Can employers take outstanding parking fines directly from your wages?

Pinky36

I've been threatened with this today. Work for the NHS and the Estates Manager has said that if I don't start paying £8 a day to park, my outstanding fines (of which there are A LOT!) will be taken directly from my wages.

I have a bit of an ongoing battle with the car park people (CP Plus) because I park next to the hospital consultants in the pay and display, and if none of us pay, I'm the only one that gets a ticket. Apparently this is because they are Consultants and therefore not subject to the same rules as the rest of the staff, even though in the parking policy it says they are expected to pay! I got an email from the previous Estates Manager acknowledging that the Consultants were being let off, and that this would be addressed, it never was though. I kept this email in case I needed proof!

So, me being a bit militant stopped paying completely and told them that I'd start paying when they started treating everyone equally - cue an onslaught of parking tickets and solicitors letters which I've just ignored.
Today I was told that they'd applied for permission from the Estates Manager to clamp my car, and he has said he's given me one more chance to start paying or he will allow them to clamp me.

I'm not really sure what to do now, should I give up my campaign?! I've asked for a meeting with the estates guy tomorrow to discuss it. I'm feeling a bit victimised, because at any time in the day, I recognise 11-12 cars parked in the bays as belonging to hospital staff (not all of them Consultants), and yet I'm the only person they're asking to clamp! I'd be happy to pay if everyone had to pay, but it seems like one rule for some and another for the rest of us!

I'd appreciate some advice, or to be told that I'm being an argumentative cow and to give it up! Thanks in advance...

Pinky36

I should have added that there is a staff car park which I did at one point have a permit for, and the money was taken from my wages each month. However because I don't start work until later in the morning, all the spaces were gone each day and I ended up paying for the permit AND for a pay and display space - and so I handed my permit back.

Tilt

Your employer cannot make deductions from your wages (other than tax/nat ins) unless it is by written agreement with you or stipulated in your contract of employment.

taffy056

Its completely illegal to clamp your car for past invoices , the invoices are not enforceable at all, and legally you don't have to pay them unless forced to by a court! Also its illegal to take money out of your wages without permission , really you were paying for something that was not provided before.

Do you have a union where you work? If you are called to a meeting take a witness and record the meeting with a phone , make sure you tell the person you are recording this, also ask for everything in writing, and don't pay them anything at all, tell them that if they want to proceed to take you to the small claims, you will win!

paddedjohn

I know its illegal for her car to be clamped for past debts but what if she continues to not pay? Can the car be clamped for not displaying a ticket? Other staff are paying for a permit to park whilst she is parking for free.

taffy056

They cannot clamp her unless there are signs there to say this, threatening to clamp for past invoices is not legal, if it was me I would start paying for a permit to park or buy a pay and display ticket, if it was then clamped I would either call the police or get an angle grinder and cut the clamp off .

peter_the_piper

Tongue in cheek!!! Get a locksmith to remove any clamp and put it on one of the consultants cars, things would move very quickly then. These Demi-gods get quite stroppy.

HardWorker2010_2

I'd be mentioning all of whats happened to the HR department manager along with the words 'possible claim for constructive dismissal' if the bullying is allowed to carry on.......

daveyjp

The alleged debt (of which there isn't one) is with CP Plus, not the NHS so it's for them to chase.

You need some legal advice asap. If you are in a Union start with them (if not join asap).

ankspon

Do you work at the LGI in Leeds,the same thing happens there

spike7451

Tilt wrote: »

Your employer cannot make deductions from your wages (other than tax/nat ins) unless it is by written agreement with you or stipulated in your contract of employment.

Agreed,
We had a Bosch hammer drill stolen from our van when I was at NTL,The eejit I was working with didn't lock the back door of the van & we were pulled in for a disciplinary hearing.

HR said we'd have to pay for the drill,some £500, and I refused as;
A-They were insured
B-Not my fault as I was no where near the van at the time.

HR insisted we signed a letter &,on advise of the TU Rep,to sign would be admitting guilt & allowing them to take the money from my wages due to the way the letter was worded.