Meteor Parking, Brighton - is this a deliberate scam?

EmilD

I parked in the Brighton station car park on the 28/4/11.
When I drove in the entrance, the ticket machines were all covered up. I drove to the exit to check the machines there: they were also covered up. I therefore reasonably assumed that parking charges would be suspended, as there was no way of obtaining a record of entry and exit, subsequently no way of establishing a charge.
I received a pcn in the post today with photos of my car and times of entrance and exit, asking for £90 or a discounted £50 for early payment.
I would like to go way beyond appealing - I think they should be investigated. They will have sent pcns to every car that parked there that day, amounting to a lot of potential revenue.
Nice way to make money- make it impossible to get a ticket, and then get photos of you entering and leaving.
Apparently, I can appeal by post or email. Email would provide me with a record of the appeal date (I've been given a full 7 days) and I don't trust registered mail.
I visited their web site and navigated to the appeal email link, only to be told the link wasn't active. I found a telephone number to ring and I was put through to an answerphone.
I think the whole thing stinks. :mad:

SodG24

Indeed it does stink but luckily for you you've come here so you will know not to pay it. They are scammers through and through and you should ignore them. I'm pretty sure that where that car park was built is land owned by Network Rail / Brighton Station therefore it is them you should complain to. If you go back see if the signs say who Meteor are acting on behalf of - it's them you need to complain to if it isn't Network Rail.

Other than that, ignore, ignore and ignore and join myself and Coupon Mad as the city's crusaders against the scum that is PPCs.

Coupon-mad

SodG24 wrote: »

Indeed it does stink but luckily for you you've come here so you will know not to pay it. They are scammers through and through and you should ignore them. I'm pretty sure that where that car park was built is land owned by Network Rail / Brighton Station therefore it is them you should complain to. If you go back see if the signs say who Meteor are acting on behalf of - it's them you need to complain to if it isn't Network Rail.

Other than that, ignore, ignore and ignore and join myself and Coupon Mad as the city's crusaders against the scum that is PPCs.

'Good old Sussex by the Sea!'

EmilD join our club and ignore the fake PCN like everyone should with any such rubbish from a private parking company. You do not appeal, you do not contact Meteor at all, give them the cold shoulder.

Check out the sticky threads by Crabman at the top of the forum:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=163

You will see the rubbish letters you will be sent and the debt collector threats - they mean nothing, there will be no effect on your credit rating, no Court, no bailiff, no CCJ. Look now and see the letters.

Also check out Crabman's other thread near the top, 'Welcome, please read before posting' which if you had done so(!), would have shown you the Watchdog link with the paper aeroplane. Watch that.

taffy056

Meteor Parking, Brighton - is this a deliberate scam?
==
Yes

loobiloo

SodG24 wrote: »

Indeed it does stink but luckily for you you've come here so you will know not to pay it. They are scammers through and through and you should ignore them. I'm pretty sure that where that car park was built is land owned by Network Rail / Brighton Station therefore it is them you should complain to. If you go back see if the signs say who Meteor are acting on behalf of - it's them you need to complain to if it isn't Network Rail.

Other than that, ignore, ignore and ignore and join myself and Coupon Mad as the city's crusaders against the scum that is PPCs.

Ive just gone to the station carpark to check the signs and the position with the barriers - which are still covered up, as you can see here https://picasaweb.google.com/106665913776165653339/BrightonStationParking?authkey=Gv1sRgCNHugc6O-4Xj8gE# and the station is owned by Southern 'in partnership with Meteor'.

On those covered up barriers, and at the 'payment kiosk' which appears to be closed down (and no-where near the exit to the car park...), it states that payment for parking should be made by mobile phone or online. I am sure that regular daily users of the car park would be aware of that, but - and I know this is no excuse - as a one off parker there, I had no idea that was how payment should be made.

loobiloo

taffy056 wrote: »

Meteor Parking, Brighton - is this a deliberate scam?
==
Yes

I have written to Southern Railway to complain and showed evidence of the barriers being covered up. However, I have found this on Meteor's website and wondered how legal it is:
http://www.southeasternparking.co.uk/termsfull.asp
Any comments please?

AlexisV

Where you park your Vehicle in breach of these terms and conditions the Company or its Agents may (in its/their absolute discretion) either:-
14.1 Apply a Parking Charge Notice.
A Parking Charge Notice may be attached to your vehicle, handed to you, or sent to the registered address of the vehicle.
The Parking Charge Notice will specify: -
- The sum you are required to pay

If they are referring these particular 'terms and conditions' they would have to display them on signage.

If you breach the 'terms and conditions' the driver may be liable for recompensing actual loss suffered by Meteor. The chances of the 'Parking Charge Notice' actually stating an accurate figure for loss incurred are infinitesimal.

These terms and conditions are in addition to and without prejudice to any other legal rights

ie. not worth the paper they're written on.

loobiloo

AlexisV wrote: »

If they are referring these particular 'terms and conditions' they would have to display them on signage.

If you breach the 'terms and conditions' the driver may be liable for recompensing actual loss suffered by Meteor. The chances of the 'Parking Charge Notice' actually stating an accurate figure for loss incurred are infinitesimal.



ie. not worth the paper they're written on.

Thanks AlexisV. As you will see from the link I posted previously showing the relevant photos, none of these terms and conditions were displayed on the signage, which importantly is cited nowhere near the car park entrance or exit, nor is it in fact cited within the car park itself, so if you dont know the layout of the station and the car park, you wouldnt know it was there! Thanks again.

SodG24

loobiloo wrote: »

I have written to Southern Railway to complain and showed evidence of the barriers being covered up. However, I have found this on Meteor's website and wondered how legal it is:
http://www.southeasternparking.co.uk/termsfull.asp
Any comments please?

It would appear they don't have a leg to stand on but still ignore Meteor. I'm guessing you've complained to Southern Customer Services ? If so it is a complete waste of time - they are one of the worst customer service departments in the world !!!! You'll get a template reply say they're sorry you're unhappy but tough. Much better to go to the top and the CEO - here's his email address [EMAIL="chris.burchell@southernrailway.com"]chris.burchell@southernrailway.com[/EMAIL]

loobiloo

SodG24 wrote: »

It would appear they don't have a leg to stand on but still ignore Meteor. I'm guessing you've complained to Southern Customer Services ? If so it is a complete waste of time - they are one of the worst customer service departments in the world !!!! You'll get a template reply say they're sorry you're unhappy but tough. Much better to go to the top and the CEO - here's his email address [EMAIL="chris.burchell@southernrailway.com"]chris.burchell@southernrailway.com[/EMAIL]

Excellent! Thanks so much. I will await my 'sorry but tough' reply from Southern and then take it further. cheers!

Coupon-mad

Hmmmm...someone should tell the Argus but !!!!!! don't let them call them 'fines'!