University of Southampton

Ettenna

Yes, I paid my "fines/charges" as I had no choice because the uni suspended my computer access. Access was critical because of dissertation/emails/submitting deadlines. I had to pay £325 in order to get access back. It was for parking "fines" - apparently 10 tickets over a year!! I paid this uni directly.

My question is - have I any chance of reclaiming this money back? I wonder if I can go down the OFT route? I was basically bullied into paying the bogus fines by threats of basically not being able to continue my degree. They could not prove some of the tickets either with photographic evidence or correctly completed documentation. The tickets were never actually in my windscreen. The parking attendant parked his vehicle behind mine one day and wouldn't let me out unless I handed over my student card to him!

I understand that this may seem odd to many people just to hand over that amount of money but completing my degree and being able to graduate was more important to me. In hindsight, I cannot believe how stupid I was to pay!!

I have graduated now (apart from the actual ceremony). I don't hold out much chance of gettingit back but you never know!!

ampersand

Ye Gods!

'Yes, I paid my "fines/charges" as I had no choice because the uni suspended my computer access.....I had to pay £325 in order to get access back.'

'The parking attendant parked his vehicle behind mine one day and wouldn't let me out unless I handed over my student card to him!'

Etenna - I do not have the expertise, but others here certainly will.

My gut instinct[yours too, sans doute] that you MUST be able to sue for redress is not enough. They'll be along, never fear. It may be a battle, but I can imagine plenty will want to give substantive help.

All p/w on file still?

AND, congratulations on your Degree))).

bazster

Ettenna wrote: »

The parking attendant parked his vehicle behind mine one day and wouldn't let me out unless I handed over my student card to him!

So he immobilised your vehicle. That is a clear and blatant breach of The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 i.e. a criminal offence. Have you reported it to the police?

I think if I were you my next step would be a letter to the university complaining that (i) you paid under duress and that (ii) their parking weasel broke the law (give them the police crime number - insist on getting one of these from the police even if they refuse to do anything about it). So you demand your money back.

What happens next depends on their response. Don't delay though: if you want to show that you paid under duress you need evidence that you protested. Has there been any correspondence between you and the university over this where you told them you weren't happy about being bullied into paying?

On what date did you make the payment, and what method did you pay by?

baldnunn

Ettenna wrote: »

The parking attendant parked his vehicle behind mine one day and wouldn't let me out unless I handed over my student card to him!

:mad:

Whilst it may be a sledgehammer to crack a nut consider making a allegation of blackmail, contrary to Section 21 Theft Act 1968. In order to prove the criminal offence of blackmail it must be shown that the defendant has done the following things:

• That the defendant made a demand
• With menaces
• That the demand was unwarranted
• That the defendant has a view to make a gain for himself or another or have intent to cause a loss to another

'Menaces' does not include the threat of legal action and the most common example is a threat to expose some form of secret but it could fit if you find a sympathetic officer.

Not really what the legislation was intended for but if it fits.....

Just a thought.

Coupon-mad

I would be looking to reclaim this - have you seen Michael Green's posts?

Ettenna

Coupon-mad - is his user name Michael Green? I did a quick search but couldn't find anything.

Umkomaas

Here's a starter from PePiPoo.

http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=93477&hl=Michael+green

I'll do a further search on MSE, but, from recollection is no more or less than that contained in the PePiPoo link above.

Coupon-mad

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/66641298#Comment_66641298


He's called mikerobertgreen on here.

Hot_Bring

As we seem to have a moron stopping proper threads being displayed ..... bounce.

Ettenna

I will print out everything I have got and do a timeline of events. It might make it easier to understand. They had sent me a load of photos which didn't actually show very much at all!!

I'll post back again soon.

bazster

Really? Why not just get on with it? If you want to claim you paid under duress no-one is going to be interested if you didn't complain about it for months.

The only date I asked for was the date you paid (and if it was before 1st October that too is of little interest). Also what method you paid by.