Have I got a leg to stand on here?

carajp

I clearly got things wrong but the charge seems so unreasonable.

Going out for supper tonight, I parked behind an empty office block in a partially over-grown car park, as I have often done before. The car park was empty, office workers had gone home and - like I said - the office block is basically empty anyway.

There was always a clearly-defunct sign about clamping on the wall of the building. And the parking places are marked "Reserved". What I failed to notice tonight was that there was a new sign, in the same place, from a different company. I was issued with a £100 parking fine in an empty car park at 7.45pm.

Even worse, the friend I was meeting recognised my car and parked next to me. She got a ticket too.

When I returned and found the ticket, I went over to the sign and then realised it was a new sign. Even when I was parking, it was pretty dark. It took some time to read the smaller print stating the £100 parking charge. But, to be fair, it was clearly there in black and white (well actually, red and white..)

I'm annoyed because I just don't park inconsiderately. I'd never park there during working hours, for example, in case there was some part of the building that is still occupied (I can see the ground floor is empty, and it's always dark).

Am I just sunk here, or are there reasonable grounds I can appeal on? The company is a BPA-approved operator.

Thanks for reading.

Guys_Dad

Who is the parking company?
What is the discount for prompt payment?
Was there a sign at entrance?

Do not nothing till notice to keeper NTK arrives. Do not contact them without our help.

We can help make this go away.

carajp

T.R. Luckins Ltd t/a UK Parking Solutions

Pretty sure there's no sign at the entrance - there isn't really an "entrance". It's more a cul-de-sac with office parking spaces on either side - the office block on the right IS in use. The one on the left, where I parked, appears not to be.

£40 discount if paid in 14 days.

Thanks for your response.

Guys_Dad

Ok. Help will be on its way. Keep watching.

Have a look here http://www.ukparkingsolution.co.uk/SIgnage2.html. Was it one of these signs and if so, which one?

Guys_Dad

Ok. Go on to their web site.
Look here at their Contract and Terms and conditions. http://www.ukparkingsolution.co.uk/Terms&Contract.htmlDownload and print off both their contract and t&c.

You will see that their standard contract does not give them any right to pursue drivers for any penalty and neither does t&c.

That will be your appeal point at POPLA should it get there. Warn your friend too.

Come back when you get NTK.

carajp

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Ok. Help will be on its way. Keep watching.

Have a look here http://www.ukparkingsolution.co.uk/SIgnage2.html. Was it one of these signs and if so, which one?

Pretty sure it was the second one, about permit holders.

Guys_Dad wrote: »

Look here at their Contract and Terms and conditions. http://www.ukparkingsolution.co.uk/T...t.htmlDownload and print off both their contract and t&c.

You will see that their standard contract does not give them any right to pursue drivers for any penalty and neither does t&c.

Wow, you're amazing! Thank you so much. I see what you mean, though I don't think I would have seen it as significant - after all, one would just assume that pursuing the tickets would be the whole reason & purpose for the parking company's existence. So I think I would have lumped it under a similar heading as "company's staff are permitted to breathe" - so obvious it doesn't need saying. But I guess a legal contract is a legal contract.. I'm still wondering if there isn't a catch.

I can't even figure out why the landlord of an empty building would pay anyone anything to monitor the parking at all. Who cares until you have a tenant or two?

EDIT: I can't find "NTK" in the acronyms post on this board but I have a sense that's the bit where they ask me who was driving? Or is it something else? tia

The_Slithy_Tove

carajp wrote: »

I see what you mean, though I don't think I would have seen it as significant - after all, one would just assume that pursuing the tickets would be the whole reason & purpose for the parking company's existence.

Nope. The whole PPC model is based on a BIG LIE, and the pretence at authority. They are so brazened in this, they unfortunately get away with it most of the time. Just look at them as another variant of your old-fashioned CON-MAN who, with enough bravado and front, can get away with anything.

carajp wrote: »

EDIT: I can't find "NTK" in the acronyms post on this board but I have a sense that's the bit where they ask me who was driving? Or is it something else? tia

"Notice to Keeper". It's what they send to the registered keeper, whose details they get from the DVLA. They normally ask (even demand) who was driving. Of course, you don't ever tell them who was.

Guys_Dad

carajp wrote: »

I'm still wondering if there isn't a catch.

I can't even figure out why the landlord of an empty building would pay anyone anything to monitor the parking at all. Who cares until you have a tenant or two?

Please don't forget to save a copy or print out the t&c and Contract. Things have a habit of disappearing and PPCs watch this column.

carajp

Already done Guys Dad.

Guys_Dad

carajp wrote: »

Already done Guys Dad.

What did I say?? They have gone already. Think I will bill UK Parking Solutions for professional advice !!

Seriously, though, it just shows that the PPCs are watching us like hawks.

ianders

Guys_Dad wrote: »

What did I say?? They have gone already. Think I will bill UK Parking Solutions for professional advice !!

Seriously, though, it just shows that the PPCs are watching us like hawks.

Direct links:

http://www.ukparkingsolution.co.uk/Documents/UKPS%20Agreement.pdf

http://www.ukparkingsolution.co.uk/Documents/UKPS%20Terms%20Conditions.pdf

See how long these last