G24 Homebase PCN while car washing!

petrosp

Hi,

My wife recently (feb 27) drove to our local Homebase for a car-wash. It was busy so she was asked to come back. She said she can only come back in 2 hours after the gym , and was told that's ok. I went and picked the car up , the employee gave me my key and I was on my way.
Consequently I received a PCN from G24 for overstaying for about 20 mins.
I challenged through their internal appeal system and it was denied. Here is the response:

Dear Mr xxxx

RE: Contractual Parking Charge Notice xxxxxx

Thank you for your email.

As we have extensively investigated this Contractual Parking Charge Notice and provided you with the results of our investigation, no further investigation will be undertaken. Any further correspondence will not receive a response, the options below are still open to you.

Please supply copies of your car wash receipts for the day in question or your bank statement with your private details erased showing the transaction(s) on our client's site. As a gesture of goodwill we may re-evaluate your appeal. Please do not send in original documents as they will not be returned.

You now have one of the following options available to you:

1. Pay the outstanding Parking Charge. Payment of your Contractual Parking Charge Notice can be made via the payment line: 0333 733 3000 or by sending a cheque or postal order to G24 Limited, PO Box 3320, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8WT.

2. If you believe this decision is incorrect, you are entitled to appeal to The Independent Appeals Service (url), The Independent Appeals Service provides an Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme for disputes of this type. As you have complied with our internal appeals procedure you may use, and we will engage with, the The Independent Appeals Service Standard Appeals Service providing you lodge an appeal to them within 21 days of this rejection.

3. If you choose to do nothing, we will seek to recover the monies owed to us via our debt recovery procedures and may proceed with Court action against you.

Customer Services
G24 Ltd

Of course the car wash does not give receipts. I have never encountered one that does.

Today I went to the store to complain to the store manager. He was pushing back at first asking receipts , I was angry but polite , he then went to the back room to call his manager. He returned saying "My manager will send an email to try to take care of this". I asked for a written statement that the vehicle was under their supervision but he denied.

This gives me minimal piece of mind as I have no proof of his email. Any advice on follow up actions from me?
Should I followup with appeal to IAS anyway?
How is that related to POPLA?

Thanks

Castle

Is the car wash owned by Homebase?

petrosp

The sign has the Homebase logo on it. That's all I know

beamerguy

petrosp wrote: »

Hi,

My wife recently (feb 27) drove to our local Homebase for a car-wash. It was busy so she was asked to come back. She said she can only come back in 2 hours after the gym , and was told that's ok. I went and picked the car up , the employee gave me my key and I was on my way.
Consequently I received a PCN from G24 for overstaying for about 20 mins.
I challenged through their internal appeal system and it was denied. Here is the response:



Of course the car wash does not give receipts. I have never encountered one that does.

Today I went to the store to complain to the store manager. He was pushing back at first asking receipts , I was angry but polite , he then went to the back room to call his manager. He returned saying "My manager will send an email to try to take care of this". I asked for a written statement that the vehicle was under their supervision but he denied.

This gives me minimal piece of mind as I have no proof of his email. Any advice on follow up actions from me?
Should I followup with appeal to IAS anyway?
How is that related to POPLA?

Thanks

IAS is a pure kangeroo court and chances are very high your appeal will be rejected

PoPLA is another appeals service and it all depends which one the PPC subscribes to. You will get further advice soon

I would not rely on the manager of Homebase to get it cancelled.

I assume that Homebase has given the car wash guys permission to operate in the car park and you be right in thinking that your car would be safe whilst in their care.

An email to the MD of Homebase stating that you left your car with their car wash people and you do not expect to be charged a penalty for doing so. Ask him to arrange immediate cancellation and depending on his reply will depend if you or your friends will ever shop at Homebase again.
Probably, you will be told it is not his car wash, no matter, Homebase allow them ..... or indeed did they ?

Homebase
Ms Echo Lu Managing Director
Email echo.lu@homebase.co.uk

I had a car wash at one of these places and requested a VAT receipt and was told they could not do that. A quick word with the boss telling him I would have to ask HMRC for one then, result was a free car wash.

catfunt

G24 are IPC, so only Skippy is available, no POPLA

Fruitcake

As above, complain to the Homebase CEO pointing out that since the car wash company must be operating with his company's permission, Homebase are responsible for the actions of their agents, the parking scumpany.


Fakebook, [EMAIL="tw@tter"]tw@tter[/EMAIL], trapadvisor, local press should all be told about this scam.


Please read the Sticky thread for NEWBIES as this tells you all about parking scumpanies and how to deal with them.


Please also read this and get everyone you know to sign the petition.


https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5365003

Coupon-mad

Homebase have cancelled G24 PCNs before when customers complain. Be assertive!

yotmon

Sorry to be a pain, but did your wife leave the car there to be cleaned, or drive off the premises to the gym and return later. Is this a case of 'double dipping'. Do you know how long vehicles are allowed to park for ?

petrosp

Hi,

The vehicle was left there to be cleaned , key was given to the car wash employee. He said it was fine to pick it up later (no mention of the time limit). For parking the time limit is 120mins.

Coupon-mad

So, after driving the car through the car wash - or if a manual car wash, after doing the necessary clean - the employee re-parked it?!

petrosp

Homebase
Ms Echo Lu Managing Director
Email echo.lu@homebase.co.uk

I got autoreply for no longer valid email address. Any clues on which senior person to direct this to?