£280 car park fine - what can I do?

manairport

The_Boss wrote: »

If it is being or has been processed then they have likely paid using the card number from the orignal booking. They will bill it as an additional cost with the signature as evidence of approval.

OP - has anything been debited? You may want to contact your card company to let them know that there is a transaction to be contested as it was under duress.

My original booking was with APH, they sell Manchester airport car park space at a reduced fee. It wasnt booked through the airport - the manager did say that had I paid an extra £5 at the time of my booking then I could have parked there without any issues.

manairport

heavensbug wrote: »

First thing I would do it get on to google street view and see if you can get a good shot of the signs at the car park entrance.

Chances are you will be able to and that will save you the drive over to Manc airport again.

Secondly I would get myself over to They will be able to help you combat this extortionate unfair charge. I would be very surprised if they have not come across this one or similar case before.

Third. Never have I heard such claptrap as a Multi-storey car park indicates short stay.

Forth. A quick google revealed this website



Is this the same car park? If so Why are they charging you £280 when it clearly states on here a week is £49.99 and 1 day is £4.93.

I make that a total of £54.52 for your 8 days.

Minus the £29.99 you have akready paid you should owe a maximum of £24.53 for your mistake.

Still not right but certainly more acceptable.

Looking at the directions it does say short-stay car park for those charges. So surely that should be all you should be expected to pay.

Get the evidence, get yourself to pepipoo and if you can't get the evidence I am sure they can.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

Thank you for your advice, its very positive.

I will look into the pepipoo link. The other link I just tested for parking next week monday to monday. It actually brings up APH as a parking supplier and the instructions lead to an industrial estate which is where I think we were supposed to go and not the short stay.
I think I may challenge this now - just reluctant of all the hassle but its £280 we cant afford.

manairport

heavensbug wrote: »

Little bit Extra as well.

Did a quick quote for this week for 9 days and looked at the multi-story link.

£60. Not £280.

Do some googling and find the car park you parked in. Generate a quote for 8 days and that shows how much you "Should" have paid for that car park.

More negotiation evidence that £280 is more than you should pay.

The sickening thing is that I pre booked in good faith before hand, so why would they try to bill me such a figure when they indirectly already had my custom on good faith?

Thanks for the advice.

dzug1

I would wait for them to take you to court for the £280, as you've paid for a space in another car park they operate; they will have serious trouble proving an actual loss.

Do they need to prove an actual loss in this case? What they appear to be asking for - or at least could be - is the actual car parking charge for the park used, and maybe some costs - not a so-called 'fine'

manairport

trailingspouse wrote: »

1) Totally agree - Manchester Airport is a nightmare to navigate around. I think I nearly parked in that multi-storey once. And one time I think I ended up parking in the staff car park... There's always roadworks too, which doesn't help.
2) Not sure what being an 'audited company' means. Of course they can cancel the charges if they want to, regardless of what sort of company it is - you just have to get beyond the jobsworths to someone who can actually make a decision.

The car park manager expected to find a sign on the building but when we both inspected and neither of us found it he didnt want to continue the discussion then - he went quiet.
When I spoke to customer services she insisted the car park said short stay, she actually apologised when I informed her that neither the Manager or I could find this - went off the phone for 2 minutes then returned saying sorry but under their terms and conditions...

It is a nightmare driving around there. I said to one manager they needed to update the signage around their, she said they had in fact already reviewed this and found it adequate. If it is adequate then why did my wife and I drive around twice before entering the car park?

Thank you for your feedback trailingspouse.

manairport

dzug1 wrote: »

Do they need to prove an actual loss in this case? What they appear to be asking for - or at least could be - is the actual car parking charge for the park used, and maybe some costs - not a so-called 'fine'

The form says its a 'car parking charges variance report'

andydgg

As long as you haven't paid, just ignore them. If you have paid then you want to claim it back, and you can take them to court for it, and claim compensation, others will advise. If you haven't paid then it's very unlikely they'll pursue it. If they contact you by letter write back by recorded delivery simply stating that you dispute their charge. They then have to prove you owe them money. If you don't pay, eventually they *might* pass it to a dca who might write to you and say they will visit, you just write back and say the debt is disputed and refuse them access to your house. The chances of it ending up in court is very slim as they must know they might well lose. If you've not paid forget it; and never use them again!