Parking eye fine at hospital

mutley74

My dad was taking a sick relative to Sunderland hospital A&E.
He has a disabled badge and parked in a disabled bay in the evening and saw a sign that he needs to register his badge by calling a number. They called the local number and security man said his car vehicle reg, disabled badge no was now registered for use on the hospital grounds.

As the were in a hurry for getting relative for treatment they considered no further action was necessary on their part.

A week later (today) he received a "parking charge notice to owner" letter.

This letter specifies that his car was parked in invalid as no ticket was purchased (he though disabled drivers were free) and that a parking charge is payable of £60 (£40 if paid within 13 days of letter).
FYI he had parked a total of 2hrs 11mins and they show photos of the car leaving/entering the grounds.

What can he do to appeal this charge? As he thought he did what he need to do?

any help welcome as he is very worried about such a fine.
thanks

HardWorker2010_2

1. Don't appeal - you are the victim of an attempted scam. By appealing you are just helping them.

2. Ignore all communications from the parking company.

3. Look at the 'sticky' threads at the top of this forum area. Watch the YouTube video where a solicitor who specializes in this subject explains what to do.

4. Complain to the hospital about their agents harassing a disabled person. Remind them that they are ultimately responsible for the actions of their agents.

mutley74

HardWorker2010 wrote: »

1. Don't appeal - you are the victim of an attempted scam. By appealing you are just helping them.

2. Ignore all communications from the parking company.

3. Look at the 'sticky' threads at the top of this forum area. Watch the YouTube video where a solicitor who specializes in this subject explains what to do.

4. Complain to the hospital about their agents harassing a disabled person. Remind them that they are ultimately responsible for the actions of their agents.

Thanks for reply.
Just so i can explain to him, how does appealing "help them"?

Will watch the info and did read some info before but to be honest was a bit confused what rights they have/ and we have.

my dad is very worried (70+yrs man) with health probs, and worried that his car is black listed if he need to visit the hospital again for other appointments etc.

McKneff

ell him not to worry about it. It is an unenforceable invoice, the best thing to do is completely ignore everything they send you. If you contact them it will just prolong it and you will get even more letters.

Only the courts, police and councils have the power to deal out fines.

mutley74

McKneff wrote: »

ell him not to worry about it. It is an unenforceable invoice, the best thing to do is completely ignore everything they send you. If you contact them it will just prolong it and you will get even more letters.

Only the courts, police and councils have the power to deal out fines.

will do for now but what happens if he uses his car again to visit the hospital? can he do so?

pogofish

mutley74 wrote: »

Just so i can explain to him, how does appealing "help them"?

An "appeal" gives them your contact details for free - if you don't contact them, they have to pay the DVLA £2.50 to get the registered keeper details.

It also indicates that you are taking the scam seriously and can prolong the efforts to scare payment out of you.

pogofish

mutley74 wrote: »

will do for now but what happens if he uses his car again to visit the hospital? can he do so?

Nothing will happen - He can go back any time.

In the meantime, you should actually go and read the supporting docs that came with his Blue Badge. It is made quite clear that the Blue Badge Scheme does not operate on private property, so there could never be any requirement to "register" his badge. This makes it quite clear that you are being scammed to begin with.

If you "appeal" to anyone, why not tear a strip off the hospital management for their blatant breach of the Equality Act and for allowing the pondlife to operate on their property?

mutley74

pogofish wrote: »

An "appeal" gives them your contact details for free - if you don't contact them, they have to pay the DVLA £2.50 to get the registered keeper details.

It also indicates that you are taking the scam seriously and can prolong the efforts to scare payment out of you.

Thanks for reply but they have contact details as they sent a letter by post to his addresss, they also state they got the contact details from DVLA already.

a friend said he should complain to the hospital management, is this a good idea?

Stephen_Leak

As above, a letter to the hospital, reminding them of The Equality Act 2010 plus that they are "jointly and severally liable" for the actions of their agents, the PPC, under the terms of The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 is a good idea.

HardWorker2010_2

Yep agree with all the above but please stress to your Dad that the notice is just an attempted scam. Show him the YouTube video if necessary. He has nothing to worry about.

Picking on the sick and disabled is really low. The parking company do it because they feel they are the easiest targets to intimidate.

The hospital management need a shock. I'd mention sending all the details of what is going on there to the local press, if you want to rattle their cage.....

Coupon-mad

mutley74 wrote: »

will do for now but what happens if he uses his car again to visit the hospital? can he do so?

Of course he can, you are taking this scam far too seriously!!

I still visit the same Supermarket I collected a fake PCN from 4 years ago. I go every week and still hope to collect another one but have not been that lucky.

Just ignore the letters which are shown in the third from top sticky thread. YOU MUST show your Dad these letters in advance or he will be taken in by them. Maybe just print off the letters listed under that PPC and tell him to just match them up like a game of snap once a month until the letters stop. The letters mean NOTHING, he will not be going to Court, they lie, it's all part of the scam.

Also sit him down and watch the Watchdog clip which is on the same sticky 'PPC letters & threats'.

Personally I would complain in writing about this harassment and unclear system, to the Hospital Management. But if they send a daft reply still talking about 'paying the fine' just ignore that as well as they have been taken in by their parking agent. There is NO FINE.