UKPC - Parking in free carpark disabled

ndoody

So my partner was at merryhell shopping, it was raining and chaotic and she had our 2 and half + 4 month old sons with her.

She'd tried to park in one of the last remaining parent and baby spaces, when some woman (without children) pushed in front of her to beat her to the space.

Infuriated, she just took one of the many available disabled spaces because she struggles with trying to get the baby carrier out and onto the pram base in otherwise tight spots.

So she's had a notice from UKPC, and so far they've sent their 3rd letter which is a "final warning".

I guess really she doesn't have a case to state that she was entitled to park in the disabled spot, but there are mitigating circumstances as to why she took that spot as outlined. What's the best course of action for this.

I'm trying to read all the newbie stuff, but as I understand there is a problem with this forum and I can't read over half of the posts.

ezerscrooge

Shouldn't be parking in a disabled spot - but that is done.

Instead of ignoring their letters, she should have appealed as the registered keeper. Too late for that. Now have a really good think, are you sure it was your wife driving that day, or was it you? If it was you, then you can reset the clock by your wife writing to UKPC and identifying you as the driver.

Then you can do the process properly when you get a Notice to Driver. A proper soft appeal, followed by a PoPLA appeal as given in the templetes.

ampersand

To anyone reading, there is major hack via spambot happening all over mse atm.
We can all help by hitting the spam button and reporting the post.
They're appearing apx every 6 secs.

Coupon-mad

Disabled bays are for people who have need of them because they are disabled or with someone disabled! Please tell your wife - DON'T do it again! Parent bays are a pathetic marketing gimmick - nothing more - not an entitlement. No-one here gives a stuff if someone parks there without a child (not that I would do it, but I don't give a flying fig about people who do) but I DO care about what your wife did, wholly wrong. Disabled bays are a requirement under the Equality Act 2010.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/64579455#Comment_64579455

And yep as that links shows, I am a Mum of 4 kids myself.

Rant over.

Now just beat them by following the Newbies thread, because two wrongs don't make a right.

ndoody

I remember getting out of a parking ticket myself once, by finding a random address on the internet in delhi or something like that...think it was a doctors surgery or something.

I'd gone on the wim that they wouldn't attempt to chase a fine at this address, and heard no more.

Has anyone tried that nowadays, does it still work? I'm thinking Russia this time...lol.

tykesi

So rather than listen to any advice above or doing any reading up on how to beat this you are going to go ahead with that plan?

Good luck with that...

ndoody

Actually, I was unable to read any of the newbie posts - other than a few people saying "what is all this nonsense" as it was full of jibberish unreadable text.

I now have read up the posts in this thread, but take issue with one of the points written "The signage is insufficient, the risk of a charge is not transparent and the wording is ambiguous.". Should I really include this as an excuse, because the sign seems quite clear....they have taken the liberty of taking a photograph of the sign.

The sign states "Customers for merry hill shopping centre only, this land is private property, failure to comply with the following may result in a £70 parking charge notice reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days". Then it notes "Disabled badge holders only in disabled bays".

It seems clear how much she'd have gotten for parking in the disabled spaces without clearly displaying a disabled badge. Should I therefore omit this point from sending the template, or is it still technically correct by some other technicality? I guess the wording that you "may" get a fine can be construed as being "ambiguous"?

bigheadxx

I think it is ridiculous that there can be twenty odd EMPTY disabled parking bays that you cannot park in and every other space in the car park is full.

ndoody

bigheadxx wrote: »

I think it is ridiculous that there can be twenty odd EMPTY disabled parking bays that you cannot park in and every other space in the car park is full.

I totally agree, it's infuriating that entire floors are reserved this way and nearly all empty when the child and baby areas are nearly none existent. The size of parking spaces in this day leave you no room to be able to get a baby carrier out of a car, because you're unable to open the door fully.

Not to mention that normal spaces are parked at such a distance from the entrance that you must traverse the dangers of other drivers with your children. It's very difficult, if you're on you own, to unload both my son who has a tendency to run off (without a care in the world for other drivers) and a 4 month old baby.

Anyway, I'm not really here to justify why we parked there - I'm just hear to shout out against the real criminals of this world like UKPC.

ampersand

ndoody - no reason for you not to be reading Newbies Stickies thoroughly[several times] now.

If you had , you'd knowIT IS NOT A FINE
- then from your last line #7, you use it, the 4-letter f-word we don't allow here.

Police, Councils and London Transport can issue parking fines, no-one else.

Keep reading and follow the advice.

Umkomaas

I now have read up the posts in this thread, but take issue with one of the points written "The signage is insufficient, the risk of a charge is not transparent and the wording is ambiguous.". Should I really include this as an excuse, because the sign seems quite clear....they have taken the liberty of taking a photograph of the sign.

And you've carefully scrutinised and assessed the signage against the requirements of the BPA CoP, Appendix B which places mandatory standards on signage?

Do they have entrance signs that meet precisely the CoP's standards?