'Parking Charge Notice' issued by Meteor at Tile Hill Station, Coventry

fvg3

I know, there's nothing to say where's 'authorised' or by who! There's not even anything to say that Meteor operate that carpark and my suspicion is that they don't! By rough estimate they must have given tickets to approximately 20-30 cars that day. Makes me wonder how many will pay.

king100

I would say 10% probably more will pay.

If you feel like spreading the word and have a computer and a spare 5 mins write a small flyer letting these people know and directing to this site or similiar.

Please note I am not sure if you need to get permission re advertising this site or others please look that up before.

You could always suggest that they google unfair parking tickets.

Coblcris

fvg3 wrote: »

The ticket says;
'By reason of your breach, you are required to pay the sum of ninety pounds (£90). However, providing payment is received at Meteor Parking Limited within fifteen days of the issue of this notice, a sum of £45.00 will be accepted in full and final settlement. If payment is not received within thirty (30) days, Meteor Parking Limited will commence collection procedures (which may include legal action) for the recovery of the sum claimed in this notice along with all costs associated with its recovery.

Meteor Parking Limited reserves the right to sue for any other sums legally recoverable where the Company deems appropriate to recover any losses sustained by them.'

There is no mention of any courts at all, magistrates or otherwise. It says that I was 'Parked in an unauthorised area'. However, there is nothing to tell me where is authorised and where isn't!

There is no relief to vary the amount in the case of a proper Byelaw ticket.
They are falsely claiming statutory liability to pursue a civil tort.

Genuine Byelaw tickets mean there is no revenue from the ticket for the Private Company.

trisontana

Meteor are very sneaky. They even have a website dealing with station car parks in the West Midlands that has the same artwork as the London Midland train company.

Spot the difference:-

Meteor

London Midland TOC.

They definitely are just a PPC and their operations are no different to a supermarket PPC. So Just ignore.

trisontana

Further to the above, I now find that Meteor are actually owned by the Go-Ahead Group which also owns London Midland Trains. Even so, they are still operating as an ordinary PPC and so should not be quoting railway by-laws.

fvg3

If they are operating in that car park do they have to let you know as a user of the car park? E.g. should there be signs up telling you that they are operating there? Also, do they have to inform you that you are a risk of getting a 'Parking Charge Notice' if you break these supposed terms and conditions? Or are they allowed to go around giving people tickets who are not even aware they are parking in a Meteor controlled car park?

peter_the_piper

AFAIK they don't have to put up signs, but that works for us as they can be ignored with impunity. If they ever were to get bold and try to take anyone to court (which they never will) then the instant defence is "no signs guv."

AlexisV

If they are operating in that car park do they have to let you know as a user of the car park? E.g. should there be signs up telling you that they are operating there? Also, do they have to inform you that you are a risk of getting a 'Parking Charge Notice' if you break these supposed terms and conditions? Or are they allowed to go around giving people tickets who are not even aware they are parking in a Meteor controlled car park?

There needs to be signage in order to form a contract with anyone parking there.

Of course, £60 or whatever would be an unenforceable contractual penalty anyway.

fvg3

AlexisV wrote: »

There needs to be signage in order to form a contract with anyone parking there.

Of course, £60 or whatever would be an unenforceable contractual penalty anyway.

I agree, there needs to be signage if I'm being accused of breaking their terms and conditions. I need to know what those terms and conditions are in order to willingly enter into a contract in the first place and then break them! Surely I need to be told who I'm entering into a contact with as well? Because there was nothing on that ticket or any signage in the car park to let me know that Meteor are working in conjunction with London Midland (or, indeed, that they're actually owned by the same company!).

Why is the amount of money unenforceable? Is it because it's a ridiculous amount of money (£90!) in relation to the supposed 'offence'? As King100 said, there's no lost revenue for them because it's a free car park!

fvg3

Also, can I expect nasty threatening letters now? i.e. from supposed 'solicitors' threatening to take me to court? I just want to be prepared so that I can ignore them!