Is this a fair charge?

Susannasmail

This was the first time I had used the carpark, Signs were everywhere saying it was a pay and display carpark so I got the message.
I went over to the machine and was confused by the small writing of the charges, it stated 90 to 3 hours £3.00
Someone was standing next to me so I said it was very expensive as I was only going to be in the shop for a short time.
They told me it was free for the first 90 minutes. I looked at the fees again and realised it meant 90 minutes upwards.
I thanked the 'kind' person and went on my way.

I came out of the shop merely 20 minutes later to find a £100 fine taped to my car. Although it was free I was required to print out a 'free' parking ticket and display it.

The sign was below the fees, and also in big signs all over the place.

I would have seen it only the 'Kind' person who told me it was free distracted me. Also I have never come across this system before.

I hold my hands up, I did not display a ticket, but surely £100 is excessive?

I get a £25 discount if I pay within 7 days, do I wait for it to arrive?

It seems grossly unfair, and when I talked to a shop assistant about it, she told me that lots of people were being caught out by this. I think it is misleading, as I have never had to do this before.

What is your advice?

Sirdan

Susannasmail wrote: »

This was the first time I had used the carpark, Signs were everywhere saying it was a pay and display carpark so I got the message.
I went over to the machine and was confused by the small writing of the charges, it stated 90 to 3 hours £3.00
Someone was standing next to me so I said it was very expensive as I was only going to be in the shop for a short time.
They told me it was free for the first 90 minutes. I looked at the fees again and realised it meant 90 minutes upwards.
I thanked the 'kind' person and went on my way.

I came out of the shop merely 20 minutes later to find a £100 fine taped to my car. Although it was free I was required to print out a 'free' parking ticket and display it.

The sign was below the fees, and also in big signs all over the place.

I would have seen it only the 'Kind' person who told me it was free distracted me. Also I have never come across this system before.

I hold my hands up, I did not display a ticket, but surely £100 is excessive?

I get a £25 discount if I pay within 7 days, do I wait for it to arrive?

It seems grossly unfair, and when I talked to a shop assistant about it, she told me that lots of people were being caught out by this. I think it is misleading, as I have never had to do this before.

What is your advice?

Can you confirm that the ticket on your car is from a private company ?
I'm sure it is because of the ridiculous amount £100.

In a private car park (not Council) you can ignore this nonsense.
The owner of the car park is allowed to claim a "breach of contract" by you failing to display.
The remedy for such a breach is an amount that is "reasonable losses and/or" damages. For the free parking period this is ...er...£0 !
The private company has no legal right to penalize you for not getting a ticket which is what they are trying to do.

IGNORE them totally...you will get follow up letters threatening court action and adding all sorts of extra made up costs but it is all bluff, they know they aren't entitled in court to claim £100 for this.
Even if you had stayed over the 90 mins you would still only owe them £3, so why on earth do you owe £100 for not getting a ticket ?

They have no case but they will still send the letters.
IGNORE them ..if you get worried come back here for reassurance.

Please post up the name of the company involved for info but no other details.

Cash-Cow_3

It sounds like the 'kind' person could well have been a private parking company employee. It also sounds like the shop could well be losing business over this arrangement with the PPC. Hardly good for business in these somewhat difficult times.

Sir_Roger_deLodger

Please tell us which parking company this is. Ignore the "ticket" but complain most strongly to the shop and tell them you will not be giving them your business again.

Sirdan

Sir_Roger_deLodger wrote: »

Please tell us which parking company this is. Ignore the "ticket" but complain most strongly to the shop and tell them you will not be giving them your business again.

Indeed if enough retailers get enough complaints then maybe just maybe they can influence the car park owner...or maybe not.

Lets face it this is all about blatant profiteering..I am convinced that the car park owners take a cut of the PPC tickets that are paid .

It is so so simple to manage these car parks properly.

All that is needed is an entry barrier so you HAVE to get a ticket and an exit barrier where you submit the ticket it calculates the time and charges you accordingly.

There are many car parks that use this system which prevents ANY non payment or overstay issues..so if car park owners want to control car parks properly the system already exists !!!

esmerobbo

My money is on Excel or UKPC!

HO87

I think we should have an outsider in the race so I'll go for Euro Car Parks.

Kite2010

If parking was free for the first 90 minutes and you spent less than 90 minutes in the car-park the answer is simple, the landowner's damages are nothing.

Just ignore the PPC (whoever they may be)