Hospital Parking

katms

Hi all

I have been trawling through the forums on this comapny but would like some advice (a bit more up-to-date)

Yesterday I took my son to the local GP who told me to take him down to the hospital where the unit would be expecting me.

I have not driven there myself before and they have made improvements since I was last there. Having parked up I noticed I would have to pay and display - only two small payment machines by the entrance of the hospital in a large car park, that had spaces around corners with no view of any payment machine. I did have to move my car because I was walking round so much to find the machine and did not want to leave my poorly boy on his own.

After moving my car and finding the machine I had to pay £1.60 per hour! Only having small change and not expecting to be more than hour (they were expecting us after all) I paid for an hour. There were bright yellow parking signs, loaded with lines of rules, which I scanned as my concern was for my son who was not well at all.

Unfortunatly we were longer at the hospital than expected and I could not leave my son to top up parking - although that had slipped my mind given that my son was so unwell.

After arriving at 5pm, we left at 7:30 - my son given medicine to make him better. After a long, draining time spent at the hospital I got back to the car to find a 'Parking Charge' from Private Car Parking Enforcement Agency. I don't agree with pay and display at hospitals, you never know how long you will be there. I was going to appeal, explaining that my son was too ill to be left alone for me to pay the extorinate prices to park! But having read up on here about private companies, I am now inclined to just ignore.

I would appreciate any advice on this and if the law has changed. Will I have to pay up if there were payment machines, notices etc? Does this mean the company have a right to fine me?

Thanks in advance!

trisontana

There hasn't been any change in the law. Just ignore. Don't be fooled by the name "Car Parking Enforcement Agency". It's not an official body, just a tin-pot private company with delusions of grandeur.

Sirdan

Def ignore the nonsense letters you get from the Private Parking Company (PPC).

However I would complain to the Hospital , this is no way to treat people.

If they genuinely want people to pay for parking they should have a pay on exit system not a pay and display system with a scamming PPC involved.
Simple barrier system with ticket taken on entry , which when put into the exit machine asks for the correct amount for the time you parked ..infallible.
My local hospital has this system and whilst I object to having to pay at all to park at a hospital , at least it keeps all the money in the hands of the NHS trust not some rogue PPC.

Might be worth mentioning in the letter that if this hospital persists with their current system then they need to find funding for a lot more ambulances because no-one will be taking anyone to the hospital by car and risking this hassle when they can call an ambulance for free !!!:mad:

Also worth a call to the local press they love these sort of stories.

RENEGADE_2

Ignoring is the best policy, that way, they know nothing!

Not only do you have the "actual losses" argument should you appear in County Court (where you contend the demand does not constitute losses by landowner therefore breaching Contract Law, the legislation in question) but your antagonist does not even know who was driving and you are obliged to say nothing. Do not lie and deny you drove as you could land in trouble if CCTV evidence proved the contrary, but just say nothing in the first place - they know the "contract" is with the driver. These two obstacles make any case by the company IMPOSSIBLE. They won't go near a court despite threats that land on your mat.

Briefly on the law, it may happen in future that a registered keeper is obliged to respond to these demands if the driver ignores a "notice" but too is a non-starter for the private companies as long as you know that a landowner can seek losses only. For the time being, you are home and dry.

Advice: when the first "debt collector" letter arrives, keep it so you recognise the appearance in case there is no return address on the envelope - when you become familar with what these bits of rubbish look like, send them back in the post marked "refused". It won't stop them coming but it means you have communicated with your antagonist at his expense! I usually add the odd sarky remark too on the envelopes being sent back!!! Things like:

"Chase driver not me - goodbye"
"Told you before - court papers only, so long"

and the like!

vax2002

Is this minster parking ?