Parking Charge Notice - Merry Hill

PasturesNew

http://uk.westfield.com/merryhill/customerservices/Parking.html

Parking


Merry Hill offers specially reserved parking spaces for parents with prams and disabled shoppers.
You can find Parents with Prams spaces on Sainsburys carpark and the undercover multi-deck carpark near Bhs. Parking spaces for disabled shoppers can be found near all main entrances.

bargepole

Happychappy wrote: »

So do I take it in your blinkered views and bitterness towards the judicial system you have no answer for the simple question of who polices the ignorant in society?

On the contrary, I have the utmost respect for the judicial system. A robust and independent judiciary is the best defence we have against those faceless officials who seek to control every aspect of our lives and impose fines for the most trivial of occurrences.

Happychappy wrote: »

Bargepole you do realise with all your experience at the bar that this isn't a police matter.

Of course it isn't, and neither does it come under decriminalised Council parking regulations. So it's just a civil matter relating to the Law of Contract, which the ppc would have to prove was formed.

Happychappy wrote: »

No answer then as to how this chavvy kind of thinking and behaviour is challenged. oh well back to the law of the jungle

The vast majority of responsible citizens would naturally respect the wishes of the car park operator, by parking properly in the marked spaces, and leaving those marked as "disabled" or "parent & child" for those who need them. There will always be a small minority who will behave anti-socially (not that I'm suggesting the OP falls into that category), and it's really up to the rest of us to shame them into behaving properly. But penalising them by lining the pockets of lowlife fly-by-night operators isn't the answer.

Neil_B

Happychappy wrote: »

you have no answer for the simple question of who polices the ignorant in society ?

Neither do i but i'm pretty sure they are going to be knocking in your door soon!

PPCs frequently operate outside the law in various ways;-

They often deliberately or ignorantly fail to display sufficient signage to inform people that they may be entering into a contract that agrees to them paying a charge of some kind.

They frequently, illegally, refer to that charge as a 'penalty' or a fine.

They often quote legislation that is not relevent and reserved for use by police or Local Authorities.

IME, they often cheat when they haven't had much luck in scamming people that week and issue 'tickets' anyway. These are followed up as described later.

They sometimes use signage which is reserved for use by the relevant Authorities, IMV to deliberately mislead.

They impose charges that far exceed the possible losses as a result of failure to adhere to a contract or to have 'trespassed' . Despite the recent gloating of certain individuals in the industry - they very, very rarely pursue these as far as the County Court, mainly because they would be prosecuted for illegal activity along the way, and virtually always LOSE. Hence bargepole's faith in our Judicial system.

Likewise, they continue to impose charges and practices for clamping and towing that far exceed those already judged to be reasonable through case law in our Judicial system.

In the process of pursuing these so called debts they act very unreasonably. They employ (or use in-house) so called debt collectors, who have no powers whatsoever, and who often resort to obtaining private telephone numbers and harassing victims with threats of legal action (see above).

Likewise they send increasingly threatening letters, often to very vulnerable people, that can cause considerable anxiety and ill health. They also use companies claiming to be Solicitors when they are not - and ,I hear, are in themselves acting illegally, to threaten Court proceedings.

I hear that they have been known to send some letters that appear or purport to be letters from a Court and setting a hearing date - which of course never occurs. this would clearly be fraudulent and probably criminal.

Few, if any, abide by all of the guidelines set by their own industry Association.

Recent cases have highlighted come complicity on the part of Local Authorities with these Companies. Are you happy with LAs to be involved in illegal activity?

I'm sure i could think of more if i could be arsed - but this wasn't for your benefit - more for everybody.

-
Bottom line is that you misunderstand people like Bargepole and Sarah. I'mquite sure they don't object in anyway to private car park management. They, and I, would just like to see it done legitimately.

i'm not sure what the rules are on this forum but as far as I could see you were very rude and derogatory to people and unfairly so. The lady victim explained in her opening post the perfectly acceptable reasons for her use of the space. One thing you should learn that i've learnt from forums - never call someone a liar as was implied by a few people here - why - you hav eto take peoples' word at face value. The lady was clearly showing consideration for other peoples' property. before you start on the 'disabled' tack - think. I'm disabled and i have no objections whatsoever to her actions.

i also picked up from your posts that you are so sel-righteous that you are not going to have the decency to back down and apologise. Good, don't bother cos, as i said, this is all info posted for others.

Phew, what a disturbing world!

minnie123

I didn't see any parent child spaces thanks for letting me know where they are though I will check next time I go. Although this is off the subject don't you think it's mad how there is always loads more disabled spaces than parent child spaces when there surely must be a lot more parent with babies than disabled people.

Thanks for all your answers - I think I opened a big old can of worms didn't I

sarahg1969

minnie123 wrote: »

I didn't see any parent child spaces thanks for letting me know where they are though I will check next time I go. Although this is off the subject don't you think it's mad how there is always loads more disabled spaces than parent child spaces when there surely must be a lot more parent with babies than disabled people.

Thanks for all your answers - I think I opened a big old can of worms didn't I

So, you're not going to pay it, are you?

minnie123

I forgot to say this - if the charge for what I did was something reasonable like £10 I would just pay it and take it as a lesson learnt. But £60 is very unfair and this is why I wanted to know if there was anything I could do about it. Believe me next time I will park in the next town and walk !!

hewhoisnotintheknow

did mother and baby spaces exist 20 years ago?

minnie123

I don't know what to do in all honesty I don't want to pay it because it seems ridiculous and unfair but I am also a very sensitive soul who will worry myself to death over scary letters and not be able to sleep until it's paid.

minnie123

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

did mother and baby spaces exist 20 years ago?

No but the number of cars on the road and needing to park was very few compared to today - and also child safety equipment was not as advanced and bulky, and cars 20 years ago were a lot smaller - and it doesn't seem they have made spaces any larger.

I have parked in a normal space before and come back to find I cannot open the back door wide enough to get my baby seat in and have had to wait until the person had finished there tesco shop - after trying to get him in through the back hatch etc etc...

10past6

minnie123 wrote: »

I don't know what to do in all honesty I don't want to pay it because it seems ridiculous and unfair but I am also a very sensitive soul who will worry myself to death over scary letters and not be able to sleep until it's paid.

DON'T PAY IT!!!!

If you get any hassle, come back and post on here for further advice, or give me the £60.00 and I'll pay it for you :rotfl: