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

fvg3

Ok, I always park at Tile Hill Station to go to university in Birmingham. There is not enough parking available at the station to meet the demand and there are always cars parked on the pathways and the grass verges. The car park is FREE, there are no barriers or signs at the entrance. There is no time limit on parking.

On 28.4.2010 I parked, as usual, on a grass verge (because at 7.40am there were no spaces left!). When I got back to my car that afternoon, I and all the other cars not parked in marked bays, had been given 'Parking Charge Notices' by a company called Meteor. The PCN states that I have broken terms and conditions displayed at the car park. It also states that Meteor own or manage that car park. It says I have to pay £90 or £45 if I pay within 15 days.

Firstly, I have taken pictures of the sign at the station and it says;
'This free car park is provided for rail users only. Cars parked at owner's risk.
This car park is provided for the use of authorised persons only and is subject to the provisions of the railway byelaws sections 14.4 (i) and (ii) and notice is hereby given that any vehicle parked in contravention thereof is liable to be clamped, removed, stored and subsequently disposed of by the train operator.'

There is absolutely NO mention of Meteor operating the car park and neither is there any mention of where you can or cannot park.

Am I right in thinking that I have not broken any railway byelaws otherwise the police would have given me a ticket? Meteor cannot have me over railway byelaws can they? And how can I have broken terms and conditions when there is nothing to say I cannot park on the grass or that I must park in a bay?!

I'm not planning on paying this but I'd appreciate any comments from anyone who's had dealings with Meteor (and what I can expect from them regarding this) and any comments on the legality of this ticket!

Thankyou!

king100

They are a private parking firm thus file away and wait for the next, file that away and wait for the 3rd, then file that one.

Do not pay.

Remember only tickets by traffic wardens on behalf of councils or the police will need to be paid, and even those could have technicial issues with them. Best option if you get any, thats council and police, of these is post ticket you receive and someone will let you know if you have a case.

trisontana

First thing to establish is whether this parking ticket is actually covered by the Railway By-laws or if it's just a private parking ticket. Does it mention anything about the magistrate's court on the paperwork, or does it say that you will have to deal directly with the parking company. If the latter, then it's a private parking ticket and can be safely ignored.

molerat

This may not be an ignore if it is a genuine railway by-law ticket (although most are not). Which court does it state will deal with the case upon non-payment. If it states Magistrates Court then furthe advice is needed.

king100

trisontana

sounds like they are trying to use the bylaws into getting OP to pay.

trisontana

king100 wrote: »

trisontana

sounds like they are trying to use the bylaws into getting OP to pay.

This is a common ploy by PPC's on railway land. NCP do it all the time.

fvg3

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!

king100

Dont pay free carpark = no loss for company, they wont take you to court so file and ignore then wait for next letter.

fvg3

Thanks, I've read loads of advice on the internet and phoned a (free) legal helpline we get through our house insurance and everything I've read/heard seems to agree that it's dodgy. Do you think the railway company (London Midland) even know that they're going round giving out tickets?

The only decision I have to make is whether or not to contact them and state my case or just ignore them. Some advice says to contact to show responsibility on your behalf but others say that this will just open the door for contact, give them your address and give them the incentive to hassle you.

trisontana

Just ignore, that's the best policy. I like the "unauthorised" bit. Unauthorised by who?, some low-paid drone working for the parking company?

king100

Do not contact them.