UKPC parking charges at Boucher Crescent

irishjohn

If you parked your car in an area not marked as a parking space it is likely you have contravened the rules for the car park - if they are displayed clearly at the entrance. The company are therefore justified in making a charge - but the question is whether it is a fair charge? It would be difficult to appeal the fact that you parked in an area not designated as a parking space - particularly if they have taken a photograph of your vehicle in its parked location. I assume that two cars parked beyond the designated parking area will have had an impact on the traffic flow within the car park.

It is now up to you to decide whether or not to risk ignoring the parking charge and any further communications you receive from the company. I have no knowledge of them ever chasing up a charge or taking a non payer to court.

RikM

irishjohn wrote: »

If you parked your car in an area not marked as a parking space it is likely you have contravened the rules for the car park - if they are displayed clearly at the entrance. The company are therefore justified in making a charge - but the question is whether it is a fair charge? It would be difficult to appeal the fact that you parked in an area not designated as a parking space - particularly if they have taken a photograph of your vehicle in its parked location. I assume that two cars parked beyond the designated parking area will have had an impact on the traffic flow within the car park.

It is now up to you to decide whether or not to risk ignoring the parking charge and any further communications you receive from the company. I have no knowledge of them ever chasing up a charge or taking a non payer to court.

or to put it a little more simply... There's about as much likelihood of having to actually pay anything, as flying to the moon under your own power. The parking company (note it's not the retail park) do not know who was driving the car, unless you tell them, and you have no obligation to do so.
The normal recommended course of action is to ignore anything they send you. If they did actually try to take court action, they would have to try and demonstrate that you caused them loss, and the charge would have to be shown to be proportionate to that loss...
But as it is, the car park doesn't charge, your parking broke their rules, but caused them no loss. No grounds for a civil case.
That's my current understanding, but please refer to the thread linked to earlier.

waltsalt

You probably should just pay up though and take it as a lesson learned. It is very selfish to create a new space just to suit yourself.

thetope

waltsalt wrote: »

You probably should just pay up though and take it as a lesson learned. It is very selfish to create a new space just to suit yourself.

I can't say I blame her, parking there is an utter nightmare during busy times, it's such a bad layout! Took me 15 minutes just to get OUT of the car park on a lunch time last week with people queued waiting for spaces.

pogofish

You should have a look at the wealth of UKPC threads on the parking board:

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

That and the other info there should be all you need to know about the UKPC scam - In short, IGNORE THEM!

traceymcc

waltsalt wrote: »

You probably should just pay up though and take it as a lesson learned. It is very selfish to create a new space just to suit yourself.

Yes so that I can teach myself a valuable lesson I should fill the pockets of UKPC to the value of £90 - as we say in Northern Ireland 'dead on'!
Having read all the sensible comments and advice on this site I have binned the invoice.
Just to be clear I made a new parking space in front of a car behind me who had done the same - I didn't increase the length of the parking line by two but made it the same length as the row behind. There wouldn't have been any inconvenience casued to anyone else using the car park. This was to allow me to get my grand-daughter out of her car seat. Boucher Retail Park is now on my list of places that I won't be shopping in again - parking is a nightmare at the best of times.
Thanks to everyone for the good advice given and Merry Christmas

saverbuyer

traceymcc wrote: »

Yes so that I can teach myself a valuable lesson I should fill the pockets of UKPC to the value of £90 - as we say in Northern Ireland 'dead on'!
Having read all the sensible comments and advice on this site I have binned the invoice.
Just to be clear I made a new parking space in front of a car behind me who had done the same - I didn't increase the length of the parking line by two but made it the same length as the row behind. There wouldn't have been any inconvenience casued to anyone else using the car park. This was to allow me to get my grand-daughter out of her car seat. Boucher Retail Park is now on my list of places that I won't be shopping in again - parking is a nightmare at the best of times.
Thanks to everyone for the good advice given and Merry Christmas

You did the right thing. There is little chance of them taking you to court and if they did they have to prove you were driving the car. Millions of these things are issued every year with only a handful going to court. They is no material loss.

almillar

Parking there is fine in my experience - getting in and out is the problem. I bet you were causing an inconvenience. If you weren't, it would've been painted as a space. Just because someone else does it doesn't mean you should. Dare I ask was there another space just slightly further away, and did you check? That car park is much busier at the front than at the back.

traceymcc

almillar wrote: »

Parking there is fine in my experience - getting in and out is the problem. I bet you were causing an inconvenience. If you weren't, it would've been painted as a space. Just because someone else does it doesn't mean you should. Dare I ask was there another space just slightly further away, and did you check? That car park is much busier at the front than at the back.

You are the very first person that I have ever heard describe parking at Boucher Retail park 'fine'. You mustn't have very much experience trying to get a space at 4.00 pm on a Sunday during the build up to Christmas with a three year old child then! I can tell you that I drove about for more than a few minutes looking for a space - none to be had. Are you suggesting that I drive round aimlessly adding to the congestion for people trying to get in and out of the retail park? I would certainly be causing an inconvenience then!

irishjohn

The car park is fine with ample spaces on weekdays - but there is evidence even then of people parking in unmarked areas - which in my experience always adds to the congestion and slowness of the traffic in around and out of the car park. The traffic along Boucher Road itself is bad enough on a Sunday to put me off even contemplating entry to that car park.

I am sorry that you had to experience the car park at that time on a Sunday and would urge you not to abandon the businesses completely. They too would love more footfall during weekdays and less on Sundays