Hospital Parking Fine - help!

Sybersal

Hi - apologies I have been reading through the forum but can't quite work out where I stand - and also a bit stressed!
In June last year I attended a hospital appointment, the hospital car park issued tickets as you drive in and you pay at the machine before you return to the car. My appointment left me fairly shocked and shaken. I paid for my ticket and returned to the car and burst into tears, I rang a family member and calmed down and then went to leave. However it would appear I over stayed - so I had to find the car parking office. Although I was clearly distressed the lady insisted I pay a further £2.40 which I did not have (I had picked that day to accidently left my purse at home but had enough change for the original ticket). She said I would have to return to the car park (not a local hospital to me). She sent an attendant to my car to take the details - he was clearly embarrassed and kept apologising.

My husband contacted the company the following day via their website - an online form was the only method they provided, to explain the circumstances. We had no response so he repeated it about 3 weeks later. I admit now we forgot but we had no response or communication from them - my health issues over took everything (2nd op in 2 weeks).

Today I have received a letter from a collections agency for £73 for the outstanding amount! I called the company immediately and they were lovely - have put the case on hold for 30 days while I try and get it sorted - but please where do I start!
Thank you (cos I don't need this at the moment!)

bod1467

#1 Read the NEWBIES sticky thread. (Link is in my signature below - copy and paste it to your address bar)

#2 Search this forum for the term hospital - you'll find lots of similar cases. (They may seem different, but in the end they are all the same).

Redx

its definitely not a fine, because a court or judge did not impose it !

its a parking charge invoice , so deal with it as one

now read this sticky thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4816822

everything you need to know is in there

Coupon-mad

I called the company immediately and they were lovely

No they weren't, they patronised you (sorry but debt collectors use any trick in the book and are never 'lovely'). They are a debt collector who want your money and could obviously tell you believed it was a fine and were concerned about it (exactly the state of mind of victims who then are deluded enough to pay).

As well as the ''Newbies'' general advice thread already linked, you should also read the 'Successful Complaints about PPCs' sticky thread near the top of the forum as well. In there in post #3 tells you how to complain to a Hospital Facilities Manager and to PALS, that will work I suspect. Look at the sticky threads!