Argos Parking Private Co. Fine

fumken

I recently took a telly back to Argos because it was faulty within the guarantee period. I parked in their collection bay and went in to simply drop it. The attendant wasted my time refusing to accept it, insisting someone had to come to my house to look at it and confirm it was not my fault. Eventually they took it and later refunded me.

Days later, I got a letter from a private company (G24) that I had parked there for over 15 minutes and they had displayed a warning. I went to the store to see the manager and she told me to write them explaining and if no joy, contact the head office. She also confirmed that several customers had the same problem. So the young man who kept me waiting must have known because I told him immediately that the telly was in the parking bay.

I wrote G24 and got a response that my “appeal was unsuccessful” and that I owed £95.00. I called the head office, who put me back to customer service. The guy I spoke to was defensive and unhelpful but eventually said he would call me back. He did and claimed that he had spoken to the store and Argos management and that I had to pay. That the car park did not belong to Argos. Meanwhile the staff had already told me that Argos has a stake and I had observed a camera in Argos collection garage, which is probably where they take note of when you park and leave.
I am prepared to fight this and go to court if I have to, as I am so upset at this injustice.
Please advise me.
Thanks.

DontPayThePPCs

There is no appeals process with private parking companies. They are only interested in lining their own pockets.

You don't need to pay them a penny. They will send you lots of scary, official-looking letters which are just a load of hot air.

The best approach is to ignore them completely. They will eventually give up and find another mug to hassle with their toilet paper.

They have no more right to fine you then I do.

Tell all your friends they don't have to pay these pretend parking tickets, and join the Facebook campaign. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/You-dont-have-to-pay-private-parking-tickets-Spread-the-word/225644216626?ref=ts

Sir_Roger_deLodger

fumken wrote: »

I am prepared to fight this and go to court if I have to, as I am so upset at this injustice.
Please advise me.
Thanks.

You will have a very long wait, these muppets will not go anywhere near a court as they know they would lose. It's a pity you contacted them as you will now be on the potential mug list which increases the amount of threatograms you will recieve, also you have saved them paying £2.50 to those nice people in Swansea. Anyway just ignore from now on. Don't get upset, you now know it's all a scam, so just have a good laugh every time they waste a stamp.

Coupon-mad

As others have said, you can ignore the ticket. It's not a fine!:D

You can also ignore future letters that they will send, along with letters from a Debt Collector and/or Solicitor. It will all look very legitimate BUT IT ISN'T! It is nothing more than a scam and they will not actually take you to Court even though their last few letters will say they 'may commence litigation'. It's all hogwash, designed to frighten people into paying.

In fact they will go away in the end, you just have to believe what we are saying and ignore it all, just as you would just delete a phishing email. Most of us posting on here have had experience of this which is why we are so keen to advise others. My ticket was last year, I already knew it was a scam so I never wasted any time on it. You've wasted enough time & energy on it already.

Pepipoo.com sums up the legalities and advice about private parking tickets very well:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=46975

And here's an old case (one of hundreds I could have quoted) on pepipoo which shows a very helpful poster on there (bama's) advice about fighting back and reporting them to Trading Standards etc:

http://forums.pepipoo.com/lofiversion/index.php/t31648.html

Read the links, understand the scam and laugh when you next get a letter. Tell your friends about this scam, tell them NEVER to pay a private parking ticket.

fumken

Thanks everyone. This is so reassuring. I knew I could always count on you. I only wish I had posted this before writing them.
Cheers.:j

taxiphil

Just to warn you, you'll get a couple more letters off G24 then a few letters off CCS Collect who are part of G24, it's just a different letterhead. Treat the CCS letters exactly the same as the G24 letters - i.e. completely ignore them - and they'll give up.

DontPayThePPCs

Bumping this to clear BFG's tirade of posts.

justtheone

As above I was recently issued with a £95 'fine' from these rogues for overstaying my time at an Argos pick up point. However, at the time i didn't realise that this was no more than a scam from these toe rags and i wrote a letter of appeal to them.

The appeal was obviously rejected and i was told i had to pay the 'fine'. I have since realised by reading this forum that i shouldn't have appealed but will this go against me now? as i have now admitted to being the driver of the vehice in question at the time

Spartacus_Mills

justtheone wrote: »

As above I was recently issued with a £95 'fine' from these rogues for overstaying my time at an Argos pick up point. However, at the time i didn't realise that this was no more than a scam from these toe rags and i wrote a letter of appeal to them.

The appeal was obviously rejected and i was told i had to pay the 'fine'. I have since realised by reading this forum that i shouldn't have appealed but will this go against me now? as i have now admitted to being the driver of the vehice in question at the time

No it will not go against you. However it does mean the PPC scum will send you a few more letters and bother you for a little bit longer. Stay firm, keep your resolve and ignore any more of their begging letters.

trisontana

ParkingEric wrote: »

I know it's a shame to get caught out like this, but the rules are the rules. Put your hands up, take it on the chin, and take more notice of the parking regulations next time.

Which parking company do you work for?

trisontana

I see Parking Eric has turned into Silent Eric.