Moving home is often a stressful experience and to compound this there is always the problem of parking tickets and traffic wardens. Whilst we take every precaution to avoid this by applying for dispensations and suspensions in advance, more often than not, we receive a ticket while carrying out our removal work.

One would like to think that the traffic warden would see a removal van, with the company logo emblazoned across it's sides, and the removal men obviously loading and unloading, and leave them alone to get on with the job in hand. Very often this is not the case, the ticket is slapped on, and no amount of reasoning or cajoling works.

Applying for dispensations and suspensions varies from council to council. Some councils require 2 weeks notice and charge an exorbitant amount whereas others do it for free and can arrange a dispensation with a day's notice. In our experience, Westminster Parking Operations have the most efficient system and are the most helpful. If they can do it with relative ease, why can't the other councils? Some councils have a policy of not granting dispensations as they take the stance that you are a removal firm carrying out work as long as they see continuous loading and unloading which is a very good system however the message doesn't always filter down to the traffic wardens.

Our advice, is always where possible, to start the move very early or choose a Saturday or Sunday, especially for jobs in the City and West End. There is also a very good website which we have found invaluable when trying to work out where the best place is to park and whether it is metered bays, residents bays or yellow line and which council the parking falls under.

We make a point of appealing against every ticket issued and our success rate is phenomenal. We get off at least 8 out 10 tickets and even if the first appeal is unsuccessful, we appeal again. A carefully worded, polite letter appealing to their sense of reason, even if the stated contravention did occur, is a very good tool.

Moving home can be very costly and the last thing you need is another 60 pounds added to the cost of your move. We will continue to challenge every ticket and we encourage you to do the same. Everyone needs to move home and it should be their basic right to have a removal van parked outside the front door at no additional cost.