Parking With Ease charge - advice needed!

Fredolow

Guys,

Thanks very much for all of your help over this. It's very much appreciated. I've had a read of the Newbie sticky and, because this is all so new to me and I normally pay parking tickets then and there when the systems work (this is the first one that hasn't for me), I find it all a bit confusing. Perhaps stupidly I didn't photograph the signs at the location nor did I photograph and text from the machine when it came up that it couldn't find my number plate. As such I'm really not sure whether I have any grounds for appeal and, as a result, whether all of this headache and the back and forth I'm likely to have to go through with this parking company is going to be worth it for the sake of the £30 they're demanding if I pay within 14 days. I also checked out the 'Successful Complaints' thread and did a search for PWE which returned nothing, which would indicate that there hasn't been much success in beating charges from them (I could be wrong).

An internet search returned that this site was owned by the NT. If it's now owned by Lowther Estates I understand they are less likely to drop charges and more likely to pursue legal action, which is more off-putting.

Had I known this would turn into a can of worms I would either have paid then and there or checked online (if I'd known that was possible). One thing is for sure, this experience has put me off ever visiting the LD again. I used to enjoy going there, but the parking charges are just daylight robbery IMO. Judging by some of the comments I heard from other tourists standing next to parking meters after their money had been swallowed and no change/extra time given I expect I won't be alone, which is a pity because it's such a beautiful part of the UK.

I know I shouldn't give into these thieves, and if I do pay up without a fight it will just send a message to them that they can do the same to others, but I'm working 16hr days at present just to keep my business above water and just don't have the bandwidth for a drawn out appeal which could very well end up costing me a lot more in the long run.

I still have about 10 days to mull my decision over before they push up the charge again, but my inclination at this point is just to save myself the hassle, which is most likely exactly what they're counting on

Thanks again.

Umkomaas

my inclination at this point is just to save myself the hassle, which is most likely exactly what they're counting on

It's exactly what they all count on. You have to make the decision whether or not you pay.

There's as much information on the forum as you need to successfully deal with this, and regulars will chip in with ongoing advice, but it does require some work on your part. In the infamous words of forum veteran, The Deep, 'It's not rocket science, but it's not painting by numbers either'.

Fredolow

I know, but given the circumstances I really don't see how I'd have a leg to stand on if they decide to pursue it and I cannot afford to have them up their charge. Their machine may not have recorded my number plate entering, but I could still have manually entered my details into the machine, although I'd have been guessing as to how long I'd been parked for. There was also the online option to pay, which I was unaware of, but ignorance is no real excuse.

Coupon-mad

Try these words as your complaint - you have 10 days to decide so politely but assertively, give the landowner seven:

One thing is for sure, this experience has put me off ever visiting the LD again. I used to enjoy going there, but the parking charges are just daylight robbery IMO. Judging by some of the comments I heard from other tourists standing next to parking meters after their money had been swallowed and no change/extra time given I expect I won't be alone, which is a pity because it's such a beautiful part of the UK.

The reason there are no 'PWE' successful complaints shown in that thread is simply that they are mainly (almost all) retailer complaints, so not comparable. Still worth a landowner complaint this week though.

Northlakes

Sorry that this has been a bad experience for you but it's not only the Lake District where great care is needed when parking anywhere.
In tourism areas motorists are 'low fruit' ripe for picking and PPC's know that. That's why on this and other parking forums you will see in abundance well known coastal car parks.

Avoid private car parks where you can and use Council ones by choice.
Particularly avoid car parks run by ParkingEye.
Use a dash cam and an Android phone to record where you have been.

Sorry to be so negative but this is a modern day curse (scam) that needs sorting by government action.

Fredolow

Thanks again for all of your replies. I did send an email to Lowther Estates this morning outlining the situation. They responded surprisingly quickly but only to say that because my registration plate number wasn't in my email they couldn't pursue further and that they'd forwarded it on to PWE. Just sounded like a cop-out to me as the Ref number from the PWE letter was on the email and assume they could've checked from that. So I replied with an apology and the registration details stating that now that they have them I presume they can personally look into this rather than handing it over. We'll see, but I'm not hopeful.

Fredolow

Lowther have just replied again and, as expected, said that they wouldn't be looking into it personally because they've handed it over to PWE. So the lack of registration number was just an excuse. Any suggestions on a follow up to Lowther or should I just leave it now?

Coupon-mad

Fredolow wrote: »

Lowther have just replied again and, as expected, said that they wouldn't be looking into it personally because they've handed it over to PWE. So the lack of registration number was just an excuse. Any suggestions on a follow up to Lowther or should I just leave it now?

Point out that they remain jointly and severally liable for the actions of their agent and the scam of private parking firms is being raised at Government level now so they need to take notice of complaints like this. Warn them and put them on notice that they will be liable for any loss caused to you, if the parking firm sue because the entire situation is unacceptable and penalises visitors unfairly, with information/a system which is not transparent, nor legible nor easy to use, contrary to the Consumer Rights Act 2015:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5524754

And ask them on what basis did they decide that your email could be passed to a third party, because you did not consent this this data sharing? Ask for their DPA Controller to explain why they shared your data without consent.

Castle

On checking the local planning dept I can't find any application for planning permission, (for the cameras) or advertising consent for the signs. Maybe that's something you wish to follow up on:-
http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning/planning_enforcement

Fredolow

Thanks again for the input. I found two planning applications, one in 2014 and another in 2015, both declined and for what looks like the same thing:

7/2014/5399
Proposal: White Moss and Rydal amenity and car parking area environmental improvements and visitor facilities, including the construction of an amenity building.

7/2015/5094
Proposal: White Moss and Rydal amenity and car parking area environmental improvements and visitor facilities, including the construction of an amenity building

Neither specifically mention signs and cameras, but I'm not sure if planning permission is required for them on private land (?)

Thanks for the direction for response Coupon-Mad - most helpful!