Hospital staff parking fines

RENEGADE_2

pauletruth wrote: »

i wonder if your employer could be classed has harassing their employees.

Most definitely. It is none of their business, and the legislation that governs work matters is Employment Law and an employer may take no course of action as a punitive measure because of something with which he is not happy regarding his employee on a matter outside of the core responsibilities. So, you administer the wrong medication? Disciplinary. You upset the Trust by parking like they don't wish you too? Boo-hoo. We'll get the violins out.

Dweeb, I don't know what stage you are at but it is imperetive that in any communication you be masterful. First and foremost, addressing a ticket is the responsibility of the driver, and it should not yet have been revealed who this was. If anyone says anything to you, just say, "You're here as a such-and-such, confine yourself to the terms of your appointment". The person that received the ticket may be considering his actions and you in turn may have sold the vehicle so that even if you are driving it, another person may own it. DON'T LET THEM OFF THEIR FEE TO THE D.V.L.A, force them to go all the way!

When it comes to addressing the matter, you write not to the Trust but to the issuing company, and you do not use the word "appeal" because you do not place yourself at their mercy. You write to explain that you've considered the claim and that even if the alleged incident happened as described, it would not justify the amount sought and the demand is thereby invalid. This way, no driver is named and no guilt is admitted, likewise nothing is denied so no lies have been told! Clever eh? Meanwhile, they are still struggling to find a way of claiming that someone somewhere owes them something!

If you need advice on tackling employment issues, just PM me and I can help you there.

dweeb5

UPDATE

I sent a written letter to the Consort Healthcare parking office on our hospital site (as directed by the appeals process on the reverse of PCN). I did not include my address. I told them I would not enter into any correspondence and that it was my final statement on the matter.

After a couple of weeks I received a letter at home (how did they get my address?? I am not the registered keeper of the car!!)

Long story short - they have rescinded the notice to just a 'warning' on their system.

They wrote a long argument stating that they were allowed to charge up to $100 according to BPA (i told them they had breached code but did not specify which part)...so they totally missed the bit where they had used the word 'fine' and 'penalty' and purely focussed on the amount they were allowed to chase me for!

I like to think they wanted to reiterate that it was me in the wrong, and to make it clear that they are doing me a favour in voiding the charge when really I bet they knew it would never stand up in court (!)

I was told to park in accordacne with the code in future.

Bullies.

Thanks for all the input on here. Almost makes me want to fight these bullies as my new full time job haha! Can't remember if i gave them my address when applying for a permit in the first place, but I definitely question how they are using the data they have collected... They knew how to find me at work as my job title and department is on my parking permit form... I agree though, it is harrassment.

I'm interested to see if all the staff who ignore their PCN's will get their permit renewed in April. (We have to get a new one every year). Looking at the design of the car parks, it looks like they have tried to waste space (especially at pontefract) - thus making sure there are too few spaces - forcing staff to park outside of marked bays (even though there is room for a vehicle it is cross-hatches of a massive fancy path) then they can make a killing from the PCNs!! RIDICULOUS. They should have crammed in as many spaces as they could. But then thats not good for business it it?

Rant over.

Thanks again everyone, jus wanted to finish my story.

Coupon-mad

Many thanks for coming back to post about this outcome, that's brilliant news!

Also your experience helps other Hospital Staff with a similar plan of action.

trisontana

Of course they can charge "up to £100" , but the big elephant in the room is that the charge must only reflect the actual loss suffered by the landowner.

Errata

dweeb5 wrote: »

UPDATE


I'm interested to see if all the staff who ignore their PCN's will get their permit renewed in April. (We have to get a new one every year).

Is the use of the staff car park a contractual right, or a privilege?

pauletruth

they pay for a permit so should be a right.

hollybean27

Just wanted to let you guys know that i never heard anything more about my unpaid "fine". So the best thing you told me was to ignore it and it worked.
Wanted to say a big THANKYOU! to everyone for all your advice.
Moral of the story is...i got a parking fine from a private company, ignored it and they went away. Don't pay fines from a private parking firm, they not worth the paper they written on. To those new to read this
bye guys!
Hol xxxxxxx

Errata

Good to see everything's turned out ok for you so far. As a patient I shall use the same tactic when I get a parking fine for parking in a staff parking space at Mid Yorkshire.

Valli

dweeb5 wrote: »

UPDATE

I sent a written letter to the Consort Healthcare parking office on our hospital site (as directed by the appeals process on the reverse of PCN). I did not include my address. I told them I would not enter into any correspondence and that it was my final statement on the matter.

After a couple of weeks I received a letter at home (how did they get my address?? I am not the registered keeper of the car!!)

Assuming you're employed by the hospital concerned maybe your HR dept passed your address over. This may well have been a breach of the Data Protection Act :eek:;)
I suggest you refer it to your Union if this is the case!

Coupon-mad

Errata wrote: »

Good to see everything's turned out ok for you so far. As a patient I shall use the same tactic when I get a parking fine for parking in a staff parking space at Mid Yorkshire.

But you can't get a parking fine from a private company.

And what do you mean 'so far'? Ignoring a fake PCN from a private company is the norm.