Hospital Car Park '"Fine"

Paul_Varjak

In March this year I drove myself to A&E because I could not pee. I parked as near as I could to the A&E entrance without obstructing anyone (some 100 yards from A&E entrance)

It transpired that I had parked in a staff car park but there were no signs on entry to the staff car park and just two signs within the car park and only one of these (the one furthest from where I parked) made mention it was a staff car park and that a parking ticket would be issued if no permit was displayed. This was at 11 pm and the sign was 7 feet high and virtually unreadable in the dark.

I got a £70 parking ticket, discounted to £35 if I paid within 28 days. I did not pay the ticket, nor did I appeal. The ticket was not issued in the name of the company that manages the car park so I deem it not to be a valid invoice. After 28 days the company contacted DVLA and obtained my name and address details and then wrote to me using their correct company name. I ignored that too.

What are the requirements to display signs on the entrance to the car park if they wish to recover payment for parking there? This company is a member of BPA.

I also note that this company's membership with BPA does not allow them to collect debts. Does this mean they should not even be pursuing me for the debt anyway?

Redx

the BPA CoP have the requirements listed for compliance , so check their website

check the newbies sticky thread for advice on this parking invpice

ignore was a bad idea and should not have been done , appeal is what was and is the correct course of action, as is getting the trust to cancel the charge by contacting PALS or similar

Coupon-mad

Send the template appeal anyway from the NEWBIES thread. You can't be much past 28 days from the April letter? Just send the template appeal to flush out a reply. You should not have ignored it - that advice was from 2012 or before!

I also note that this company's membership with BPA does not allow them to collect debts. Does this mean they should not even be pursuing me for the debt anyway?

Nope that means nothing - as does much of the AOS scheme detail in general, it all means diddly squat really except it lets them get DVLA data!

Stroma

Follow the above advice.

As for the medical emergency, don't know what the problem was, but I had that problem a year ago, plenty of cranberry juice worked, trust me its the miracle cure.

Paul_Varjak

Redx wrote: »

the BPA CoP have the requirements listed for compliance , so check their website

check the newbies sticky thread for advice on this parking invpice

ignore was a bad idea and should not have been done , appeal is what was and is the correct course of action, as is getting the trust to cancel the charge by contacting PALS or similar

Many thanks for that. I have checked the signage requirements on the BPA website and it seems there should be a sign at the entrance.

Actually I read Martin's advice on how to handle parking tickets on private land but he does not seem so clear cut on how to handle the issue, suggesting that ignoring the ticket is also a valid way. Upon reading further the advice of others I now tend to agree with your view.

I have just got off the phone with PALS - not sure why I did not think of them before! Here's hoping!!

Paul_Varjak

Stroma wrote: »

Follow the above advice.

As for the medical emergency, don't know what the problem was, but I had that problem a year ago, plenty of cranberry juice worked, trust me its the miracle cure.

I think Cranberry Juice is to kill of any infection. In my case I have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, for which the recommended juice is pomegranate!

Paul_Varjak

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Send the template appeal anyway from the NEWBIES thread. You can't be much past 28 days from the April letter? Just send the template appeal to flush out a reply. You should not have ignored it - that advice was from 2012 or before!
Nope that means nothing - as does much of the AOS scheme detail in general, it all means diddly squat really except it lets them get DVLA data!

Yeah, I realise I should not have ignored it now but I had bigger things to think about at the time - my house was still being renovated following the December floods and I had a recent diagnosis of metastatic cancer; a parking ticket was the least of my worries.

I have followed Redx's advice and contacted PALS who will, hopefully, get it sorted.

Dee140157

I was intrigued when you say you read Martin's advice and weren't sure whether to ignore or not and saw this on the main site

If you get an unfair private ticket, DON'T pay!

Don't just shell out for an unfair ticket slapped on your car or in the post. Trying to reclaim cash already paid isn't easy, so it's far easier to dispute it. You could also ignore it and wait to see if you get court papers in the post demanding payment - often they don't follow through.

I can see where the confusion arises especially since the advice given is not to ignore.

Paul_Varjak

I remember watching Watchdog a few years back, the advice then was certainly to ignore any parking ticket issued on private land make it into a paper aeroplane and throw it away and, presumably, then get a real fine - for dropping litter!

And, yes, you can be fined for dropping litter on private land!!

Paul_Varjak

Hi everyone. Some good news! I received a call from the head of security at hospital where the ticket was issued and he is cancelling the ticket!!!

Thanks for all the wonderful advice, especially Redx who suggested contacting PALS. I really do think the best way to get private parking tickets cancelled quickly is to complain the landowner, rather than deal with the parking company in the first instance.

Redx

it certainly is the best way of getting tickets cancelled

always amazes me how so few people complain to the retailers or landowners direct, yet if they had bought a packet of bacon or an out of date tin of soup they complain to the retailer and provide the receipt etc , blah bla , lol

well done , and thanks for confirming my recommended action worked