Euro car parks - can we appeal? (Copied from another forum here)

hockeylass

Hi everyone

I've just posted this on the Praise, Vent and Warnings forum, Valli said for me to get a board moderator to move it but thought I would copy and paste it myself (Sorry if I've broken any rules...)


Hope you can help - here's some background before my rant!!

We live on the Isle of Wight but my 37 week pregnant sister is having to get the boat to Southampton next week to have a caesarian and hysterectomy. The cost of the ferry is extortion and the town where the ferry leaves has very little in the way of long-stay parking. Great when you have to be over at the hospital for hours for appointments.
So today we go over so she can have all her blood tested etc. My mum, who is disabled, parks her car in a disabled bay at the long stay car park, about half a mile from the terminal. It used to be council owned, so she got eight hours free on her badge. It is now owned by Euro Car Parks and (wrongly) assumed she'd get the same. We returned to find a parking ticket.

I'm fuming about it. The situation is stressful and daunting enough without this on top. I want to know if we can appeal it in any way. I should add that the form was filled out in pencil and put in a plastic bag which has leaked in the rain and they can barely read any of it, including the reference number and the amount they have to pay!!!

Any advice?

Valli

I said a board guide but Crabman's light was off.

and we (Tupperware Queen and I) have told her to ignore.

Please confirm we're right dear parking experts;)

The_Slithy_Tove

Is it really "owned" by Euro Car Parks? Unlikely. More like managed by them. You need to check if it's still Council and just managed by Euro. Does it mention Traffic Act on the ticket? Is it a Penalty Charge Notice or a Parking Charge Notice? Exactly who does it say you should send payment to? These things are important in determining what kind of ticket it is. If it's a private ticket, then you can ignore it. However, if it's Council, then you'll need to take action.

hockeylass

Thanks The Slithy Tove - I haven't actually seen the ticket myself, as I've spoken on the phone to them and she's sent me details eg reference number. What I'll do is have a look at it tomorrow and post again with fuller details.

To be honest our major bugbear is the fact that the local council has no provision for disabled parking anywhere near the terminal. My mum who has walking difficulties found it so hard today. And as for my sis (who bless her is huge) its going to be tough enough for her going through this. There used to be a long stay nearby but in order to make more money they changed it to short stay (which has four hours max but once you've factored the ferry and taxi the other side, gives you two hours for appointments!).

Just gutted for them, and hopefully we will be able to avoid them paying.

Coupon-mad

Valli wrote: »

I said a board guide but Crabman's light was off.

and we (Tupperware Queen and I) have told her to ignore.

Please confirm we're right dear parking experts;)

Yeppity yep you are right! :T

Coupon-mad

hockeylass wrote: »

Thanks The Slithy Tove - I haven't actually seen the ticket myself, as I've spoken on the phone to them and she's sent me details eg reference number. What I'll do is have a look at it tomorrow and post again with fuller details.

To be honest our major bugbear is the fact that the local council has no provision for disabled parking anywhere near the terminal. My mum who has walking difficulties found it so hard today. And as for my sis (who bless her is huge) its going to be tough enough for her going through this. There used to be a long stay nearby but in order to make more money they changed it to short stay (which has four hours max but once you've factored the ferry and taxi the other side, gives you two hours for appointments!).

Just gutted for them, and hopefully we will be able to avoid them paying.

What, do you think they won't cope with a few bits of junkmail? That's all it is, just letters - they can't send the boys round!

If so then write to ECP in response yourself giving your address (but just print your name, don't give them your signature, phone number or anything else). Then you can be the one to simply ignore the letters yourself - it is as easy as ignoring some phishing emails, honestly.

I got a Euro Car Parks fake PCN about 4 years go and just ignored it and the 3 debt collector letters as predicted in the 3rd from top thread on this forum. I still carry my 'threatograms' around in my handbag to show any colleagues or friends who might get a fake PCN themselves, so I can spread the word that it's all a mail scam that just fizzles out when you do not respond.

Tell your family that ECP never ever try any Court cases at all and their top banana admitted as much in a Telegraph article because they don't have the foggiest about their legal position.

Tick off the threatening letters here.

Watchdog clip with expert Solicitor's opinion here.

Barrister's opinion here.

As the ticket refers to an incident since 1st October, you or your family member could have a bit of fun & cost them some money by using the new POPLA appeals service. Would involve a couple of 'appeal letters' so decide now which address you want to use and who's going to handle it out of the family members, and whether you are going to bother with a POPLA written appeal in the end or whether you are just going to hook them in your direction and away from your Mum, then ignore the rest of the letters. Your choice but whoever sends a letter is going to have to vaguely word it so it could be assumed you were driving the car - without saying so - and giving your address so they don't ever write to Mum.

PPCs who are AOS members (as ECP are) have no choice but to pay £32+ for each and every appeal forwarded to POPLA and the motorist can stil totally ignore the outcome and the threatograms. So do try it if you like a fight back situation; cost the scammers some money at no risk to you.

:D

hockeylass

Right, I've been round and checked the ticket. Nothing about it mentions the local council or police.
I've told them to completely ignore it.

Still cannot believe companies can do this to people - its so threatening!

Valli

Thing is, OP, most of the time people pay. It's a nice little earner for the company.

RENEGADE_2

hockeylass wrote: »

Still cannot believe companies can do this to people - its so threatening!

I can. They'd do more if you let them. It's the government's fault for not organising them along the lines of drug dealers, pаedophiles, rapists, muggers and every other sort of filth those morons share their rented accommodation with.