Roxburghe debt collectors

Naebbirac

I would be very grateful for some advice/reassurance on a letter I had from these people.

I am a nurse who works part time at my local hospital. All staff have to have a parking permit, and the hospital takes the payment from our salary every month. We have to renew our application every year. I have always had a permit, and I sent in my renewal form last August, signed by my manager, and received a letter from the hospital to tell me I was eligible for a permit because of the distance I live from the hospital, and because I work shifts, but I would have to wait for 40 weeks!

Now the bus that runs through my village is infrequent, and does not coincide with my shift times, so is not an option. Car sharing is not an option either, so I have no choice but to use my car. There is nowhere near the hospital to park since the council put in double yellow lines.

In the past, it was possible, if you got a parking ticket, you could buy a full day ticket for about £8, and post it in the box with the parking ticket and that was that. Now they want £30!

I received a 'Parking Charge Notice' in November, and having read various forums, followed the advice given and ignored it.

Today, I got another PCN put on my car, and to add insult to injury when I got home, I found a letter from Roxburghe Debt Collectors on my doormat, demanding £78!! It tells me I MUST pay within 14 days.

Can it be enforced in view of the fact that the hospital is taking my parking permit money from my salary every month. It is documented on my payslip. Should I continue ignore?

Sorry if this is yet another question on a well worn subject, but I am a worrier, and some reassurance that I'm doing the right thing would set my mind at rest.

TIA

esmerobbo

Why on earth do you have to wait 40 weeks for a permit you are paying monthly for?

I think you can safely ignore as you have paid so no loss, the permit you paid for has not been given to you, and you have a right to park there! What would they sue you for?

I would be writing to whoever controls the car parks at the hospital asking for my permit and telling them to call the muppets off. However dont contact the PPC or Roxburghe!

Naebbirac

esmerobbo wrote: »

I would be writing to whoever controls the car parks at the hospital asking for my permit and telling them to call the muppets off. However dont contact the PPC or Roxburghe!

Wouldn't dream of contacting Roxburghe, but the hospital car parks are run in house by the same people that issue the permits!! That's who the £30 PPC is payable to. If you don't pay it in 28 days they send it to Roxburghe!

They say that there are only a certain amount of permits available! Though why we have to reapply every year is beyond me when we are permanent members of staff.

I did think about contacting the hospital parking bods, but worried that I would draw myself to their attention and they would get the parking attendants to specifically target my car. I have to park there 3 days a week, and that would be an awful lot of PCNs. :eek:

shortchanged_2

Naebbirac wrote: »

Wouldn't dream of contacting Roxburghe, but the hospital car parks are run in house by the same people that issue the permits!!

They say that there are only a certain amount of permits available! Though why we have to reapply every year is beyond me when we are permanent members of staff.

I did think about contacting the hospital parking bods, but worried that I would draw myself to their attention and they would get the parking attendants to specifically target my car. I have to park there 3 days a week, and that would be an awful lot of PCNs. :eek:

That's a lot of free fuel for your fire over the winter.

Naebbirac

shortchanged wrote: »

That's a lot of free fuel for your fire over the winter.

ROTFL :rotfl::T

esmerobbo

Naebbirac wrote: »

Wouldn't dream of contacting Roxburghe, but the hospital car parks are run in house by the same people that issue the permits!! That's who the £30 PPC is payable to. If you don't pay it in 28 days they send it to Roxburghe!

They say that there are only a certain amount of permits available! Though why we have to reapply every year is beyond me when we are permanent members of staff.

I did think about contacting the hospital parking bods, but worried that I would draw myself to their attention and they would get the parking attendants to specifically target my car. I have to park there 3 days a week, and that would be an awful lot of PCNs. :eek:

So you are actually paying now monthly for a parking permit? They cant issue you with one, yet charge for it? then charge you £30 for not displaying the permit your paying for which they haven't given you?

If you are able to find a space to park, then surely there is space available so a permit should be available?

If you belong to a union at work it may be worth having a word with them over this! seems a ludicrous system to me, designed to rip you off!

Naebbirac

There are always spaces available if you look, because of the different shift systems staff are coming and going all the time.

Lots of pecularities such as...... off peak parking..... night staff, the usual night shift is 9 - 8 but off peak permits run out at 7am. A few staff finish at 7am, but being a hospital means you can never guarantee getting off duty on time! result .......not covered by your off peak permit.....have a PCN

I belong to the RCN, but they deal with nursing issues, don't think they'd help with this, but I'll give them a call.


Meanwhile should I continue to ignore the PCNs?

peter_the_piper

I hope you get this sorted satisfactorily. Charging nurses/staff is only just short of clamping a blue badge car.

Coupon-mad

Yes you must continue to ignore these fake PCNs (they are not real fines).

This is ridiculous, I can't think of any other Country where people would put up with such treatment! You are paying monthly for a permit - why exactly when you are not receiving the goods or service you are paying for? They are the people who have breached a contract - not you.

Surely no judge could possibly find in their favour so keep parking there and ignore them.

esmerobbo

You are in the RCN you should give them a call. God your job is hard enough and not so greatly paid to have to deal with this sort of crap! Ignore them

robredz

esmerobbo wrote: »

You are in the RCN you should give them a call. God your job is hard enough and not so greatly paid to have to deal with this sort of crap! Ignore them

Definitely get RCN involved, if PPC took you to court you could conterclaim using the fact they have been taking money for a permit they may or may not grant you to be able to actually go to work, and then try to penalise you for parking. They should be locked up for fraud.