? I never had a problem paying the original fine - I tried to pay it 4 times using two different methods. But based on the information given to me by their system, I gave up - which then cost me the late fees. I'm contemplating small claims court (I don't even know if that is an option), but it seems like a big hassle for a very small payout. As of today, I'm paying the ticket and late fees to avoid further fees, but I definitely feel scammed.
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