Heanor Retail Park - G24 Charge Notice

Kimcaf

I've parked in the Heanor shopping area many times, but hadn't even realised there was a time limit, until letter (asking for £95.00) came through the post with a photo of our car entering and leaving showing that it was there for well over the time stated.

I went back and checked and found they do have signs but that it wasn't clear upon entering that there is a time limit, the area where I normally park has only one sign quite away from the bay and the emphasis on the sign is much more about not parking in disabled bays with the time limit of 2.5 hours being smaller and unclear unless you're looking for it. I admit I overstayed, but was shopping the whole time in that site, and appealed sending copies of receipts from 3 different stores. We got a really quick reply (within 2 days) which has confirmed the charge has been cancelled.

I was really annoyed and upset at getting a ticket, but can see that unless there is a restriction it would mean that when I do go I'd not be able to park if there are people using it and going elsewhere, and I have previously worked for a company where other people without onsite parking 'stole' our spaces continually, meaning that visiting staff had no where to park so maybe can better undertand the logic if it all. I just wish operators would make it totally clear on the signage at the entrance that there is a limit / penalty as I genuinely hadn't realised that there was a time limit.

I'm glad now that I didn't just take the advice to 'just not pay and ignore it' that many people have given, I don't like being ripped off any more than the next person, I thought the charge was high, but ultimately G24 waived it when challenged, if they'd have argued it I would have persued it through POPLA and beyond I will be more careful in future - and check all around before parking.

Stroma

Happy for you that they cancelled this for you, but let me tell you that this happens very very seldom, and just read through this forum for appeals turned down for the reality of the situation.

The ignore route works and there are 1000s of success stories on here and pepipoo that shows this is a proven way to deal with private parking companies.

Kimcaf

I would have kept arguing it until then end and in this instance I wouldn't have paid it at any point, as it was unfair. I would have been stressed out by getting reminders, and at the end of the day it was carelessness on my own part to have not fully read the signs. I appealed, they let me off - everyone is happy.

I see and accept the rationale behind it - if it was totally unlimited people would just abuse it, then no-one would be able to park to use the shops. When I lived in London, there was free street parking, I could NEVER park outside by own house in the day as it was near a station. Worse than that people just parked in front of the gate so my car was trapped in for the day and I had to get a bunch of builders to physically 'lift' the offending vehicle away so I could get to work.

Guess it's all about give and take.

Stroma

You've stated it yourself, there are signs but they are not very clear, so that means any ticket there is unfair, the rational behind this is to make money for the parking companies only, there is no management in probably 99% of cases, as there is only a camera on entry/exit, and the parking company employee if on site should be assisting with parking in the management scenario, instead he/she issues a fake ticket. Which again doesn't solve anything..

Kimcaf wrote: »

I went back and checked and found they do have signs but that it wasn't clear upon entering that there is a time limit,

This is a money making exercise only, I can show you lots of threads where people who have legitimately parked with g24 and shown receipts but were turned down on the bogus appeal.

And please don't call this as if it was offenders involved, that is not the case with private parking, its actually a term that parking companies are not allowed to use as it causes confusion, though the bpa does nothing in punishment of these companies.

Kimcaf

It was a foul experience getting a ticket - I'd had cause to check out this site previously and had seen the watchdog programme as well. I could have taken the 'I ain't gonna pay it route', and would probably have got off - as it seems most people do. However, I felt it was unfair, stated my case and it was dropped. I'm sure there are other people in my position would rather just get it resolved and not have grotty letters coming through the door, so it might just inspire them to wrtie and get it over and done with - from what I've read I'm the 2nd person to appeal and get let off at this location. If it is as clear cut as you're telling people then writing and stating the case should make no adverse difference, they already knew where to send letters to so it's not made it any easier for them. But it does seem somewhat biased if you're going to label me as a 'Troll' just because I don't fit in with your way of thinking. Clearly the only opinion that counts for some people is their own - you fight your cause you way - I'll fight mine in my way, we may both end up with the same result but it's a matter of choice.

Stroma

People handle this situation in different ways, but in my experience going to any parking company and appealing is turned down in probably 99% of the time. Going to Popla now that its here is only really recommended for people with time on their hands and can handle the situation by knowing exactly what it is.

The proven and tested way is to ignore them, it has worked for years because it works. These parking companies don't do court for the most part because their demands are an illegal penalty, and they know it.

Look at these statistics for 2011

Home Office stats on BPA members

1.8m fake tickets issued

As confirmed by a Freedom of Information request on the courts on BPA AOS members.

845 small claims issued
49 before a judge
25 for the motorist
24 for the parking companies

As you can see there is no real problem in ignoring junk mail through the letterbox.

surfboy1

I find it realy easy to ignore the junk mail from PPCs.
Not stressfull at all!
You chose to appeal, it worked for you, well done. Your choice.
I chose to Ignore everything , it worked for me, well done me. My choice.

Half_way

Im asuming that if G24 are on site imposing charges then it should be listed on the VOA website as ratable land. a quick google search showed this as the car park : DE75 7EX https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=DE75+7EX&hl=en&ll=53.015051,-1.35767&spn=0.002107,0.005681&sll=52.8382,-2.327815&sspn=8.671124,23.269043&hnear=Heanor+DE75+7EX,+United+Kingdom&t=h&z=18

the VOA website says this for UNIT1 high street Heanor
http://www.2010.voa.gov.uk/rli/en/basic/find/valuation/2010/11757909000/7597421000

Address of property:
UNIT 1, HIGH STREET, HEANOR, DERBYSHIRE, DE75 7EX

Rating list:
2010 (Current)

With effect from:
01 Apr 2010







Description:
RETAIL WAREHOUSE AND PREMISES

Billing authority:
AMBER VALLEY

Billing authority reference:
105501240341

Special category code:
235 - Retail Warehouses and Foodstores

Basis of measurement:
GIA

Valuation scheme reference:
127244

Unadjusted £ m2/unit:
£100.00/m2







Valuation


Ref. Floor Description Area m2/unit £ m2/unit Value 1 Ground Ground Floor Sales 1162.00 £100.00 £116,200 Total area: 1162.00 Subtotal: £116,200 Total value: £116,200 Rateable value: £ 116,000

no mention of any car parking spaces there, someone diddling the tax?

Kimcaf

Call me chicken, niave, plain stupid if you like, but when POPLA appeals has been in place a year I'll review the stats on CCJ's being won / lost. Either way I'm avoiding getting tickets as I have enough stuff in my life to be confrontational about without inviting hassle. My choice

ILW

Kimcaf wrote: »

Call me chicken, niave, plain stupid if you like, but when POPLA appeals has been in place a year I'll review the stats on CCJ's being won / lost. Either way I'm avoiding getting tickets as I have enough stuff in my life to be confrontational about without inviting hassle. My choice

Seems the best option to me. There do appear to be some on here who take some sort of pride in how many unpaid tickets they have amassed. Seems weird.

surfboy1

ILW wrote: »

Seems the best option to me. There do appear to be some on here who take some sort of pride in how many unpaid tickets they have amassed. Seems weird.

And there is (sometimes) some on here who take pride in boasting how they have scammed lots of money out of motorists.
Perky for instance.:)