Paying monthly for parking - Euro CP

greengrape

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me out!

Basically I have just started a new job (wooo) in Bristol city centre and I am currently driving to work. There is a car park down the road from my office (Wapping Wharf) owned by Euro Car Parks. They have a deal were you can pay monthly and get reduced cost. Normally parking is £6.50 a day but by paying £80 a month you can get it for £4 a day.

Now i have paid for this month (Jan) by card but they are requesting i set up a direct debit with them for the £80 a month for the future. There seemed to be a fair amount of cars with the monthly permit. I asked on the phone and they said it was 4 weeks notice to cancel the DD. Is this wise to sign up for??

I am always weary of this sort of thing and wanted some advice!

Thanks in advance :j

McKneff

If you are quite happy paying with your card each month then keep doing so.
Im always wary too.
Anyway, what happens if you lose your job, touch wood you wont, but you would end up paying for the 'notice month'
and not be using it. Or say you go on holiday for 3 weeks, your paying DD for parking you wouldnt use,

Personally, i would stay as you are, they cant force you to pay by DD, its all in their favour,
If in the future you want to pay another way do it by standing order, you have more control that way.

Coupon-mad

greengrape wrote: »

Hi everyone!

I was wondering if anyone could possibly help me out!

Basically I have just started a new job (wooo) in Bristol city centre and I am currently driving to work. There is a car park down the road from my office (Wapping Wharf) owned by Euro Car Parks. They have a deal were you can pay monthly and get reduced cost. Normally parking is £6.50 a day but by paying £80 a month you can get it for £4 a day.

Now i have paid for this month (Jan) by card but they are requesting i set up a direct debit with them for the £80 a month for the future. There seemed to be a fair amount of cars with the monthly permit. I asked on the phone and they said it was 4 weeks notice to cancel the DD. Is this wise to sign up for??

I am always weary of this sort of thing and wanted some advice!

Thanks in advance :j

Personally I would not pay Euro Car Parks a penny because of their business practices and I would NEVER want them having my Bank details.

Just park there and don't pay, collect a wedge of fake parking tickets. Play them at their own game.

peter_the_piper

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Just park there and don't pay, collect a wedge of fake parking tickets. Play them at their own game.

I don't think you meant to write that the way it came out did you?:)

esmerobbo

I would continue to pay by credit card. A DD can be adjusted by them and could open you up to any charges they believe are due. Like a charge for having your wheel 1/2 inch on the white line.

I would also check that the credit card payment is a single transaction and not a revolving one.

greengrape

Hi guys

Thanks for your advice! I don't think I will get away with not paying - they will probably just clamp or tow the car, costing me more to get it released. Its actually a reasonable price to pay for city centre parking 10hrs a day so its not the cost that was concerning me.

One of my other questions, when I phoned to pay the first month they said it would need to be a DD. They have since sent me the DD form to send back etc. Can they force me to do this or am I entitled to be able to pay it monthly in advance over the phone?! This would obviously benefit me and not them (esp as earlier posts said about paying when not using the car park if away from work).

If anyone knows and what I need to say to them in order to not sign up for DD?!

Thanks again!

esmerobbo

greengrape wrote: »

Hi guys

Thanks for your advice! I don't think I will get away with not paying - they will probably just clamp or tow the car, costing me more to get it released. Its actually a reasonable price to pay for city centre parking 10hrs a day so its not the cost that was concerning me.

One of my other questions, when I phoned to pay the first month they said it would need to be a DD. They have since sent me the DD form to send back etc. Can they force me to do this or am I entitled to be able to pay it monthly in advance over the phone?! This would obviously benefit me and not them (esp as earlier posts said about paying when not using the car park if away from work).

If anyone knows and what I need to say to them in order to not sign up for DD?!

Thanks again!

It could be they want DD so they don't pay service charges to the card issuer. Can you ask if they would accept a standing order?

As I said previously the only problem with DDs is they can adjust them at their end. Is the DD form they sent you a fixed fee contract?

greengrape

They might accept a standing order - that could be worth checking!

I've just had a look and it doesn't appear to be fixed! Should that ring warning bells?

Sir_Roger_deLodger

greengrape wrote: »

They might accept a standing order - that could be worth checking!

I've just had a look and it doesn't appear to be fixed! Should that ring warning bells?

Never enter into a DD with firms like this. When they rob you, as they will, you will have serious problems getting your money back. Its difficult enough dealing with DD problems with legitimate companies, let alone a bunch of stetson wearers.

esmerobbo

As above it would give them open access to your account, for any breach they may dream up! If you noticed they may only do it once but it could be painful!

Coupon-mad

Do NOT let that company, or any private parking company, have your Bank details, this 'industry' has such a terrible reputation and will use any excuse to collect money from you AND slap fake parking tickets on your car as well.

You haven't read enough about them. Google them, read the results on forums like this, they issue fake parking tickets then threaten people with Court, that's how they make their money as well as persuading people like you to fork out for no reason.

But:

- they never, ever take anyone to Court (admitted in a national newspaper they never do)

- no-one can just clamp your car without clamping warning signage and correct SIA licence. That car park won't have such signage because Euro do NOT clamp. Never. They are not clampers.

- no-one can just tow your car. Euro do NOT tow people, never ever.

You are treating them as if they are a normal firm from a trustworthy industry. Read more and you will know why I responded as I did above.