Disabled Bay Insult!

Little_RAY

Oh Biker-Budgie! You're a star!

I knew I couldn't be the only person to have fallen prey to these, erm, unsavoury, erm, [insert relevant expletive]. You got it 100% right about where my vehicle was parked etc.

The PPC may not be worth contacting now. They don't seem to care about any evidence that's produced.

Have you contacted anyone else though? I emailed a bod at Merry Hill to make them aware of what was happening in their name, but got nothing back. They obviously don't care about losing customers... Merry Hill Customer Services told me the following, in case you want to try too:
The Merry Hill contact is Dean Jenkins 01384 487941 [EMAIL="dean.jenkins@westfield-uk.com"]dean.jenkins@westfield-uk.com[/EMAIL]

I am also thinking about contacting my local MP, Watchdog, and possibly a local newspaper or two?

I agree whole heartedly with your final paragraph. That's why I find this whole thing so insulting. How dare they suggest that we would intentionally allow our vehicles to be parked in a disabled bay! Did your letter say, "We strongly believe that being disabled brings enough obstacles and difficulties without the misuse of disabled bays..."? My reply to that is, "Well make sure you clearly sign your designated parking spaces so people with disabilites can realise this consideration!"

Biker-Budgie, can you keep informed of your progress in this? Have you got a separate thread? Good luck!

Little_RAY

Ok Sarahg1969!

I get the picture. You're tough, but I get your points! Thanks for your advice. I will now toughen up myself and stop being such a coward. I'm not paying and that's it! End of!

Biker-Budgie

Hi Little Ray - yes i will let you know

yes i recived the patronising one suggesting i didnt know why i shouldnt use a disabled bay.

im intending to ignore the future ones.

If you do have any luck with watchdog / press etc then let me know i will be happy to join you with my experiances and i still have all photographs and letters. Anything that has the potential to make them suffer.

welshlil

We have a motley crew doing the same in Spytty car park, Newport. We at the time were driving a camper van [converted Renault traffic master] Also owner of a disabled badge. We were quite surprised when we saw these, and I use the words lightly, car park attendants issuing so called parking tickets. They were 'booking' anyone they could lay their hands on. Our camper van is slightly too long to fit in a traditional bay [including disabled] We jut out a little, which is not ideal ~ so we look for one that we can overlap [if you get my meaning] In other words taking two spaces, there being no provision for longer vehicles. "can't park like that" an obnoxious little attendant told my husband! "We have permission from the council to act on their behalf" Ok we'll try one space, "You,re jutting out and causing an obstruction, can't park like that" Meanwhile I get out and go into Iceland while these little men decide what he can and can't do. They were still at it when I returned with my shopping! According to the till operator in Iceland, these men are just bullies, and he wouldn't of been surprised if one got bopped on the nose! We contacted the local paper - nothing. The council were not really interested. So every time we are in this car park now and these horrid little people {one hiding in the doorway of Asda Living, on his walkie talkie to the other, ready to pounce} we park as legally as we can, and wait for their reaction! My husband stays in the van, ready to give these officious little pip squeaks a piece of his mind. PS he's not a violent man, but somebody will be.

rheme

Merry Hill Shopping Centre is owned and managed by the Westfield Group and this is who the Centre Management are employed by.

If you are getting no joy with the Centre Management Staff then contact their head office (the people they answer to). This seems to be the chap you need.


Denis Carruthers
Director Shopping Centre Management & Marketing

United Kingdom Head Office
Westfield Shoppingtowns Ltd
Company No. 03912122
VAT registration number 815 0326 63
Level 6, Midcity Place
71 High Holborn
London WC1V 6EA
Phone: (+44 207) 061 1400
Facsimile: (+44 207) 061 1401

and don't copy the Centre Management in on your letter that way they will contact their bosses and dampen it all down. Let them get a shock and have their bosses contact them.

If you are courteous and polite and explain gently the situation then I am sure you will get a positive response.

Good luck

Biker-Budgie

thanks Rheme, i really do want to get my teeth into this - but i get married on Saturday so im a little tied up until after my honeymoon.

On my return i will be looking at doing that. Although i apreciate i am under no legal obligation to pay anything i would like to see an end to this blatent entrapment.

rheme

Hope you get it all sorted.

Congratulations on your wedding, have a great day on Saturday and a fantastic honeymoon.

Little_RAY

UPDATE:

It is now been 8 days since the 28 day period ended in which I was asked to pay the PPC parking charge. This is for the alleged 'parking contravention' where my vehicle was supposedly parked in a disabled parking bay (see first post in this thread for details).

I have heard nothing from the PPC, or any related Debt recovery agency. This appears to be good news. Fingers crossed this is the last of it now!

lonestar1

You should go around with some yellow paint and repaint the signs in the bay then send them an invoice for your time and materials LOL!

Little_RAY

Well, ok the silence didn't last long. I got a bit excited at having heard nothing for 17 days since the 'pay up now (please please)' period.

BUT today I got a pretty letter from the 'Professional Debt Collector' company working on behalf of the PPC. They obviously like to make their letters colourful with a splash of red lettering, and even a bit of bold typing.

The letter is from the 'Legal Department'. What an imaginative name :rolleyes:! Especially for a company that probably doesn't have one employee with any Legal experience whatsoever.

Apparently the Private Parking Company may take me to court if I do not pay(bring it on!). I'm assuming they'd then have to actually raise some proof that the car was parked in an 'unauthorised' zone and that there was a legal contract made with the driver of the vehicle. I doubt it will come to that of course! :rotfl:

PS. Do you like my red lettering and bold type? I felt inspired!

EDIT: I forgot to say that the Debt Recovery Agency are calling the charge a "Penalty Charge Notice" which is interesting. The PPC have called it a "Parking Charge Notice" or the misleading name of "PCN" until now. They have also claimed my outstanding debt is £115. The last I heard, it was £70?