Are there any rules on this?

Willowpop

Hi Sacha, given that you've now spent the money that should have been earmarked for parking and you can't afford to pay the money back in installments over the next few months, I think if I was in your situation, I would contact the parking company, firstly and politely query their maths, and then ask if it would be possible to pay back over more months, so that the increase is less per month.
I think that you definitely do owe the money as you used the service even though there was a hitch in the payment process, but unless the company are going to offer those months for free as a gesture of good will, then you'll have to pay up.
Had you not spent the money that was budgeted as the parking money, you'd be able to cover the installments, but as you have, and I can totally see why you did in a way, you will now need to find the extra to pay the debt.

Try the longer term for installments to ease the pain. They might be happy to do this.

Hanky_Panky

sacha28 wrote: »

Morning bobarella there really is no other way of getting to work. We are quite rural (a wonderful setting but maybe more rural than we would have originally wanted but it was one of only a very few houses available in our price range when we were ready to move) and the nearest bus stop is just over 3 miles away. My place of work is approx 8 miles away, so too far to walk and if I attempted to cycle I would probably arrest before I got to work Besides that, the last bus to the nearest bus stop leaves at 7.30pm and I work 8am-8.30pm so this isn't a viable option and I start my night shifts at 8pm so again, not really an option.

Sacha - I don't know how old you are but even at my advanced age 8 miles on a bike (even in Cornwall) is nothing. I agree that to start with it will take you longer and you may feel like your heart is going to explode out of your chest but I promise you that within a very short period of time (maybe a week or two) you will be flying along.

Think of all the other benefits too !

greensalad

I would suggest you contact them to pay the fee of £90 for months in arrears and then continue paying £30 a month.

No company is going to balk at you giving them £90 of cash, are they?

And as for not paying parking, 8 miles doesn't sound too bad at all. I average about 5 minutes per mile and I'm an obese wobbly cyclists with a terrible bicycle. Working in healthcare I expect you're much healthier It's very refreshing to cycle to work as I have discovered. If you're NHS then I'm sure they offer a cycle to work scheme, or you can get private finance (my bicycle, helmet, lights and lock are on 9 months interest free finance).

littleangels3

I didn't mean just hospital workers I think unfair that anyone has to pay for the privilege of going to work x There seems to be less @ less places to park for free now though!

greensalad

littleangels3 wrote: »

I didn't mean just hospital workers I think unfair that anyone has to pay for the privilege of going to work x There seems to be less @ less places to park for free now though!

Because there are more and more cars on the road.

Another option is a moped/motorcycle if a pushbike is too tough. I used a moped for my last year of uni so that I could live further out and save some money but still stay at the lab late.

It cost me £4.26 to fill the tank and it lasted 2 weeks, and I could be cheeky and park it all over the place in town as people don't care as much (and bikes are often free even in main carparks). It was one of the best things I ever did and some days when I am huffing and puffing as I cycle to work I think what a great idea it would be to have the moped back again...

peaceandfreedom

littleangels3 wrote: »

I didn't mean just hospital workers I think unfair that anyone has to pay for the privilege of going to work x There seems to be less @ less places to park for free now though!

I guess it depends where you work. Some people would be thrilled to only have to pay £30 a month for parking. Others (like me) try to avoid paying any parking at all.

Part of the problem is government policy - new office buildings in business parks are only allowed a limited number of parking spaces - those that are allowed tend to be assigned to field workers, car-sharers etc. So you are encouraged to car share (impractical for many people, especially in far-flung rural areas), cycle/walk or park somewhere else.

I live about 7 miles from work and I have been considering cycling in some of the time - I am nervous of the roads though - in some ways a bendy rural road is more dangerous than a city street :eek:. Also, I would need to do something about my fitness .

timbstoke

When did they tell you about the price rise? If it was after you've already parked for three months, you're perfectly entitled to decline the price rise for those months at least, even if future months are chargable.

In your boat, I'd be doing a bit of research to see if you can find anything that the farmer put in writing regarding the car park being kept free, and if you find enough evidence, refusing to pay on the basis that there is a condition of use attached to the land preventing them from charging. Land Registry would be your first stop - they should be able to tell you if a) ownership was actually transferred - if the family are trying to reclaim it, it may be that it still belongs to them and the farmer simply allowed use of it; and b) if ownership was transferred, whether there is a covenant in place preventing parking charges from being applied on the land.

Willowpop

timbstoke wrote: »

When did they tell you about the price rise? If it was after you've already parked for three months, you're perfectly entitled to decline the price rise for those months at least, even if future months are chargable.
.

I don't think there is a rise as such, I think the parking company are splitting the money owed for the 3 months the user's didn't pay over the next few months.

timbstoke

Willowpop wrote: »

I don't think there is a rise as such, I think the parking company are splitting the money owed for the 3 months the user's didn't pay over the next few months.

As others have pointed out, the maths doesn't add up for that - it should be £40/month if they've spread the 12 month cost over 0 months. £50 a month doesn't even make sense if they're just reclaiming the £90, because they'd have to take 4x£50 and 1x£40 to bring the account up to date. £45 or £60 would make more sense if they're trying to recover the unpaid months gradually.

Willowpop

timbstoke wrote: »

As others have pointed out, the maths doesn't add up for that - it should be £40/month if they've spread the 12 month cost over 0 months. £50 a month doesn't even make sense if they're just reclaiming the £90, because they'd have to take 4x£50 and 1x£40 to bring the account up to date. £45 or £60 would make more sense if they're trying to recover the unpaid months gradually.

I agree, the maths are wrong but from what the OP has written, or at least as i have understood it, the increase is because payments are to be taken over 9 months instead of 12...therefore I assumed any increase was intended to recoup the 3 missed month's payments.
Their maths need looking at though, and I would definitely query this with the parking company and ask for clarification as they seem to have made an error.