Euro Car Park PCN at Shorne Woods Country Parks -

MISSY_me

In the middle of January, my family decided to go to the Shorne Woods Country Parks - Gravesend. But by the time we got there it was already 3; 30 pm. and is getting cold and dark. We drove into the car park and was wondering shall we stay or go back home. Without me and the kids leaving the car my husband spotted some friends and spend some time talking to them and in a while, we went back home, Anyway a week after a received a PCN by post from Euro car park with a picture of the vehicle`s plates and inserted day and time. Breach of terms and Conditions stated is No valid pay and display /[ermit was purchased. Ok, but actually we didn`t park the car and left it unattended. They said we were staying there 45 minutes, but they were in the car. Please, advice, I read so much in this forum and I got a bit confused. Do I have any chance to appeal? Thanks

Fruitcake

The car was parked. It matters not whether anyone got out or not, or turned off the engine, it was parked.

Please read the Sticky thread for NEWBIES then send the appeal template you will find there.

Please confirm the precise name of the parking company as there are several with similar names. If it's Euro Car Parks Limited then they are BPA members, so a PoPLA appeal is available to the keeper if/when the initial appeal is rejected.

Coupon-mad

Why didn't you pay and display? Makes no sense at all. Staying there over 40 minutes, neither of you thought you had to pay? It's people like that who cause this industry to grow...wise up to contracts or they come back to bite.

But even worse is the scam of the private parking industry and the bottom-feeders that the whole thing attracts, with an agenda of making money from the hapless public, for no service whatsoever.

Why don't you simply follow the NEWBIES thread to beat them? Not sure what about the template appeal was confusing, it's just copy & paste, not hard to understand.

The NEWBIES thread also says at the start:

Q - ''I have read the NEWBIES thread but cannot find anything specific to my case...my case is different''.

A - NO IT ISN'T. YOU DO NOT NEED SPECIFICS. FORGET THE DETAIL, MOST CASES ARE ALL THE SAME.

Edna_Basher

Shorne Woods is one of Kent County Council's country parks. They used to be warden-controlled - hence why the signs still say "Pay & Display". However, about 3 years ago, Euro Car Parks (with the Council's permission) converted them to ANPR cameras - even though the Government does not allow ANPR to be used in council-owned car parks.

Check out a couple of recent threads concerning KCC's country parks - there's a strong argument that the car parks (being provided by a County Council) are not "relevant land" meaning that Euro Car Parks have no right to seek to hold the vehicle's keeper liable for the unpaid parking charge.

MISSY_me

Thank you all for your advice! We didn't pay and displayed because I didn't know it works like that. Not to mention that the machine next to us was broken that day. I had to cross the car park to pay eve though we werent sure we will be staying there.

The_Deep

It is mainly a scam, but you did bilk.

However, the scam trumps the bilk imo so complain robustly to your MP, but first watch this.

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/2f0384f2-eba5-4fff-ab07-cf24b6a22918?in=12:49:41

How much would the council want if you failed to pay in one ot their car parks? If it is less than the scammer wants, also complain to the council, (copied to your local paper). However, dis-allusion yourself that you did not park, you certainly did.

Coupon-mad

MISSY_me wrote: »

Thank you all for your advice! We didn't pay and displayed because I didn't know it works like that. Not to mention that the machine next to us was broken that day. I had to cross the car park to pay eve though we werent sure we will be staying there.

So now you know what to do, from the NEWBIES FAQS thread. Nothing different.

MISSY_me

However, the scam trumps the bilk imo so complain robustly to your MP, but first watch this.
I`m sorry. what does it mean MP? Thanks.

Coupon-mad

MP is obviously your Member of Parliament!

MISSY_me

Hello again. Just to ask, is it worth to complain to Kent Council too. After all they are the land owners. Thanks

Umkomaas

MISSY_me wrote: »

Hello again. Just to ask, is it worth to complain to Kent Council too. After all they are the land owners. Thanks

The more complaints they get, the better. So why not?